perlite substitute?

[Trips509]

I got a grow kit form 

http://www.universityscientific.com/product.php?xProd=161&xSec=4   

This is my first grow and I had not read anything about cultivation until after I had bought the kit. Now after reading tons of stuff I realize the kit is really not worth it as I could have got everything myself and probably for cheaper.

In the DVD that came with the kit it says that when you are ready to fruit, you put the Hydroton (L.E.C.A) at the bottom of the fruit chamber and fill it with water till it is even with the top of the Hydroton.

Now to my question. I know your supposed to put a layer of wet perlite on the bottom of the FC. So does the Hydroton they provided replace the perlit? I looked up Hydroton on the Net and it doesn't seem to me to provide the function of the perlite (to make moisture and raise humidity). 

Does anyone have any input on this? Anything would be helpful.
Thanks and sorry about the long post. 

[anno]

>does the Hydroton they provided replace the perlit?

Yes, I have used it before, it works well.