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Thread: Grow Beds

  1. #1
    Moderator badflash's Avatar
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    Grow Beds

    OK, who has suggestions for pre-built, ready to go, grow beds and media?

    I found these:
    http://www.grotek.net/products/guide/pr ... floodtable
    Looks to be about $140 for a 4'X8'.

    I'm also looking into expanded shale. They heat the stuff until it puffs up. Very light weight at around 55#/cubic foot. Soaks up water and sinks. Cheap. Local to me is this product:
    http://www.norliteagg.com/
    The best fertilizer is the farmer's shadow

  2. #2
    Moderator jackalope's Avatar
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    Re: Grow Beds

    Quote Originally Posted by badflash
    OK, who has suggestions for pre-built, ready to go, grow beds and media?

    I found these:
    http://www.grotek.net/products/guide/pr ... floodtable
    Looks to be about $140 for a 4'X8'.

    These appear to be in Canada, are there export/import charges, etc?


    I'm also looking into expanded shale. They heat the stuff until it puffs up. Very light weight at around 55#/cubic foot. Soaks up water and sinks. Cheap. Local to me is this product:
    http://www.norliteagg.com/
    If they can pass this stuff below from the MSDS (I've read that some people put acid in the tank to adjust the PH), I'd say it might be a pretty good test product if the price is right Most of our "shale" or "slate" around here is actually a limestone ..... wouldn't that add calcium to the water?
    INCOMPATIBILITY (Materials to avoid) Contact with powerful oxidizing agents such as flourine, boron triflouride, chlorine triflouride, manganese triflouride, and oxygen diflouride may cause fire and/or explosions. Silica dissolves in hydroflouric acid producing a corrosive gas-silicon tetraflouride.
    I use the Linux Operating System ...... Free as in beer!
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  3. #3
    Moderator badflash's Avatar
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    Re: Grow Beds

    They don't use limestone. Shale is primarily compacted clay. Once fired it becomes a ceramic. Limestone turns to powder (lime) when it is fired, so it wouldn't work.

    If you use colors in your fonts, please pick ones that stand out better. I couldn't read the green at all.
    The best fertilizer is the farmer's shadow

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    Re: Grow Beds

    BadFlash,

    I'm using pea gravel in 1/2 barrels. I'm looking into making a floating raft system next, for more production per square foot.

    IronFish

  5. #5
    Moderator badflash's Avatar
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    Re: Grow Beds

    I'll look forward to seeing what you have. Rafts are great for lots of things, but I've read they plants that work are limited. I think a combo of Flood/Drain and raft will be what I'll try. Flood drain to remove the particulates, raft for salad veggies. Flood & Drain seems the way to go for most of the more common non-salid veggies.

    What is your experience?
    The best fertilizer is the farmer's shadow

  6. #6
    Moderator jackalope's Avatar
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    Re: Grow Beds

    Quote Originally Posted by badflash
    If you use colors in your fonts, please pick ones that stand out better. I couldn't read the green at all.
    Done that ! Is that better
    I use the Linux Operating System ...... Free as in beer!
    You're never too old to learn something
    Aquaponics - food'n'fish at your doorstep

    Helena, Montana - Home of the Northernmost Monument to the Confederacy

  7. #7
    Moderator jackalope's Avatar
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    Re: Grow Beds

    Quote Originally Posted by Ironfish
    BadFlash,

    I'm using pea gravel in 1/2 barrels. I'm looking into making a floating raft system next, for more production per square foot.

    IronFish
    I've decided to go with pea gravel too. It took about 5 times to wash the mud off the lava rock, I think I lost about half the lava rock . I went today and bought some pea gravel at the concrete company ..... 50 cents for a 5 gallon bucket .... I got 5 buckets full, virtually no washing needed since it's been snowed on all winter, and it looked washed already. I think a little sand will be better than lava dist sediment
    I use the Linux Operating System ...... Free as in beer!
    You're never too old to learn something
    Aquaponics - food'n'fish at your doorstep

    Helena, Montana - Home of the Northernmost Monument to the Confederacy

  8. #8
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    Re: Grow Beds

    I used river bed stone last year (too heavy-over kill) and also I tried lava rock which was "harsh" and not so easy to work with plus it cut's into roots when I did maintenance on some the hydroponic tomatoes.

    So this year pea gravel is in, so far I like the stuff..cheap & easy to work with imho.
    ""we are what we eat""

  9. #9
    Moderator badflash's Avatar
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    Re: Grow Beds

    I've been researching this product since last fall:
    http://www.norliteagg.com/horticulture/green_roof.asp
    It is made from fired shale and is available by the ton quite cheaply. I can get a pick-up load for about $70. The stuff is light weight and porus so water loggs quickly and sinks. Only about 50# per cubic foot. This means the weiight of the grow bed is significanly reduced over using gravel. It is a ceramic and adds nothing to the water. Chemical tests show it to be safe to use.

    They make it just north of Albany NY, so I can drive up and get a load.
    The best fertilizer is the farmer's shadow

  10. #10
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    Re: Grow Beds

    Normal is just a setting on a washing machine.

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