jmicaelk Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 Hi, I am doing a hydroponics test with some strawberries in grow towers and looking for the grow medium. is Rockwool or Coco coir the better choice here in Thailand, and where can I find it ?? Im in Rayong area and need enough for 1000 net pots. I'm sure coco coir is easier to find, but sometimes it is not clean. So any info appreciated Regards Micael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rice555 Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 Hello All. if it's a recirculating system, you don't want to use coir. If your berries have a root mass, try using hydrotron, you should be able to get at Aquaponics Thailand. Depending on you net pot size, you'll probably want the smallest size hydrotron. If the hole in the net pot is larger, get the larger size. A good selection of rock wool is not to be had in LOS, ACK at one time years ago had RW slabs, that you could cut up and rap around the roots and put into a 3" NP, but the slab cost was HIGH. rice555 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithson Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 Is salt the problem with using Coco in recirculating systems? I use it in AP, large chunks, not the dust. Some blue screen on the drain catches loose prices.Sent from my i-mobile IQ II using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmicaelk Posted November 1, 2016 Author Share Posted November 1, 2016 Hi I see the have Rockwool Thailand, so I will give them a try tomorrow, I need it for my strawberry runners as well. So hydrotron is ok to use in netpots ? I really only see rockwool or coco coir Regards Micael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmicaelk Posted November 1, 2016 Author Share Posted November 1, 2016 So why not use coco coirs ?? should be plenty of that around here, don't they have high enough quality or ?? Regards Micael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooked Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 5 hours ago, Smithson said: Is salt the problem with using Coco in recirculating systems? I use it in AP, large chunks, not the dust. Some blue screen on the drain catches loose prices. Sent from my i-mobile IQ II using Tapatalk As far as I understand it, most coconut coir comes from trees growing near the sea, hence the salt content. Orchid growers will soak coir in water, changing the water 2 - 3 times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmicaelk Posted November 1, 2016 Author Share Posted November 1, 2016 Thanks Cooked, where can I find good coir ?? will use in 3 inch net pots Regards Micael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooked Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 28 minutes ago, jmicaelk said: Thanks Cooked, where can I find good coir ?? will use in 3 inch net pots Regards Micael Dunno.I just go to local garden centre and buy some. Thaiwatsadu usually has some bags @ 10 litres. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmicaelk Posted November 1, 2016 Author Share Posted November 1, 2016 Thanks Cooked, would you recommend coir over rockwool ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithson Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 I think there's info in another thread about treating coir. Another option is rice husks.Sent from my i-mobile IQ II using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rice555 Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 Hello All, what does your net pot look like and size? There are several posts on one of the hydro threads about how to treat coir or coco pieces if you growing hydro. Rinsing only does so much, you need to soak your coir/pieces in a EC 2.0, of calcium nitrate/water for 24Hrs before use, don't rinse after, just start using your nutes. The last bunch of coir I used was from a small place here in Korat that processes the husks on site, they use the fibers to make mattress pads. rice555 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FEBiochar Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 Has anyone experimented with biochar as a hydroponic media? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooked Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 38 minutes ago, FEBiochar said: Has anyone experimented with biochar as a hydroponic media? Now there's a good question Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsaanAussie Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 Agreed, very good question. I see no reason why biochar shouldn't be a good medium as long as it is washed thoroughly before use. However a few things that should be considered are: pH levels do vary dependant on the source material and temperature at which it is burnt, usually tending to be alkaline. Because biochar has such a massive surface area it will tend to "store" anything in the water other than just providing refuge for biology. It is carbon hence the C/N ratio may have an effect on the nutrient balance. I'm keen to know more... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rice555 Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 Hello All, for a good explanation of how to treat coir/coco, go to the Hydro Farming thread and and go to post #205 by whitewater and post #207 by Scoop1. Plain old gap would work as good as CRH and a cost and labor savings. When you give nutes to your plant/s, you are giving it what it needs. I also think that any recirculating system would clog and leave a black film on the sides of where the nutrient flow. OP, can you link to the rock wool place please? RW also has to be conditioned before use. On a side note, I've used CRH in my starting mix, and no CRH before and have seen nothing different in a side by side test of the same seed, about 20% CRH. I use my starts in dirt or hydro, but I do run to waste, not a recirculation system. rice555 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmicaelk Posted November 2, 2016 Author Share Posted November 2, 2016 Sure Rice, I will go check it out tomorrow, if they have I will post here. In what way do RW needs to be conditioned ?? Micael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rice555 Posted November 3, 2016 Share Posted November 3, 2016 17 hours ago, jmicaelk said: Sure Rice, I will go check it out tomorrow, if they have I will post here. In what way do RW needs to be conditioned ?? Micael Jello All, from the little I've read about RW, you need to rinse/soak the RW with a pH buffer or something like that. Check out the Grodan web site, onr of the largest makers. rice555 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmicaelk Posted November 3, 2016 Author Share Posted November 3, 2016 Hi all, well I went to look today but was not able to get any RW the RW here in Thiland had some added chemicals they said and could not pick up water. But the little sample bit i got get socked after I held it under water for some time, so not sure what to make out of it. Calling to Sweden now to get more info about it. If can use I will have to order and order a lot, so I hope some other people are open to buying from me, I will be able to deliver all over thailand, but yeah, not so cheap. If can not use I will have to order 1 container, but then can custom order, cubes or what ever, not just rolls or slabs. So please let me know what you guys thinks, anyone interested ?? Micael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmicaelk Posted November 4, 2016 Author Share Posted November 4, 2016 Should me soaked haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hereinthailand Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 If you are using grow towers with net pots a mix of perlite and coir would be much cheaper and reusable. Rockwool is one shot and throw away. The RW (insulation grade) you got might have a fire retardant in it compared to a grodan or similar garden use RW. You shouldnt be using drippers for your nutrient feed lines so just put a net or screen around your pump to catch any sediment from the coir and perlite until the system settles down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmicaelk Posted November 4, 2016 Author Share Posted November 4, 2016 25 minutes ago, Hereinthailand said: If you are using grow towers with net pots a mix of perlite and coir would be much cheaper and reusable. Rockwool is one shot and throw away. The RW (insulation grade) you got might have a fire retardant in it compared to a grodan or similar garden use RW. You shouldnt be using drippers for your nutrient feed lines so just put a net or screen around your pump to catch any sediment from the coir and perlite until the system settles down. Thank you, well they talked about that they added fire retardant, but why do that, normal RW do not burn as well, it's made from stone after all. I also asked RW in Sweden but not even they know what would be different here. I'm worried to use coir as the holes in my net pots are up to 9mm wide and 30 mm long, 12 of those on the sides and 6 9x15mm holes in the bottom Maybe some coco fibers and the coir ?? Hydroton is cheap as well, 500 b for 50 L bags Attach pic of my net pots, the one to the left Micael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hereinthailand Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 That netpot is slotted way to big, good for orchids and such. Something like these are suited for hydro https://www.aliexpress.com/item/5-49-56mm-vegetables-planting-nursery-basket-cup-pp-material-Net-cup-pots-for-seedlings-Hydroponics/32496392523.html?spm=2114.30010308.3.142.kQ7QUs&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_2_10091_10090_10088_10089,searchweb201603_1&btsid=3cf46d4c-5284-4b6b-bf7e-01e9ae3eeb71 With that one expanded clay pellets are about your only choice or if you can find some large PPI foam, I am trying to source some reticulated 10-40 PPI PU foam sheets for slotted grow towers but alas thailand is not much for getting email answers. I prefer fiber media as it has much more surface area. Have you considered an NFT system ? if you have the area it might be a better choice for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmicaelk Posted November 4, 2016 Author Share Posted November 4, 2016 Yes I was thinking of NTF but I didn't have enough space ready, and the plants were not waiting so had to do something for the space I had. Maybe get the pots to the right and make slots with soldering iron. PITA but what to do. How about coco fibers on the sides and coco coir in the middle, that way the fibers would hold it in the pots Micael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hereinthailand Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 Fiber/coir mix prob would be okay. What kind of system are you going to use ? vertical or horizontal ? pipe diameter ? I would also go to aliexpress and order a cheap ec/tds meter, ph meter, and ph buffer powder takes a couple of weeks to get here, you will need these. I think also I would focus on a much smaller amount of plants until you get used to using a hydro system. At the least zone your plants into separate systems to try different media and nutrient mixes so your next crop will be more productive. Google hydro buddy for a free nutrient calculator that will make it much cheaper mixing your own nutrients then using pre-mix although you might want to use some in a separate system to see what works best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rice555 Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 2 hours ago, Hereinthailand said: Fiber/coir mix prob would be okay. What kind of system are you going to use ? vertical or horizontal ? pipe diameter ? I would also go to aliexpress and order a cheap ec/tds meter, ph meter, and ph buffer powder takes a couple of weeks to get here, you will need these. I think also I would focus on a much smaller amount of plants until you get used to using a hydro system. At the least zone your plants into separate systems to try different media and nutrient mixes so your next crop will be more productive. Google hydro buddy for a free nutrient calculator that will make it much cheaper mixing your own nutrients then using pre-mix although you might want to use some in a separate system to see what works best. ACK, Accent, Fresh Gardens and Bangsai all have pH up and down, no need for having it shipped in. rice555 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hereinthailand Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 What are you talking about ??? ph buffer powder is used to calibrate your ph meter. And why pay for expensive ph up and down solutions when cheap common off the shelf chemicals do the same thing ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rice555 Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 3 hours ago, Hereinthailand said: What are you talking about ??? ph buffer powder is used to calibrate your ph meter. And why pay for expensive ph up and down solutions when cheap common off the shelf chemicals do the same thing ? Sorry, misread, was thinking of nutrient up/down. Run to waste you only set the pH when you make a batch. rice555 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithson Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 I'm not sure biochar would be good for hydroponics, it may store too much salt? For AP I think it can be great though, heaps of minerals and trace elements and home to bacteria. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hereinthailand Posted November 7, 2016 Share Posted November 7, 2016 A good read on washing your coir. http://www.growstone.com/2014/03/the-importance-of-buffered-coco-and-why-we-use-it-in-gs-3-coco-mix/ I have always just rinsed it good but looks like there is a lot to be said for using a calcium wash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oxo1066 Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Hi coco coir would be the best but you will have to wash it first before useSent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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