50% perlite?! ive honestly never added perlite and have always done ok for the most part. Mostly use black gold, so i guess it has enough already mixed in. id like to start adding more though, or maybe instead add the clay pellets used in hydro.
Yes it's true you don't have to add a lot of perlite. But Perlite is cheap insurance so when something happens (salt buildup, deficiencies, mold, etc) you can very quickly fix the problem. If there is poor drainage and poor aeration it takes longer to fix a problem.
Excellent aeration and drainage are crucial to bulletproof grows and the most overlooked thing in growing well. Poor drainage is a welcome mat for buildup, mold, bugs, deficiencies, stem rot, root rot, slow growth, and countless other unhealthy things.
You can use any medium in the world, if you don't have good aeration and fast drainage then luck will have to be on your side.
If you have a brickball, crack it open and add perlite in the cracks. Drive stakes thru brickball and break it up gently while adding water. Repeat. Add perlite to the stake holes and cracks. Vermiculite can be added to perlite but 100% vermiculite will be too wet. Brickballs are often seen when using pure sawdust coir, pure potting soil, pure dirt, etc. If the medium has too many tiny particles it is likely to clump and brick at some point.
Growing in DWC, pure clay balls / net pots is not a good solution. Too much aeration / drainage is risky. Too much drainage/aeration is a welcome mat for quick plant death (because of lack of water)
You need to find a good healthy balance. Good luck
