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Category: Aquaponics | Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 3:26 pm

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After taking a survey around my yard, keeping in mind that the growing media must be easy draining, easy for the roots to anchor and neutral ph I guess.


Grow Media Choices ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )
The first one 1 is Laterite which is the most abundant around and it is free.

Number 2 is Granite which was left over from the time I had the house renovated when I bought it. If I want to use it I guess I had to buy it.

Number 3 is River pebbles, nice to see, nice to feel but it's expensive. I had some left over when I made my pond a couple of years ago.


Pebble Land ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )
Yes, laterite is the best choice for me and I know excatly where I can tons of it for free. Pebble land here I come!


Ready to go! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )
I can get it in my yard but I do not want to leave a big hole in it, so with the necessary tools in my faithful Chariot I headed out to pebble land. It is just round the corner from my house.

The weather was really hot and the sun was scorching when I arrived there. After circling around awhile I parked at a spot that I thought where the peebles look nicer. Got down and walk around for awhile to further inspect what peeble land had to offer.


Rest Area! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden )
It was really burning hot and I quickly headed back to my Chariot to shield myself from the sun. While shielded from the sun, I thought to myself that all the pebbles here are same and they were everywhere. Took out the shovel and wanted to gather the peebles that were shaded by the Chariot. Berfore I can start the sun was covered by passing clouds and I quickly decided that the pebbles over there looks nicer and straight away I headed there with the shovel to gather as much as I can before the sun reappear. Strange indeed, the grass always look greener on the other side.



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Jerry Sullivan wrote on Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:17 pm:

Hi KK,

The laterite seems a good choice, pores and cavities for fish poo, lots of surface area for roots and best of all it's free! Your choice of time of day to get the laterite however, reminds me of the words in a Noel Coward song " But mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun." :-)

It's good to see the project begin to take on its intended form. It will be interesting in the days ahead as the plumbing is hooked up and water running.

Laterite seems to be a choice building material all over south Asia. It's good to learn something new everyday.

How many Kg's of Laterite are needed for the grow tanks? We don't want to hear you strained something lifting heavy loads of Laterite.

Stay cool,
Jerry

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KK Ng wrote on Sun Feb 20, 2011 12:25 pm:

Haha!!!Ha!! Nice one there Jerry!

Yes it would indeed be very interesting when the plumbing is hooked up and water running but it would be awhile from now as there is still much work to be done. The peebles have to be sorted and the power line installed.

I am not sure how much laterite are needed for the grow tanks but I guess at least 20kg per tank. Thanks for your concern but not to worry cause I only carry a max of 10kg of the pebbles in a bucket and empty it into a larger container in the van and vice versa. I don't think I have enough yet and I have to make another trip, this time in the evening.

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