How do I sterilize 200 Litres of Hydroton @ a time??

DMG3528

DMG3528

Well-Known Member
Question to all you indoor gardeners. I am trying to reuse my hydroton in an ebb and grow. I have been boiling water in 6L pots and filling large tubs with the rock init. This method sucks. Any suggestions? I have heard that bleach will work but also stays in the rock. Even at 5% bleach. Looking for real world solutions if they are out there. I can do 20L of rock no prob. but when your trying to do a 55 gal. drum it gets alittle harder to do.:wall:
I would appreciate any input. Please help.
D
 
socom3riot

socom3riot

Well-Known Member
If you flush the rocks a few times with water , after using bleach , they would be fine. I know alot of people who do that.
 
DMG3528

DMG3528

Well-Known Member
I have read this, Yet I am reluctant. Bleach FEAR!!
I was hoping there was something I could use that would not hurt the plants and still do the job.
Have you done this personally?
 
TYPE-X

TYPE-X

Well-Known Member
With that many you should consider making a big pot or drum to mix them in with a bleech solution like socom said and rinse real well after. I do 2 1/2 gallons in a bucket at a time stirring and shaking.
 
abudsmoker

abudsmoker

Well-Known Member
that wont unlock salt bonds in most cases.

try using a kiddie pool or a large bathtub.

i use H202 for cleaning. make sure you use something to break the salt bonds!
 
socom3riot

socom3riot

Well-Known Member
DMG3528 said:
I have read this, Yet I am reluctant. Bleach FEAR!!
I was hoping there was something I could use that would not hurt the plants and still do the job.
Have you done this personally?
Click to expand...
I've witnessed it first hand being done, like the guy above this post said, get a bucket, big enough to do as much as u can , fill it with water. Leave some space for the rocks to like float around a bit... dunno if u know what I mean by that. Just dont have em all crunched together..

and kinda stir it up really well , do this a few times and you will be fine.

That might be alot of work tho if u have a shit ton of rocks to do. But really, ur gonna have a lot of work with a shit ton of rocks no matter which way you chose to do it.
 
abudsmoker

abudsmoker

Well-Known Member
first off i use gloves and i pour about 2 cups in a tub. i add waterjust over the level of rocks and allow to sit for a few minutes, after this i dilute to a lower level to allow me to move the hydroten around, once i have broken off all the root mater i turn on the shower and rinse and stir. i put out plastic and place them in the sun too cook dry,

then before use i lightly rinse
 
DMG3528

DMG3528

Well-Known Member
I am finding that the peroxide at 42% is working very well. 11 bucks a bottle for 3 washes and no problems yet.
Very good advice abudsmoker thank you.
D
 
9

9inch bigbud

Well-Known Member
here is a tip for you. let the clay dry then put the balls in a bucket and stir the fuck out of them without water that will brake most of the roots off that way 1st then wash them after.

1> let them dry get as much root of that way 1st
2> wash and ph them at 5.5
3> reuse.
 
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