Hydroton or Lava Rock

[FreezerBoy]

There's good lava rock and very, very, very bad lava rock. Wish I could remember more than that. I got the very, very, very bad lava rock. Scrawniest grow and foulest smoke I ever had.

 

[OgreSeeker]

And your sure it was due to the lava rocks FreezerBoy?
I honestly don't think the sharp edges would be to much of a problem unless your moving it all around or pouring in directly onto the roots. Once it's settled in the bucket or netcup it doesn't move much.

 

[Guest]

higromite/dyna-rok/whatever
is really the best solution.
it is the most expensive, however.
no damaging fragile root system
no rolling cornballs to step on
it absorbs liquid and gets heavy as a mother
if you keep the top layer dry you'll never get any root or water-borne pests.

peace, love & coco

Humble, are you talking about turface/aquatic soil? I was thinking of using that for an aquaponic set up for the little tiny.

 

[FreezerBoy]

And your sure it was due to the lava rocks FreezerBoy?
I honestly don't think the sharp edges would be to much of a problem unless your moving it all around or pouring in directly onto the roots. Once it's settled in the bucket or netcup it doesn't move much.

I was doing Flood and Drain at the time. All my plants were in Rockwool cubes except the one in a homemade netpot with lava rock. All lived in the same tub so, all were fed the same nutes at the same time etc. The lava rock grow was scrawny in comparison to Rockwool. Most likely because Rockwool has greater water retention and I didn't compensate. That's MY fault. The taste however was like gasoline. Foul, hot, solvent tasing while being the same nutes as Rockwool.

Maybe a better flush of the lava rock would cure this? I only soaked it for a couple of days in a bucket of water changed twice a day.

Anyway. I'm NOT saying all lava rock is intrinsically bad. Just that BAD lava rock is very, very, very bad. Wish I could remember just what I bought. All I remember was it was at Home Depot.

 

[oldgrayhair]

I'll dig around tomorrow, but Freezerboy has reminded me about some info I found somewhere. There apparently is true lava rock, and some sort of man made alternative. As most things in life, the man made stuff was apparently made up differently and not beneficial.

I'll see what I can find.

PEace - OGH

FWIW, I'm currently running a small waterfarm style system with hydroton, and just tonight placed 2 clones into a similar system with lava rocks..the natural ones. Everything else is the same. So maybe I'll at least see what happens here.

 

[Jalisco Kid]

You can clean lava rocks with a cement mixer(bunch of holes drilled),pressure washer,cannizym. If I was to do a grow with lava again I would take some to a lab.Sulfites in high concentration can be in lava.
I have gotten my largest crops with lava, but it is always a battle compared to a 70/30 chow mix.I might get 10% less overall but I can leave for awhile.
Roots are no problem with lava rocks.
Tying up plants takes too damn long,YO-Yos are the only way unless you have just a few plants. JK

 

[joluvs2gro]

I know this is an old thread but I'D like to resurrect it just for the benefit of the info contained herein. I am putting togethor my first hydro system and contemplating using lava rock but the sediment just keeps coming and coming. I am using a small 190 gph pump, will this sediment hurt the pump or is there a filter I can buy to put around it or something? I haven't heard anybody even bring up this issue in the thread so I am wondering what your experiences have been regarding this problem??

 

[purpledomgoddes]

the sediment run-off from the lava rock will continue. it never stops. search pond filters, compare, and acquire box of pre-filters. or just use nylon stockings. replace every 1-3 days, wash, re-use.

accessability+low cost of lava advantages.

bulkiness+sediment, etc disadvantges.

run/ran for several yrs. if have place to wash/clean/disinfect, good long term option; if not, will get in way.

coco+perlite, just coco, just perlite, perlite+vermiculite can all be re-used too; plus lighter, and less troublesome to handle/carry around, etc. can mix lava w/ any/all of above. can use as top dressing, or drainage layer. generally good to have a bag of lava around to experiment w/ + mix w/ other media for drainage.

enjoy your garden!

 

[spacecaser]

Sorry for the old thread upheaval but, what about aquarium rock? The medium sized river rock type. Its inert, has small craters like hydroton and doesnt have sharp edges.
Is the water retention in hydro media (hydroton) necessary for all hydro techniques, ie DWC?
I have heard that any inert media can be used as hydro media(even Legos lol). I am curious because Im putting together a small 2 site DWC (1-1/2gal) for micro grow and I happen to have a brand new 5lb bag of small to medium sized river rock for aquariums and dont foresee needing the 50L bag of hydroton from my local hydrostore.

All input is appreciated! Thanks!