Alternative Media

Just curious to know who out there is using alternative media;examples would be peanut foam(used for shipping), marbles, aquarium rocks, rubber mulch exc......

How was your experience with it pros/cons.

Iam refering to hydro btw any type, although more interested in e/f

Peace and good vibes to all

http://www.suretogrow.com/

i consider it to be the best. packing peanuts breakup and would cause clogs, marbles wouldnt give much of a surface for the roots to hang on to. check out suretogrow.

Thanks for the response willyb, I've heard that suretogrow is crap but can't speak from experience.

Makes sense about the peanuts also think it would be a hassle seeing how it floats. I've been using lava rocks and they stay dirty even after multiply washes. I don't have a local store and would rather not shop online.

I've even heard of people using Legos,lol.

Sure to grow is also merely foam. Peanuts are fine except they float if nothing is used to hold them down. Plus the degarde quickly whenexposed to ultraviolet lighting. HEI lighting is high in ultra violet. Lava rock is very hard on roots due to it having many sharp edges. Marbles are fine ass roots do not need to hold on to media. They are root friendly. Hydroton sucks as does rock wool. Bioballs work exceptionally well but they are expensive. shredded plastic works well as in shredded plastic soda and milk bottles. it is sold cheaply by recycling centers. I have an old growing partner who bought cheaply 1200 pounds of bulk, mixed, assorted sized, plastic washers and shims. Says thay are the best inert media he has ever used. Just think, no sharp edges, inert, large surface areas and non absorbent.

Fatman glad you gave me your thoughts. It was actually you that got me interested in this, where you stated that rubber mulch was a good media. Haven't been able to find any and where did your friend buy that 1200 bulk plastic washer media and what's shims.

I like hydroton for its ability to be flooded more often but its a bitch to clean, drop some and you'll be chasing them around the room forever. Id much rather get some rubber mulch or shredded plastic, that way I can simple throw away and replace with new media.

On another topic what do you not like about the stinkbud system(read on another thread where you were comparing it to something that was crap)?
Last question about to replace clorox for h202 and I'm using aero and e/f is it safe to us on clones every 3-4 days at 1ml per 10 gallons, 0.5ml per 5 gallons and so on in my cloner?

Your thoughts are valued thanks in advance for your input.

Edit: fatman I meant replace h2o2 for clorox

Tiger Woods said:

Fatman glad you gave me your thoughts. It was actually you that got me interested in this, where you stated that rubber mulch was a good media. Haven't been able to find any and where did your friend buy that 1200 bulk plastic washer media and what's shims.

I like hydroton for its ability to be flooded more often but its a bitch to clean, drop some and you'll be chasing them around the room forever. Id much rather get some rubber mulch or shredded plastic, that way I can simple throw away and replace with new media.

On another topic what do you not like about the stinkbud system(read on another thread where you were comparing it to something that was crap)?
Last question about to replace clorox for h202 and I'm using aero and e/f is it safe to us on clones every 3-4 days at 1 ml per 10 gallons, 0.0.5 ml per 5 gallons and so on in my cloner?

Your thoughts are valued thanks in advance for your input.

Click to expand...

Try Walmart, Sam's Club, Fred Meyers or Home Depotfor the rubbrer Mulch.

He bought the washers from some manufacturer in Southern California. I did not ask the name. The shims looked just like washers but were of varying thicknesses with a slot cut through the rim so that it could be slid on to a bolt or screw without removing the circuit board already in place. The company mainly made parts for the electronics manufacturers.

1 ml is equal to 15 drops. Disinfection rates is 4 drops per gallon and the residual rate for preventative measures is 1 drop per gallon. A teaspoon is roughly 75 drops.

I think the Stink bud systems needs design upgraded to do a way with its many problems that lead to slow growth and root rot. Buy even doing so would not change the fact that it is an inefficient system with a large foot print in relation to its yield. It is an antique and of a poor design. Small tube aero or small tube DWC is a poor system as they are not adequate enough for large root masses. DWC is a poor system without massive water turbulence being incorporated into its design. It is not incorporated into his design. IE his system design is poor, and the maintenance and routine operations labor required is excessive.

Thanks fatman. I think I ve decided to go with rubber mulch btw

Peace and good vibes