Pebbles & Hydroton Comparo


This only comparison on price factor between Hydroton and Pebbles on my 3 ft Growbed the only different is the racking required.

Hydroton which is lighter will not need an expensive rack, while Pebbles do need it. I may try Pebbles on lighter rack later.




Below are items needed and it price.

Hydroton : 4 Bags @ RM 70 per bag so its RM 280.00 for a growbed
Racking : Sloted Angled Iron @ RM 70.00 (exclude man hour)
Total Cost : RM 350.00 per Growbed



Pebbles : 10 Bags @ 8.00 (Average price) so its RM 80.00
Racking : Custom Made @ RM 250.00 each (Average price)
Total Cost : RM 330.00 per Growbed




Price different is not that much, however if lower grade pebbles are use than the price would be around RM 6.00 per bag



If racking for Pebbles can be made of Slotted Angled Iron then it could be reduce in price more, than it would be much significant.

Using Hydroton the total price per growbed is around : RM 350.00 excluding other common item and Pebbles growbed will cost about RM 130.00 ~ RM 330.00 depending on racking and grade of pebbles.

Pros and Cons of Hydroton

Pros
  1. Light Weight
  2. Ph Neutral - This is one important factor.


Cons
  1. Expensive
  2. Limited retailer selling it
Pros and Cons of Pebbles

Pros
  1. Cheap
  2. Easy to get

Cons
  1. Heavy
  2. Ph on the high side - This is bad.
I will compare after few months how Hydroton holds up to Pebbles.

Update 21 July 2015

Without doubt hydroton is much better to be use in Aquaponics due to its neutral Ph and light weight. It is very easy to work with making the process of setting growbed much easier.

Pebbles, due to its heavier weight makes redoing growbed or setting up very tiring. The racking for pebbles are expensive offsetting the cheaper price of pebbles.

Currently I am trying to reduce on the amount of hydroton requires for setting aquaponics set by using Potted Media Base Flood And Drain NFT Hybrid. It is still in its trial phase and whether it is successful or otherwise only after few months of trial will tell.


22 comments:

  1. How much pH difference do the pebbles cause?
    Do you know the types of rock materials that make up your pebbles? Seems that would affect their pH tendancies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Those Hydroton are neutral in their pH, since I mixed the two in one ecosystem I am not able to isolate their effect on pH individually.

      Pebbles only from past experience cause pH in the region of 6.8 to 7.5, with mixture of both Hydroton and Pebbles it stabilized at about 6.8 pH.

      Delete
  2. Salam...
    How do I get the Hydroton in Penang or Kedah?

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your best bet it to check with plant nursery or you can call wellgrow in Sg Buluh, Selangor Green Lane. Here : http://affnan-aquaponics.blogspot.com/2013/02/aquaponics-supplies.html

      Delete
  3. Salam, en. affnan.... where did u get the tools to perform the pH test.

    Please help me out

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PH test Kit can be bought from any aquarium shop, this is the liquid type. If you are looking for electronic type please search ebay they are about RM 60.00 each and the liquid is about RM 30.00

      Delete
  4. Assalam En. Affnan, boleh dptkn address & contact number untuk alamat Sg Buloh. If possible your business hours time. And those pebbles, ade x dijual dlm kuantiti yg sikit?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Salam Dewi, saya tidak buat apa apa jualan secara terus. Alamat untuk hydroton ia lah Wellgrow Horticulture Lot 19, Selangor Green Lane, Sg. Buluh.

      Delete
  5. can i know ur place want go to visit or can let me know ur phone no ?
    thank you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Rex currently not open for visit, I am redoing the aquaponics and will be very busy.

      Delete
  6. Hi from Japan,

    I am so interested in Hydroton and would like to contact the maker.
    Is VAM maker name as shown on package?
    Could you please advise if any info mentioned on the package?

    thank you,
    Yasutaka

    ReplyDelete
  7. hi, where to get the blue tank?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Sir

    where can i get the Leca supply at Sarawak ?

    Regards J.H

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sarawak, so far I don't know any supplier there. You can try your luck with flower nursery and see whether they have them. Hydroponics supplier too may have these LECA.

      Delete
    2. Can i order from Sir instead ?

      Regards J.H

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    3. It is expensive to ship due to its weight, I don't sell any aquaponics product at the moment. You can use pebbles for aquaponics, they works just as good.

      Delete
  9. rite sir..gonna try on that..thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Affnan, I saw some of your videos and such. The last pic, the floor in this post is so familiar. You don't happen to be in bkt sbg, do you?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh really! I'm in Bkt Sbg too! Cool.

    I have some interest. Never done it before. I have in mind the simplest model. A wide tub with fish and a plant growth surface floating on top of the water for plants. That is it. Will try to make the floating plant growth area to cover as much of the water surface as possible so that minimum sunlight goes into the tub to prevent algae growth. I already have a pump with a filter.

    What would you suggest for plants (vegetables) where its roots will be in constant flood, quick harvest turn around time, possibly continuous growth (without need to replant)?

    ReplyDelete
  12. assalamualaikum pak affnan.such a great blog.where can I get the growbed and hydroton as i live in terengganu.what is the life cycle of the plant?it takes how long to growth and ready to pick?

    ReplyDelete

  13. A guide to farming of different variety , aquaponics ,hydroponics ,kitchen farming , quail farming , floriculture ,agropro and many more.

    ReplyDelete