Hydroton and Air stone maintenance

Discussion in 'Hydroponic Growing' started by kesaber, Mar 5, 2015.

  1. Two questions, this is to avoid creating two threads.
     
     
    First, I know there are many methods to washing hydroton, but I was hoping I could get a few things clarified so that I could figure out a method that works for me. 
     
    1) Is boiling hydroton a good way to clean it (I would strain them after)?
    2) Do I have to ph the water on the final soaking?
    3) Are the broken rocks usable if cleaned thoroughly, or are they better thrown away?
    4) Anything else I should know?
     
    My setup is not that big so I am not necessarily interested in efficient ways to clean large amounts, just cleaning tips in general. 
     
    Second, my air stones.
     
    1) Do I need to do anything to them after each grow?
    2) If I am not going to be using them for a while, where do I keep them?
    3) If they do get dirty how do I clean them?
    4) Is it true if they dry they die?
    5) Anything else?
     
    Thank you all so much!
     

     
  2. #2 The Letter 3, Mar 5, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 5, 2015
    Hydroton is easy to care for. They don't retain moisture so how thoroughly you clean them is up to you.

    You can boil them and strain it out if you want but that seems like a lot of work for nothing..

    I'd be more concerned about dead plant matter. A wheelbarrow and a garden hose works pretty well lol.

    You might get salt buildups but even then hot water works pretty well.

    Broken pieces are fine...

    Air stones

    Not all airstones are created equal.
    Those cheap blue ones I'd replace every grow.
    The better ones you can boil out and scrub with a brush.

    I store mine on a shelf. Dry as hell. Before I run them I just hook em up and let em sit for a few (like a minute) and attach the air. 0 issues.

    If dirty... Boil and scrub. Don't use soap. Ever.

    I'd replace the air line occasionally or just wipe them down and snip the end so its a fresh snug fit.

    Edit: No you don't have to ph the water for cleaning the hydroton.
     
  3. The letter 3 did a good job on explaining all that very well


    I use hydrogen peroxide to clean my air stones...

    If really bad I boil them... Just be careful of the plastic barb on top... I've messed a few up before...
     
  4. I let my clay pellets dry out completely before I clean them. I pull the root balls out of the net pots while they're still  damp and then let everything dry out completely.
     
    After they're dry I put them into a large tray to break up the gnarled root balls and I clean the pellets with a shop vac. I put a 3" net pot over the end of the shop vac hose to keep the clay pellets from getting sucked in. Any small broken pieces small enough to go through the net pot get cleaned out along with all the dried up root material and clay dust that builds up from rubbing them against each other.
     
  5.  
    Clay balls
    1, boiling isn't going to offer any advantage and would be a lot of work. 
    2, no 
    3, they work just the same as unbroken ones.
    4, probably lol, but I can't think of anything
     
    air stones
    1, I like to rinse them off, give them a bit of a wipe and put them back on the pump for a few minutes while not being in the water. This is to make sure they dry properly. They should be stored dry otherwise they can break apart.
    2, I keep mine in a bucket, dry.
    3, a quick scrub with a stiff brush under running water should be all they need.
    4, lol what? No, definitely not.
    5, don't let them sit under water for any length of time without having air running through them. I have had air stones disintegrate from leaving them under water 
     

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