Summer goal of less watering is gonna be a hard one, regardless of your media choice.
I don't know what your water tests out like (and couldn't help you if you told me, but lots of others here could). I also have a problem with RO water waste. It bothers me to see so much go down the drain. When I had aquariums set up I used the water changes, but that doesn't help with a reef aquarium. In the summer I use water from my pond. I try to usually collect the runoff from RO, and use it on houseplants who don't mind.
With a 100+/- orchids, almost all in S/H, it's a LOT of water. The past few years I decided to only water orchids that were sensitive (paph, phrag are examples) with R/O and use tap water on the rest. Plus I'm getting older and can't schlep around water like I used to. So that's a thought... research which orchids tolerate or prefer your tap water, and only use R/O on the ones that require it.
There's an OB member here who uses lava rock a LOT. Can't remember who. Hopefully they'll chime in with their experience with it.
Hybrid Mode
