StillSmart

Cheers Googe...

So a regular bog standard lava rock...Like this washed, sorted to size as you said would work ok ??

You may find that those are quite big lumps but you can break it easily. Its one of the reasons that I bought the gravel instead. I sorted mine to get bits about 6 mm to 10 mm to get a more even packing in the column.

You can also get this from the Koi aquatic centres as machined pellets (filter media) in specific dimensions - but that is off course more expensive.

This all started off like I said....watching my good lady blind baking a pastry tray.

I maybe a Yorkshire man..but if I can source what I'm after for less, then I will...I'm not tight honest

Back to lava rock...I don't mind sorting it size wise, but 3kg for a fiver looks good to me. The only reservations that I have is the quality/grade of this item..after all it's sold for the BBQ.

Jazz Club.....Nice!
Sorry,it just popped into my head


Robert.

The best packing is probably woven copper. But it is expensive and deteriorates with both use and cleaning. It is however far superior to marbles, saddles or any of the other options available.

The primary purpose of the packing is to provide surface area within the column. A column packed with woven copper has a far greater surface area than marbles.

The best choice I have found is a good quality restaurant supply type of SS pot scrubber. You get surface area, durability and just rinses off.

Icefever, I've always used stuff from a landscape supply place, the bbq stuff is all mixed pieces usually and not the best quality.I've found the black stuff the best, if you can find it, it's cleaner, doesn't have much lava dust/sand in it like the red stuff does, and it's more porous.

Cheers Googe....that was my concern about the BBQ bits....I'll shop around and see what there is...Myles gave me a site will take another look.