Anybody Use Growstones?

Sounds good PF.

PetFlora said:

Growstone
Where to Buy

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Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Growstones-GP...owstone-Hydroponic/product-reviews/B005AXWS8O

UK: http://www.hydroponics.net/i/134377

eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Growstones-Hydroponic-Growth-Medium-1-25-CU-FT-/321093725878

I have used both sizes, I like the smaller stones, Like perlite, but doesn't float to the top.

I'm also using the smaller Growstones combined with Slacker Air coco in a 50/50 mix. Works great IMO.

I have used the large growstones for my last 3 grows, they work well with my setup, I will continue using them if they remain available to me.

I just bought a bag of the smaller ones, and plan to do some testing with a DTW setup. I'm very eager to completely drop coco, but I'm cautious as I am worried about running 100% growstones DTW. I am going to run a couple experiments in the coming weeks with a couple new clones and see how 100% growstones matches up to a 10, 20, and 30% cut of coir. Maybe a 5th pure coir just for fun.

I really would like to see 100% growstones work, and with the water holding ability and capillary action, I have my fingers crossed that they will. If I can dial them without too much waste I really think the low CEC would be superior to coir in a multi-feed per day drip DTW. I have also thought of maybe cutting it with some vermiculite rather than coir, but I have no experience with verm, so...

I have used the large growstones as a replacement for Hydroton, as the hydro store was out the day I went, and I saw no difference swapping the large stones for hydroton 1 to 1. The large stones on the bottom of a pot, then the smaller ones all the way to the top seems like it would keep the perched water table higher, thus helping me in a DTW drip setup, as well as keep the small stones from falling out the bottom. Once the roots filled the pot, and multiple feedings were happening everyday, I imagine the roots would even take over the bottom of the pots with the big stones as well.

I have been searching for info the past few days about them, but every post I find seems to be a page or two long, then just stops dead in it's tracks. I can't seem to find a single person running them in a grow journal whatsoever, let alone a DTW setup.

So many idea/questions... I'm gonna try to start my experiments tomorrow if I have time!

I use a combination of small + large river rock (dollar store) + lava rock underneath

I spray from the top using Hydro Halo Drip Rings, but with 250+ gph pump to create a rainforest shower effect

Also using it in my High Performance Rez with 160 gph pump spraying onto river rock

Come by and watch it in action

PetFlora said:

I use a combination of small + large river rock (dollar store) + lava rock underneath

I spray from the top using Hydro Halo Drip Rings, but with 250+ gph pump to create a rainforest shower effect

Also using it in my High Performance Rez with 160 gph pump spraying onto river rock

Come by and watch it in action

View attachment 2815311View attachment 2815312View attachment 2815313 View attachment 2815314View attachment 2815315

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I can't imagine running to waste with river rocks!

I only skimmed your thread but it seems as if you reuse runoff, while it's not a completely closed system... correct me if I'm wrong.

My clones aren't quite rooted yet. As soon as they do, tests will commence!

shit is retarded. It still has old beer bottle labels in it. I was like wtf and laughed at my hydro guy. Its dirty
I just use straight perlite. its cheap, lightweight and you can just throw it away. fuck rockwool, clay, and all the rest of these new gimmicks.

My hpa grows were D2W until I figured out that nutes are virtually pH & ppm stable throughout veg through mid- flower (although daily topping off with water is essential due to evaporation.

So why throw out perfectly good nutes? It is the period from ~ midflower- harvest where the runoff CAN become toxic due to plants eliminating a lot of waste through their roots, and of course the increase of ppm due to evaporation.

A big part of the problem is ppms; most people use 2-3+ times more nutes than plants can use. High P plays a huge factor in CREATING rez toxicity

VEG I start with ~ 200ppm, by 3rd week ~ 420. I initiate flower by increasing to 500+ ppm. When I see preflowers I begin to lower the light cycle times

FLOWER Where most drop light to 12/12*, I reduce by ~ 1 hour per week, simultaneously increasing ppm to ~ 600, increasing 100ppms weekly to ~800. The following week I jump to ~ 1000 (for one week) then begin backing down . I do check and adjust pH daily

* I only maintain 12/12 for 5-7 days then continue lowering to ~ 10/14

LakesideWiseman said:

I can't imagine running to waste with river rocks!

I only skimmed your thread but it seems as if you reuse runoff, while it's not a completely closed system... correct me if I'm wrong.

My clones aren't quite rooted yet. As soon as they do, tests will commence!

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I have been playing around with Growstones by its self and mixed with coco.
Straight Growstones set up with recurlating top feed by hydro halo's, water twice a day for 15 min. Fast growth, I'm impressed.
The 70/30 Growstone to coco is in a flood and drain in 1 gallon fabric pots one flood per day for 30 min at lights on, sometimes twice in peak summer time.

I agree with you PetFlora, lot of people run ppm/ec much higher than needed. In a perpetual sog I have NOT changed my reservoir in over 8 months, just target nute top off. There are ways to keep it all in a perfect balance
I run the ppm 350-380 from week 1 to week 12 and they turn out great with just a touch of burn at week 1 until they adjust.

I don't get crazy monster yields but it works for me. 8 plants every two weeks with an oz per.

I'm not a fan of the product for hydro.
It works well in soil but in hydro the glass dust can be a problem.

WestDenverPioneer said:

I'm not a fan of the product for hydro.
It works well in soil but in hydro the glass dust can be a problem.

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I suppose if you did not rinse it you can have problems. I put it in a 5 gallon bucket with holes at the bottom and a layer of screen.
Set it in the shower for 20 min and no more dust. Clay balls always seemed to have dust no matter HOW many times I rinsed and washed them.

Is this your opinion or do you know someone who has not had good luck with it?
I'm killing it over here with growstones atm but am willing to listen and adapt.

Clay aggregate is rinsed and that's all it takes. It is used repeatedly with very little of it breaking down. I've been using the same porous clay stones for 15-20 years.

Grow Stones are glass and constantly break apart. They are brittle. The glass dust will settle in your pipes, reservoir, and ultimately can take out a pump. On top of that... the edges are sharp and bumping your containers can harm your roots.

I have used them myself, and will not use them in a hydroponic system. They are fine for coco and soil as a perlite replacement.