growing medium

[BIGCREW]

newbi here and I am just getting started in hydroponics,so I have many questions.so my first question is has anyone ever used fish tank gravel as a growing medium,I cant find hydroton in my area and shipping is to exspensive.the gravel I have was used in a fish tank it is natual with no color,it looks just like river rock but is about a 1/4 to 1/2 inches in diameter thanks in advance

[driver594]

Yes gravel works well, I use river rock (dime size) from my local feed/ seed but Wally world has same just about $1 a bag more. Be sure to wash well to remove dirt before adding to your system.

[GpsFrontier]

the gravel I have was used in a fish tank it is natual with no color,it looks just like river rock but is about a 1/4 to 1/2 inches in diameter

Ya, you can use almost anything for growing medium as long as it does not affect the pH or add nutrients to the solution. Each type of growing medium has its own set of pros and cons. The big con with rock is it's not porous, so it cant absorb air or water. Depending on the size, the air probably wont be a factor because there will be enough space (but not too much) between the rocks for air. But because the rocks cant hold moisture you will probably need to water more frequently (but not for long periods), mostly depending on your setup, type of plants and temperatures. In the case of drip systems, you may want a continuous (rather than on/off) flow dripping because the water does not submerge the roots like in a flood and drain system. That would likely suffocate the roots if submerged for long periods of time. It will probably take you a little time to observe everything and to dial it all in just right, but should not be a problem.

P.S. After washing the rock, I would also sanitize it by soaking it in bleach water for an hour (or boiling water for 20 min). Then wash off the bleach water thoroughly.

[sh4dowman]

Another newbie question here

Are (any of) the following grow / starter media reusable? (after sanitizing the media with bleach/water solution)

- Coconut Coir
- LECA (Hydroton or clay balls)
- Perlite
- Rockwool
- Oasis

How about disposing of the media?

[GpsFrontier]

Originally Posted by sh4dowman

Another newbie question here

Are (any of) the following grow / starter media reusable? (after sanitizing the media with bleach/water solution)

- Coconut Coir
- LECA (Hydroton or clay balls)
- Perlite
- Rockwool
- Oasis

How about disposing of the media?

The only reusable one on this list is the "Hydroton", everything else will be two hard to separate the organic material (roots) from. If any dead organic material is left in it, it will decompose in your system. Bleach water will sanitize, but it wont get rid of the dead organic material. As far as disposing of the media any trash can will do, or if you have one your compost pile. The roots will decompose, the growing media wont. The growing medium wont hurt anything, it will just add aeration (like peat moss) to the soil.

[Luches]

Originally Posted by sh4dowman

Another newbie question here

Are (any of) the following grow / starter media reusable? (after sanitizing the media with bleach/water solution)

- Coconut Coir
- LECA (Hydroton or clay balls)
- Perlite
- Rockwool
- Oasis

How about disposing of the media?

Coconut Coir (which actually is a general term) decomposes slowly but surely and completely, depending on it's fiber content. Coconut coir is not reusable for conventional hydroponics but a good aditive for compost or organic substrates. It is actually and perfectly reusable in "drip to waste" hydroponics, though.

Hydroton has the main advantage to be reusable in any way.

Oasis cubes are from synthetic material and (obviously) said by the manufacturer to not be reusable or compostable.

Perlite can be reused, especially when used for seedlings and easy to clean. Perlite can also be a great substrate additive with potting ground.

Rockwool is recommended by most manufacturers to be thoroughly rinsed of any organic material and to be reused.

I have used all of them - and as far as I am concerned and in my practice, none of them except synthetic material will go into any trash can. Btw: I only use rock wool for cloning ,and any synthetic material is used very sparingly, - in fact for occasional testing purposes only.

PS: for some people hydroponics is seen and practiced as a clean or even "sterile art". But that is only one way of seeing and doing it. I am doing hydroponics with semi-organic media and high bacterial activity (even inoculation), organic decomposition, even room for some algae and use and build-up of organic material since years and am rather successful. If doing so, slightly different roles and ways of doing apply for sure, but I believe they are closer to nature and have less of that "lab atmosphere" many hydroponic setups and their respective owners reflect.

[GpsFrontier]

Oasis cubes are from synthetic material and (obviously) said by the manufacturer to not be reusable or compostable.

Ya, I forgot that oasis is supposed to be a type of foam, that wouldn't decompose in a compost pile.

As far as perlite, unless they are small tiny plants that the entire root system comes out when you pull it up, leaving nothing behind, good luck cleaning it. I also have no idea how you are supposes to rinse the root systems out of rockwool. Unless you shred it up into tiny pieces, but even then you'll never be able to completely separate the rockwool from the roots. Just not worth the time and effort to me to even try. Oasis and rockwool have the same type of structure, and if you were able to wash/rinse the roots out of roockwool, you should be able to do the same with oasis.