What are the beads this guy is scooping out in this video: https://www.youtube.com/embed/3Gjd5DRyeks
Asked
Active
Viewed 593 times
2 Answers
9
These are called by various names but the one I am familiar with is LECA. It stands for Lightweight Expanded Clay aggregate and is made by this company.
Having seen this material used in twenty and thirty year old installations I can attest to its durability. Lightweight? Not so much.
kevinskio
- 59,505
- 9
- 77
- 163
9
That look like Hydroton, which explained above is expanded clay.
It is highly porous and holds moisture very well, and is used in a lot of Deep Water Culture/Aquaponic/Hydroponic applications.
DevOops
- 206
- 1
- 3
-
1That's a lot cheaper than the previous answer. – black thumb Mar 20 '16 at 22:53
-
If you are looking for economic solutions, you might also look into expanded shale and growstones, but I've never used them personally. – DevOops Mar 20 '16 at 22:56
-
1It's for a hack-a-thon project, so we're shoe stringing the project. – black thumb Mar 20 '16 at 23:00
-
Cool, are you guys doing anything code related? What is your objective? Is there a project page? Good luck with it – DevOops Mar 20 '16 at 23:07
-
Yes, with PLCs, why do you ask? – black thumb Mar 20 '16 at 23:10
-
1I am (slowly) working on a pH/Nutrient controller with Raspi. Interested in similar type projects and how they're executed. – DevOops Mar 20 '16 at 23:21
-
That project sounds like: FUN!!! – black thumb Mar 20 '16 at 23:24
-
Cheapest, but also heaviest, is to find a pH stable gravel I.e. with no limestone – Graham Chiu Mar 21 '16 at 07:55