Dont you just hate clay pebbles!!! Help Needed!!!

[pharmacist8888]

I love hydro my setup with ebb and flo is great in my opinion everyone gets excited when it comes to setting up but still whenever it comes to setting up the one thing i cant stand is washing out 50ltr bags of clay pebbles there are many different methods and opinions on this in the near foreseable future im gonna need to wash out 15/20 bags and just wanted to see how other people do it or would do it...

 

[SOTF420]

Poke holes in the bottom of bags so it drains well but the hydroton won't come out and just rinse well with a hose or in the bathtub it works like a charm! Then just let all the water drain out well and it's all still in the bag ready to use.

 

[High Country]

Poke holes in the bottom of bags so it drains well but the hydroton won't come out and just rinse well with a hose or in the bathtub it works like a charm! Then just let all the water drain out well and it's all still in the bag ready to use.

Exactly, just what I do. Poke holes in the bottom of the bag with a phillips head screw driver or something, take it outside, open up the top and flood it with the garden hose until it runs clear. I do this with 50 litre bags and works well. Then fill up the ebb/flow tray and away you go.

 

[Andyo]

PH and wash

PH and wash

I have a large 100 gallon bin with 2" tap at the bottom i first wash them through with tap water letting the orange brown go down the drai when clear turn of tap n add nitric acid and stir with paddle leave over night stir again check ph adjust to 5.5 stir agitate and drain .A

 

[Marshall]

Yup, just poke holes in the bag and flush.


I have also used it and not rinsed at all. Straight from the bag to the table. All it is, is dust and it will wash out. It will make the res messy but has no affect on the plants. Hydroton is always breaking down and putting dust into the water.

For PH issues, the PH will stabilize after a week or two. You may need to adjust PH frequently till the rocks stabilize

 

[Scrogerman]

I always soak in PH adjusted water first, 24 hours. Then wash hard in the bath Tub with normal Tap water(Tap running), before another 24 hour soak in PH'd Nute solution(low EC) or Ph'd water.
The Wash in the bath Tub(Tap running) gets all the Dust out of it, My Res is always Crystal Clear afterwards, 0% Dust.

 

[mule420]

I put mine in a mesh laundry bag and throw it in the washer. I like the holes in the bag idea thanks guys!

 

[ThePizzaMan]

Check out another aggregate. Sure To Grow makes a ton of grow media that is easy to use and much better than hydroton imho.

 

[BlueberryLovr]

FYI, even after you wash off the layer of claydust, once your hydroton dries and you shift it around, more dust and small particles(from breakage) will be generated. The dust has no effect on pH. More of a cosmetic thing to see a "clean" res.

 

[SOTF420]

The dust is actually damn good for your plants it's loaded with silica one of the reasons hydroton is such a great medium to grow in and supports growing big strong plants.

 

[SoCoMMJ]

Has anybody developed a process or a tool for cleaning hydroton to recycle ? I need to do 100 liters a week and it's getting old doing it by hand.

My process....

Pressure spray over screen to remove organic material
Dump in tub with 15ml/gal bleach and soak overinght
Rinse by hand in 10" net pots with tap water and stack filled pots ready for use.

I want to buy an old washing machine and try running it through there but scooping it out will be a bummer. Maybe a front loader ?

Ideas ?

 

[jm420]

I always soak in PH adjusted water first, 24 hours. Then wash hard in the bath Tub with normal Tap water(Tap running), before another 24 hour soak in PH'd Nute solution(low EC) or Ph'd water.
The Wash in the bath Tub(Tap running) gets all the Dust out of it, My Res is always Crystal Clear afterwards, 0% Dust.

 

[SOTF420]

Has anybody developed a process or a tool for cleaning hydroton to recycle ? I need to do 100 liters a week and it's getting old doing it by hand.

My process....

Pressure spray over screen to remove organic material
Dump in tub with 15ml/gal bleach and soak overinght
Rinse by hand in 10" net pots with tap water and stack filled pots ready for use.

I want to buy an old washing machine and try running it through there but scooping it out will be a bummer. Maybe a front loader ?

Ideas ?

Not sure on a process to do this really in any large quantity but I know if I were you I would be using H202 over the bleach it's actually a far better & more effective alternative and way less toxic. The 35% stuff is pretty easy to dilute and easily found online. Your hydroton will be cleaner than you ever imagined it could be.

 

[FreezerBoy]

I want to buy an old washing machine and try running it through there but scooping it out will be a bummer. Maybe a front loader ?

Ideas ?

Maybe try this?

I put mine in a mesh laundry bag and throw it in the washer. I like the holes in the bag idea thanks guys!

 

[BIGGERBUD]

Pillow case tie off the top, in the washing machine for a quick rinse.

Dont over fill the pillow case, about half full. Does a great job.

I picked up a whole load of good shit off you Freezer boy, seen some of your top grows, respect !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[opt1c]

i like my washing machine too much to do that....

what i do is take a big unframed screen; like one u use on a sliding door or window... put in in the tub/sink with lots of overlap... it's fine enough mesh nothing that's going to clog a drain will get through.... wash wash wash... i find that the more exposed and flatter the pile of hydroton is... ie wide not deep.. the quicker and more efficient cleaning is

 

[Marshall]

Most people would buy a 2nd washing machine to do this....

I have also heard of people using cement mixers


To be honest I never made a big deal of cleaning hydroton. I would pull my plants out, shake all the rocks out of the rootball, and leave all the rocks in the pot. I would flush the whole system with bleach, rinse, and put in new plants. I used hygrozyme to deal with any leftover roots

Never had a problem . But that was with SOG plants and smaller rootballs. Now I have bigger plants and bigger rootballs, I will have to see how I can deal with those.

 

[HempAlchemist]

one of my buddies does this:
he bought a large garden garbage can and put a drain hole at the bottom. he then put a fine wire rack at the bottom of the can, but above the drain hole. he then closes off the drain hole and then adds the hydroton. the then fills the can with water and a lil bit of dish soap. the soap is use as a surfactant to get all the dust off. let it drain and its ready for use. best of all you now have a storage place for the hydroton thats out of the way. when he reuses, instead of soap he adds H2O2 and stirs the mix a few times a day for 24hrs then drains and rinses with fresh water then its good to go
HA

 

[SOTF420]

70% hydroton and 30% coir is the best grow mix I have ever used for what it's worth

 

[bendoslendo]

H2O2 reduces roots to mush pretty quick. Use a good amount of 30% strength. I use Physan 20 with the H2O2. Resulting root mush is relatively easily washed away on screen or colanders.

If your doing this in your home bathroom, it's a pretty good idea to give your wife/girlfriend/significant other a couple potent hash-oil cookies. This will mitigate the rage incurred for covering the bathroom in the reddish clay juice.