|
Post by absintheRTP on Mar 25, 2009 10:46:29 GMT -5
Is it necessary to rinse the clay beads before using them? I ask because I have 35 liters of beads to clean before putting them in the terrarium.... If so, do I really need to use R.O. water, or can I just used tap water?
|
|
|
Post by lloyd on Mar 25, 2009 12:43:32 GMT -5
I have never bothered but I have only used them for orchids not CP's. What plants are you planning to use them on? If you want I can wash some with distilled water and measure the ppm of the wash water.
|
|
|
Post by lenynero on Mar 25, 2009 12:44:17 GMT -5
First rinse with tap water and do a final rinse with RO or Distilled. Salts are what you want to get rid of and clay beads store up salts really easily.
|
|
|
Post by absintheRTP on Mar 25, 2009 15:38:56 GMT -5
thx lenynero
|
|
|
Post by lloyd on Mar 26, 2009 13:34:17 GMT -5
I washed about a cup of clay beads in about 2 cups of distilled water (PPM 1). The wash water was 58 PPM on my cheap Hanna Meter. So it would be a good idea to wash them with distilled or RO water until the PPM of the rinse water was ~10PPM. I don't know if I would use tap water, they may actually get more salts from it than would rinse away. Toronto tap water measures 150 PPM dissolved salts.
|
|
|
Post by absintheRTP on Mar 26, 2009 14:13:46 GMT -5
ok, I can't tell about Vaudreuil's water.... I rince it all in RO water
|
|
|
Post by vraev on Mar 26, 2009 16:27:20 GMT -5
unless you are planting the plants directly in it or using the runoff water to water the plants...I don't see the point of washing it though.
|
|
|
Post by absintheRTP on Mar 26, 2009 18:52:57 GMT -5
don't know, I was asking, the way I am gonna use the clay beads are like this
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: peat moss
-------------------------- geo textil ooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooo clay beads
|
|
|
Post by lenynero on Mar 26, 2009 19:08:15 GMT -5
Clay beads are used in Hydroponics... they act as a wick to move moisture up into the medium slowly while allowing lots of air to stay in the pot. It is considered a passive hydroponic system. Along with any moisture they wick up they will also move any salts and minerals they have absorbed up through the medium.
Hence the reason to have them cleaned before you use them.
I reuse clay beads all the time and they turn almost white with salts and other nutrients over time.... but they do clean up nicely in hot water.
Leny
|
|
|
Post by absintheRTP on Mar 26, 2009 20:23:31 GMT -5
whatever, I rinced them in RO water, it work well to remove all the dust!
|
|