Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hey,

Just wondering does expanded clay pebbles float? and if so for how long do they float for?

I have a problem with mine, where they are floating and so it would be unstable to plant anything.

I've searched around the forum looking for info about the floating and haven't found that much info. People have stated it does float but not for how long and how to help it to sink

Any help would be AWESOME coz yeah thats my only hold up atm. Im using a flood and drain system in half barrel grow beds.

Cheers!!!

They don't float for long. You may want to check how high your water is getting in the gb.

I have found that I only had this issue when I had the overflow on the standpipe too high.

The water only needs to get approx 1 inch from the surface of the media, and then capilliary action will draw moisture up the last bit.

Even after having beds running for over 12mths, if I flood the bed (for pest management) some of the hydroton still floats, so to me it will likely be the bed drain overflow height, and reducing this should help.

Keep your GB's flooded for 24 hours and you will find it becomes saturated and stops floating. I did not need to cycle the school system when the hydroton beds were plumbed in so I stuck a plug in the drain, filled the bed and left it a few days and they settled right down.

I'd prefer you to lower the height of the flooding

+1.. drop your level

Cheers for the info everyone!
Yeah it seems i've prob got my flood level too high but it seems i'm just constantly dropping the flood level haha but whateva works.

I'll tell you how it goes!

Cheers

And pictures can help too.

As you make a change to the stand pipe or the volume of feed water,
it will take a good 10 minutes for the GB's to settle...
Task is : If needed make slight adjustment to the gate value
then go and make a coffee or start to brew a tea
then go check the level again

...and as Rupe says

Here are those pics if they help

No real need for the cut-outs... and I think they're restricting your flow...

The level of the cut-out looks to be about the max flood level... I'd just square the standpipe off at that level and see how it goes...

If need be then you can fine tune with a ball valve...