Least expensive grow media for Central FL?

Hi everyone.

Well, the proverbial ball is definitely rolling.  I have my three IBC tanks.  I have my water pump.  I have plenty of PVC lying around for the plumbing.  What I don't have is growing media.

I must admit that I hadn't given much thought to the sheer amount of media I'd need.  After working out some rough calculations, I am sure that I can't afford to use Hydroton as I had first intended.

So what the cheapest alternative for Central Florida?  What should I use and where can I source it?

Thanks everyone,

Ed

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Luis Arteaga on April 24, 2012 at 11:31am

A friend told me about a product call 5200 made for boot repairs and waterproof,  but i don`t know if this will go with the material the IBC containers are made of.

Permalink Reply by TCLynx on April 24, 2012 at 12:05pm

Few adhesives actually stick well to HDPE plastic, even when using silicone to seal something to hdpe plastic, it is really more like using the silicone as a gasket more than a sealant.

Permalink Reply by Luis Arteaga on April 24, 2012 at 12:22pm

i got an idea that it may work well, what about using a old toothbrush and melting it over the hole covering it completely?

Permalink Reply by Luis Arteaga on April 24, 2012 at 1:46pm

The idea about the tohbrush seems to be working, more about this later....

Permalink Reply by Luis Arteaga on April 24, 2012 at 4:00pm

Well some of you will call me crazy but the idea did work, i did melt a piece of a toothbrush in the hole, then i covered with glue (from a heat glue gun) and after letting it cool down for 30 minutes i am filling the tank with water right now and after 70 gallons still is not leaking, ( the whole was at the bottom) will see whe completely full (180 gallons).

Permalink Reply by Luis Arteaga on April 27, 2012 at 9:00am

Second part of the IBC tank repairs, one of the tanks was leaking after repairs, (the one with the hole in the front half height), i emptied, let it dry for a day at the sun and with a small gas torch did apply some heat to the glue weld applied before with the heat gun very lightly and carefully because the glue from the heat gun and the container material (HDPE) are very delicate and do not resist a direct flame, the glue did melt a little forming a nice round semi ball uniform around and on top of the hole, ( i had to explain that i did put a lot of glue before with the heat gun in every hole, like a three bars of glue in each side of them forming a round ball all over it) let it cool for an hour and repit same operation on the other side, let it cool them for a couple hours and voila, new tank, fill to the top with 180 gallons of water and no leaking. I hope this can be useful to anyone with the same problem.

Permalink Reply by M D Fowler on April 28, 2012 at 8:40am
Permalink Reply by Luis Arteaga on April 29, 2012 at 7:31am

Thanks for pointing me out, it`s ok for now, i am done with the repairs, but it will be nice if another leak appears, if anybody do know any other way to repair HDPE plastic it will be nice to posted it here, we all busy with aquaponics and plastic rafts and tanks need to use this kind of info from time to time. it`s a fact the amount of people beginning with AP is growing by the day, sooner or later somebody will be very happy having this info at hand, it save money and time.
 
M D Fowler said:

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