DWC: Does the clay pebble dust effect my rez or roots

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Meast21

Well-Known Member
Its had to wash off all the dust or clay from the pebbles off... My ph or ppm isn't effected, but does the brown dust from the clay pebbles do anything to the plants when they get into the DWC rez?
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Meast21 said:
Its had to wash off all the dust or clay from the pebbles off... My ph or ppm isn't effected, but does the brown dust from the clay pebbles do anything to the plants when they get into the DWC rez?
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It just collects in the bottom of your buckets usually. I usually don't bother rinsing it off though I should. Instead, I just shake half a 6" netpot full to use inside the bag, in a circle motion to dust off a generous amount before using it.
 
H

Huktonponics

Well-Known Member
Meast21 said:
Its had to wash off all the dust or clay from the pebbles off... My ph or ppm isn't effected, but does the brown dust from the clay pebbles do anything to the plants when they get into the DWC rez?
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Generally affects my OCD :wall: :D

I tend to just chuck it away, i dont fancy trying to clean 160 litres of clay pebbles to put back in a sterile system, its more work than prepping new ones.
 
Renfro

Renfro

Well-Known Member
As long as the dust is not suspended in the water you are ok. When suspended it raises the pH. This is why we want to rinse LECA really well.
 
Renfro

Renfro

Well-Known Member
GBAUTO said:
I use a pasta colander to wash in the sink.
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Be careful, that can plug up drains.

I use a large net pot set in a 5 gallon bucket with a drain spout on the bucket bottom side. I rinse hard, shake the LECA, rinse hard, shake the LECA and rinse hard again. Dump and repeat with more LECA.

Just moving that stuff around creates more dust so keep that in mind. Clean it and pot with it, don't be dumping it back and forth in containers.
 
M

Meast21

Well-Known Member
Renfro said:
Be careful, that can plug up drains.

I use a large net pot set in a 5 gallon bucket with a drain spout on the bucket bottom side. I rinse hard, shake the LECA, rinse hard, shake the LECA and rinse hard again. Dump and repeat with more LECA.

Just moving that stuff around creates more dust so keep that in mind. Clean it and pot with it, don't be dumping it back and forth in containers.
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The dust in the rez doesn't effect root growth does it? I see the dust clinging onto the roots.
 
Renfro

Renfro

Well-Known Member
Meast21 said:
The dust in the rez doesn't effect root growth does it? I see the dust clinging onto the roots.
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It is not ideal IMO, the plants can probably live but if it's excessive then it could "smother" the roots and create an anaerobic habitat for infection. I would prefer to keep it to a bare minimum.
 
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