What are the beads this guy is scooping out in this video: https://www.youtube.com/embed/3Gjd5DRyeks
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These are called by various names but the one I am familiar with is LECA. It stands for Lightweight Expanded Clay aggregate and is made by this company.
Having seen this material used in twenty and thirty year old installations I can attest to its durability. Lightweight? Not so much.
kevinskio
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That look like Hydroton, which explained above is expanded clay.
It is highly porous and holds moisture very well, and is used in a lot of Deep Water Culture/Aquaponic/Hydroponic applications.
DevOops
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1That's a lot cheaper than the previous answer. – black thumb Mar 20 '16 at 22:53
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If you are looking for economic solutions, you might also look into expanded shale and growstones, but I've never used them personally. – DevOops Mar 20 '16 at 22:56
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1It's for a hack-a-thon project, so we're shoe stringing the project. – black thumb Mar 20 '16 at 23:00
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Cool, are you guys doing anything code related? What is your objective? Is there a project page? Good luck with it – DevOops Mar 20 '16 at 23:07
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Yes, with PLCs, why do you ask? – black thumb Mar 20 '16 at 23:10
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1I am (slowly) working on a pH/Nutrient controller with Raspi. Interested in similar type projects and how they're executed. – DevOops Mar 20 '16 at 23:21
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That project sounds like: FUN!!! – black thumb Mar 20 '16 at 23:24
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Cheapest, but also heaviest, is to find a pH stable gravel I.e. with no limestone – Graham Chiu Mar 21 '16 at 07:55