What is it?
Expanded Shale is a lightweight aggregate that is an ideal growing media for hydroponic
or aquaponic systems. The shale is mined, crushed and fired under high temperatures
in a rotary kiln, producing a clean, inert, porous, and light material.
Because of the large amount of cracks and fissures in the expanded shale, the media
can retain a large amount of moisture which can reduce the amount of flooding cycles
needed for flood & drain (ebb & flow) systems. For aquaponic systems,
there is a large amount of surface area per stone for producing beneficial bacteria
for converting ammonia into nitrates.
Expanded shale has been used for nearly 100 years primarily as a building material.
It is added to concrete to make lighter buildings and bridges since it is half the
weight of standard crushed stone. The aggregate is also used as an additive
in clay soils to increase its drainage properties as well as a decorative mulch
around buildings and gardens.
For ideas on how to use Expanded Shale, visit the
How To's page! For purchasing information, please see our
Where To Buy page. If you have additional questions, check the
Frequently Asked Questions page or ask a question on the
Contact Us
page.
Product Comparison
There are several types of media that could be used in a hydroponic/aquaponic system.
This table displays some of the pro's and con's for each option:
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Slightly heavier than expanded clay
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½ the weight of stone
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Heavy!
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Heavy!
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Lightest - tends to float
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Mined from a quarry
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Mined from a quarry
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Mined near local rivers. Larger environmental impact than engineered quarries
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Mined from quarry or consists of crushed river stone
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Made from petroleum
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United States
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Typically imported from Germany or China
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Local quarry
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Local quarry
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Typically imported from China
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Yes*
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Yes
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Take a chance. If the stone has any limestone, it will continue to raise the
pH
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Same problem as River Stone
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Yes
|
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Yes - even though the shale has been crushed, the kiln process rounds over all the
edges
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Yes - though the spheres tends to roll away when dropped!
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Yes
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Typically very sharp and hard to dig in with bare hands
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Yes
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3
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4
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2
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1
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5
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Ordering
Bigelow Brook Farm ships product in bulk to authorized wholesale, distribution,
and retail channels. Bulk consists of the expanded shale packaged in 25 liter
bags and palletized. We also offer 40 and 25 liter boxes and a 0.9 liter sample
pack which are designed for standard UPS or FedEx shipping. As a convenience
and cost savings to our customers, we also provide the ability to drop-ship orders
directly to the end-user.
For information on becoming a reseller, please contact us by filling out the form
on the "Contact Us
" page.
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(Click on images to enlarge)
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