Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Anyone in the great state of WA have/ know where i can get some pea gravel at realistic prices? chasing 600L worth
also chasing 200L or so of hydroton at the right price

will pay in cash/ Beer etc etc
Ben

Mate, you're not going to find the pea gravel any cheaper than your average sand/soil/mulch place - ring a couple of the closest to Freo.

Hydroton, Joel's is the going price, and it's cheaper than Bunnings.

Yeah, for 600L if will not be worth to go further than your local area. You will not save much compared to the fuel you might spend...

Although there is a soil/gravel place next to BYAP (Joel's) that sells the blue metal at a reasonable price. I will be using blue metal. So the pea gravel could be cheap as well. Gary 9414 1888.

So if you own (or can get one) a trailer and are going to BYAP to get your hydroton, it could be done in the same trip. And agree, I believe BYAP sells the hydroton at a reasonable price.

no worries
heading up to BYAP tomorrow to get the plumbing for the new GB so will grab some hydroton then

Hi there,
I am building my first system and noticed the GB media post.
Is their any difference / advantage between Gravel and Bluemetal, I know they are different rocks but is one easier to clean or do some plants go better with some media.
Your thoughts would be much appreciated.

i have heard that overtime bluegravel will compact down. Im using 500L peagravel because it wont compact too much and has a large SA for bacteria, and 100L hydroton because its easy to plant into and is porus so big sa for bacteria growth
cheers
Ben

Cheers Ben,

Don't sweat it too much - there's plenty of people using blue metal quite successfully !!

Hi Chillidude,
Do you reckon blue metal would be easier to clean, Gravel is inherantly dusty, whereas the blue metal seems harder and may be less prone to dusting up.
I have read on this forum of someone not cleaning media at all, surely cant hurt to give it a bit of a wash! After all the dirts gotta go somewhere, dirty fish tank.

Use blue metal... not gravel.... nothing smaller than 15-20mm IMO...

use blue metal? im told that peagravel is ok, i just need to find some big enough . .

I have actually washed both pea gravel and blue metal... they both leave behind lots of fines and somewhat pasty residue... a bit like very wet cement... Blue metal is slightly worse... this pasty residue is very dense and IMO will not go anywhere in a hurry and would likely stay at the bottom of your growbed (if you did not wash the gravel). If your growbed is deep, it should be alright, but if not, it might hinder effective drainage and filtration...

on a similar topic, does anyone know if you can get scoria in perth?

If you're still after Hydroton, I get my bags for $30-$33 a 50L bag. Hit me up if you want the contact!

BTx

im good for now but thats a really good price . . where abouts?