Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I am looking at a 50 liter bag online (and I have no idea how much that is)
My growbed is 6' long, 2' wide, and 1' deep
I have lava rock for the bottom but wanted hydroton on the top 3-4 or so inches.
How many bags would I need?
(and is 61.00 US dollars a good price for it?)

Once I get a bag, I will know more about how much 50 liters is
but there is not a place that has it around her for me to "look" at
first and that is so expensive to make a mistake with.

Thanks

oh yes... that is no shipping either (CA to TX)

your tank measures foot/cm converted - 180cmx60cmx30cm / 1000 = 324 liters, you will need 7 bags, cant help with the price though! unless my maths has left me for tonight!

i found 50 liters for $20, so i'd say 60 is way high...
look for hydroponic shops in your area, see if any have a deal (they make up the diff on shipping and handling) and pick it up..
or go with river gravel (avoid limestone), which will be much cheaper.. and a fair bit heavier

If you only want to cover 6' x 2', 3" to 4" deep 100 Litres should do it. (2 Bags)

2 bags.. thank you

The pebbles are the very last option because I have my system indoors and the weight of the water and the stand are as much as I am really comfortable with (of course adding the fish and the lavarock and veggies) I would prefer go the lighter route if possible. As for hydroponics shops around here.. there are none and everywhere I have looked gave me a "you are insane" look when I asked for hydroton. *shrugs*

thank you for doing the math but I did not want to fill the whole bed with hydroton... 7 bags is too steep for my wallet. I wish but that is just not possible for me.

I did find it elsewhere for $45.00 and free shipping so I might have to keep looking to see what I can find. If anybody finds it online for less than that please forward me a link. I would appreciate it much. If I find it less, I will post it as well.
The 45.00/50 liter is here.......
http://www.hayneedle.com/sale/easygreen ... sku=HDR014

Di are you in Texas?

If so look up the hydroponic store south of parkland hospital. I don't work there just tend to spend to much time and money there lol. 45 lt bag of expanded clay is $35 cash price per bag.




~Jtk07

I just picked up 5 bags of hydrocorn from my local shop for $32 /45l bags. I got about one inch per bag in my 4x4 GB.

Di,

there are at least a dozens hydroponic stores in the dallas area. Hydroton has been discontinued so generally ask for "expanded clay" or the new name brand "plant it"... you can get expanded clay pebbles in dallas, 45L bags of pebbles for $25

personally i prefer expanded shale, you can buy it by the cubic yard for about 60$ at living earth or other soil, rock, compost suppliers.






brian

Where are you getting it for $25?


~ jtk07~
using Tapatalk - please disregard typos!

I've heard reports that "Plant it" has significant effects on pH...

Please elaborate on this?

I have been using "plant it" and have seen a decrease in ph and actually works well with my water conditions as my local water measures 7.5-8ppm ph.
I loose roughly 5-8 gallons of water a week due to evaporation. When I add water I try not to add more than 5 gallons over a 2 day period and have been able to maintain 6.2-6.6ppm ph since the beginning


~ jtk07~
using Tapatalk - please disregard typos!

I'm picking up a 50l bag tonight for $29 but its not the hydroton brand. My 4'x4'x14"; filled to about 11-12" high I needed 8x45lit bags.

I guess my post was misleading, you can get it for $25 in dallas,


the local aquaponics group sometimes does bulk purchases.
http://www.meetup.com/dfwaquaponics/events/111458382/

You can e-mail adam to see if/when he plans on doing a bulk order again, or see if he has any left from the april order.




brian

I went on a scavenger hunt all over Dallas to find it. Out of 8 places on my list I found 2 places. One had them for like 28 and the other for 35. When I find my notes I can share the store names. Both were listed as hydroponic supply stores in the Dallas area. After buying two test bags and using almost an entire bag for my mini test system I will be looking for another alternative.