what can replace hudrocorals?

i might grow 1 plant in a dwc bucket and dont want to spend 30$ on a big bag of clay pebbles ,
is there anything that can replace the hydrocorals

I use recycled tire mulch that you get at the back of home depot, outside. Interesting plants grown in lava rock do better than everything I read, with the exception that you have to be very careful not to move them around as their sharp edges can obliterate the roots! The plants really love the nooks and crannies. Honestly i have had great results in the tire mulch. I flooded my once every two hours around the clock and dwc is ok.

you can go to your local hydro store and buy one rockwool cube. you can you pea gravel from your driveway you can use marbles from the dollar store. you can use anything that you think will let the plant root around. I myself use gravel you can even go to the pet shop and get a bag of aquarium gravel for 2 bucks and it works just fine

I have some hydroton that I don't use if you want it? I prefer using gravel because its heavier and hold the plant up much better. that hydroton is IMO to light and doesn't compact enough if you move it it will come right out when you take the lid off of your buckets to refill or check air etc. so go to your local petsmart and get the gravel please trust me all my grows are in 5 inch pot dwc using aquarium gravel