Even at some large hydroponics stores that I have visited, and on various websites, I keep finding absolutely generic "clay pebbles". Usually the store will have only one type, and the bag is really bland with no indication what's actually IN it or where it came from. This is making it really hard to figure out what varieties are actually out there!
I'm not interested in speculating or debating on which ones are "best" or whatever, I just want to know what the options ARE, and maybe some of their very basic properties.
Shall we make a list? Alphamabetical, even.
LECA AND OTHER INERT PEBBLE TYPES:- Aliflor
LECA.
Irregular.
- Calcined clay
Clay that is fired, porous, and lightweight
Not made in the same process as LECA
Irregular
Sinks
Size 1/8"-1/4" chips
High CEC
Wicks well
Available in dark gray, red, brown
Brand names such as: Turface, SoilMaster Select, AquariumPlants.com's Own, AquaDurt
Available at tractor supply, possibly home depot etc.
Also sold as floor dry/oil absorber at auto parts stores.
Resembles but NOT the same as cat litter, which is fired at a lower temperature and disintegrates when wet.
- Growstones
Recycled glass.
Irregular shape.
Floats, very light
Soda-lime glass tends to be alkaline and raise pH
- Hydrocorn (aka Hydro Korrels)
LECA
Irregular.
Floats, mostly.
- Hydropebbles
LECA
Round.
Similar to hydroton, used as a replacement by some distributers.
- Hydrolite
Silica.
Sinks.
has some CEC?
- Hydroton
LECA.
Round.
Two sizes.
No longer manufactured, some stock still available.
- Lava rock
Very generic term that spans a huge range of volcanic deposits. Usually refers to cinders.
Can be rather heavy and abrasive.
Wicking low to nonexistent
(this one kinda bugs me, because I'm from a volcanic area and to me, 'lava rock' specifically refers to solid rocks from actual lava flows. 
Cinder is a bubbly material that was spat out high into the air, like pumice but heavier.)
- LecaŽ UK Lightweight Aggregate
Not much info available on this. It mainly seems to be for big-scale industrial applications and may be rebranded for retail.
- PrimeAgra ("new type")
LECA
Irregular
Available only from firstrays?
- PrimeAgra ("old type")
LECA
Irregular
No longer manufactured.
Any stock available? Dunno.
- Root Royale Hydro Clay
LECA
Irregular, rough
Floats
Lighter than Hydroton. Slightly smaller. Darker brown.
Fragile, breaks up into sharp chunks and annoying small fragments.
- Sunleaves rock
Heavy expanded shale
Irregular
Reported to wick more than hydroton
- Terracotta
From broken pot chunks to water-holding sculptures.
Wide range of porosity.
- ViaStone
Not much info on this, it's probably something else rebranded.
Other names I've run into but I can't find much info on:
Grorox
Geolite
Lecastone
Some of these may just be alternate names for products I've already listed.
Problem is, so many people out there use the brand names as if they're the official terms for leca in general.
OTHER HYDROPONIC MEDIA:- Coconut husk
Organic, breaks down relatively slowly
Available in dust, fiber, and croutons
- Ecoweb
Plastic spongey stuff
Does not wick much
Mentioned on Firstrays, but does not seem to be available yet?
- Epiweb
Plastic spongey stuff
Does not wick much
From the swedish company Dusk Tropic. Have only found it for sale in english on dartfrog.co.uk and folius.net
- Hygrolon
Inert polymer cloth material
Wicks effectively (site says it pulls water up to 32cm)
From the same company as Epiweb
- Gorilla Hair
Redwood bark fibers
Organic, breaks down relatively slowly
- Rockwool
spongey mineral stuff
Wicks very well
Not always re-usable
Be careful when handling, as with fiberglass insulation etc.
- Swamp Stick
Hollow ceramic stick-shaped mounts
May be getting discontinued?
Okay, what have I missed? Anybody out there with additional items or information on these? I'll update the list as I find more stuff.
What are the LECA or other S/H media options available, anyway??
Threaded Mode
