VIVOSUN Hydroponics Growing System 108 Plant Sites, 3 Layers 12 Food-Grade PVC-U Pipes Gardening System Grow Kit with Water Pump Timer, Nest Basket and Sponge for Leafy Vegetables

Easy to use and put together. Works great in small spaces. Looks professional while still being simple. I yield around 6lb of lettuce per grow in about 6 weeks. Water use depends on plant size and how many plants you have.

The Pro's It's easy to assemble, however modifications are needed to make it a true NFT style hydroponics system . With a few changes ( this is Design#3 after hours of experimentation), you can get this going really well. Cons: Whats the problem with the base assembly ? The pipes in each of the 3 sections are at the same level . This prevents a steady flow of water ( necessary in an NFT hydroponics system) . Also if you are using a pump timer, water stays stagnant in each of the pipes when the pump is off , which could lead to root rot. After all, in NFT, the roots need to aerate well and just dip into the nutrient flow rather than be immersed in the nutrient 24x7 The Solution 1. First raise the base by around 18" . This lets you place a standard 5 gallon bucket comfortably below the base. These are metric PVC pipes, however I found a 1/2" PVC fits in nicely . 2. Use PVC cement to strengthen the base structure. This is an important step, else you'll be frustrated with the cross pipes coming off and collapsing your hard work constantly 3. I used 1/2" PVC to raise the pipes at the topmost level by around 10" ..you'll see why 4. Put some top bars as shown in the image on top of the raised base.. These are to provide a foundation to slope the pipes. I used nails to peg them in securely 5. Now the main part .. To give the pipes a gradual slope ( 1:40 recommended for NFT..this translates to a 1" drop for each pipe), I tried various designs.. first a cardboard prototype, then I tried drilling holes in the base and using hangar wires ..it was a mess... finally I decided to use the power of gravity as the most stable design.. once you figure it out, the rest is easy .. just use some strong string to provide a constant 1" slope for every pipe in each level, and suspend each pipe from the top.. hence the top bar extension . I used an old flex garden hose that had broken down. Through calculations on the ideal NFT slope, I figured out the best positions on the front side was at 7", 4",3" and then 0"; and on the rear end, it was 6",5",2" and 1". This gives a zig-zag pattern that slopes all the way, with the slope being around 1:30 Have patience, and check the water flow after you finish each level. You may need to trim the connectors between levels . A PVC pipe cutter is needed . That's all. You will need to fine tune the level of each pipe at each end to ensure the water is flowing smoothly .. if you hear the sweet sound of gurgling water coming off the bottom pipe ( that drains into the bucket) and see a steady flow , you know you've got it right . Now I'm off to plant some lettuce!! ** Update after 3 weeks of use ** I planted lettuce as well as some broccoli and arugula . After 2 weeks, the plants seem to be growing steadily . See tips for more pointers; Tips 1. Ensure that your base is level to the ground, or your water flow will get impacted . 2. Place in an area that gets plenty of sunlight as well as part shade, depending on what you plan to grow 3. Important : plant your seedlings separately and wait for the roots to grow at least 1" to 2" long before transplanting to the NFT system. Also, the pots that come with the system are open at the base, so you will need something to hold the little seedlings in securely . I used Grodan Rockwool, as the 1" size of the rockwool fits in very well inside the pots, and can securely hold the plants with the roots dangling down into the water 4. Rather than liquid plant food, I used "MaxiGrow" as the nutrient solution . Its water soluble and for 5 gallons, you need around 10 tsp.. there's plenty to go in the 2 lb bag that I bought .. I change the water every 2 weeks 5. The pump that comes with the system is not dry-burning safe.. last week, one of the connecting pipes between levels got knocked loose probably while mowing , and the next day, I found all the water had drained away and the pump was busted . This manufacturer does not currently offer a pump in the same GPH and size category , and luckily I was able to find some other manufacturers that offered a similar pump ( the tubing that comes with this kit is 5/16" , and you need a pump that supports 5/16" tubing as well as is 12V DC , so that the pump timer can fit . The third is GPH rating - you need something that is around 80 GPH or less ) . My plants did not have flowing water for almost 24 hours before the replacement got here. Highly recommend you keep an extra pump on hand , or get something that is rated dry-burning safe ( wont bust if the water runs out for any reason) 6. I fitted a ball valve adapter in the tube ( look for 5/16" size) so I could control the pump flow That's all for now.. I'll post some more pictures soon.

It does the job. It leaked in a couple of places, but easily fixed with PVC cement. I glued the frame together as it comes apart easily. The pump is small, but does the job well. The holes are close together so I tend to grow in every other whole, then put new growths in vacant slots when I am almost ready to harvest, this doesn’t work with larger crops. I use the 5 minutes on, 30 minutes off setting and had no issues.

It definitely works. See my bok choy when they are only five weeks old. However, if you want to prevent algae from growing, you need to wrap all the tubes with either dark-colored film or, as I have done here, use aluminum foil to wrap around the tubes—see the pictures below. Also, be aware that the system may leak. I have to place buckets beneath the joints in case it happens. Honestly, I wouldn't have purchased this growing system if I had known about these potential problems. Besides it is way too short. I ended up purchasing larger pipes to jack up the system by 7 inches so I can fit in a larger deeper bucket. Soon after I got this system, I bought another brand’s 108-plant system, which uses blue tubes. It came with a plastic hammer and better instructions. Now I have both systems growing a total of 216 bok choy, yu choy, water spinach, and Japanese mustard greens. They grow very quickly. We have been harvesting our vegetables every 6 to 8 weeks. BTW, you will need more than just nutrient solution and water to grow hydroponically - grow light, pH solution, pH test kit, plant probiotics etc. You also need to prepare to spend time to clean the system every month to prevent disease from brewing. For this system, it uses approximately 5 gallons of water per week. If you plan to grow indoor, you may also want to consider invest in a high effecient dehumidifier.

This frame is very sturdy and if you make sure that all of the joints are inserted fully, it will not leak. It requires no extra sealing and can be disassembled if you need to move it a great distance. It is working very well. I only wish it included wheels so I could spin it to follow the natural light. But with my grow lights, it’s just fine. The only piece of the kit that I’m not using are the white plastic sponge seed pods. They didn’t work well at all. But the cone shaped cotton pods I found are awesome and I love this product!