When you need to crush a lot of rock, how many elemental pouches do you have? I usually carry three, and they seem to get filled up fast, then I end up wasting elements. Or is there some other technique?
I only have one elemental pouch, so I only crush as needed, in groups of 250 chunks at a time (the amount you can grind with one flaming humbaba). I store my extra rock in SDBs and only crush when I need to.
I do this all the time and usually have at least 8 pouches in slots when I do. I have at least 20 pouches labeled 'elements 1' through 'elements 20' and if i get close to filling them all I concentrate on using them up before mining/crushing more.
I have another 20 or so pouches that I use for red overflow. I keep pouches of red in my /home and use them when mining - if my mood drops too low I will pop home, grab a red pouch or two and some shine powder, and return to the world to look for a shrine that can accept the donation. Donating that red usually pops my mood back close to max. These pouches are then empty and ready to accept more red overflow while grinding.
Pouches are cheap relative to the hassle of having to manage things with only a few of them. At least that's my opinion.
I fill up the alchemistry box to use up elements as I go - also make ingots to help balance out and not lose elements, or donate extra elements when needed.
I have 5 or 6 pouches and keep some just to catch red elements which I donate. Two or three pouches worth of red elements with EHSP is worth quite a bit.
I have 5 pouches and 2 "overflow" pouches. I only crush at home so I can monitor what Im crushing. You can disperse the overflow for xp if you find you are getting more than you need, and I did that sometimes when I could collect xp.