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Lava Rock
Lava rock is the cheapest option for appropriate grow bed media, but it also lacks the most important property of high-quality substrate: smooth edges. Lava rock is hard on your hands, difficult to maneuver, and cuts through plant roots. The angular shape of lava rock can cans blockages in the beds where algae builds up, and causes pockets of water to remain stagnant. However, lava rock is also incredibly porous and lightweight, making it a useful addition to a grow bed. Lava rock works best as a lave across the bottom of a bed, where it can serve as a home for bacteria. This will allow you to put a different media on top that's easier on your hands and plant roots. Plus, it helps cut down on the cost of your substrate. Vermiculite Vermiculite is manufactured almost exactly like Hydroton; a miner mineral is superheated until it pops, resulting in a lightweight, porous material. The major problem with vermiculite is that it's small, and can clog pipes or cause blockages. Smaller particle sizes allow roots to form dense mats around them, and this can make harvesting a timeconsuming and difficult process. Vermiculite is best for extremely small aquaponic systems that are used as an educational tool, or as an ingredient in a customized medium. 98 Please Note: Vermiculite is not perlite. While the two have very similar characteristics, perlite contains incredibly small particulates that act like glass shards when they pass through the gills of your fish. Grow Beds Grow beds for media-filled bed systems have to meet 3 requirements:
The most popular material for grow beds is some type of plastic tub, tote, or bin. These are easy to cut with hole saws, lightweight, and relatively cheap. Functioning grow beds will be composed of 3 layers: o l"-2” of dry media o Prevents algae growth o Prevents fungus gnats o 8”-9” of biological activity 99 • Sludge Layer (Bottom) o 1" or less of solids buildup o Harmless if kept in check Download 367.2 Kb. Do'stlaringiz bilan baham: 
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