- 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

I really like this system, I have had a lot of success growing lettuce and kale along with others however it's important to note that you will need to maintain the roots or they will plug up the pipe. Also once the plants are growing, they are spaced too close together, I find I am only using a less than half of the available openings. It is very easy to maintain and grow some vegetables. I even tried a tomato plant and it did great unfortunately the pipe is way to small for the beefsteak roots so it had to be planted because the roots filled the tube. There was leaking after assembled even though it was glued, sometimes it's caused by the roots clogging the pipes. Overall it's great though and I love it.

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.

Very easy to assemble and the material quality is very good.

So far sooo soo good. I’m using this system for aquaponics- growing with fish and so far it’s working beautifully! Also, I didn’t know that it comes with substrate pods, which is beautiful. I’m gonna try them out, but I might switch to clay leca or just do bare roots but so nice to include substrate (looks like coco coir bur doesn’t say exactly) that fit the little pod inserts perfectly. The flow is not too strong, which is perfect because I don’t want to disturb disturbing waterfall back into the aquarium. I was worried when I saw other reviews saying that the pump wasn’t very strong. You can attach solar powered pumps to it though, I might try that.

Not hard to put together. But very flimsy for the price. I’ll have to buy zip ties to secure it to the stand. I put four 1-1/2 x 24” old pvc under the legs so the wild rabbits couldn’t destroy the plants. Keep your fingers crossed

Very Disappointed, as a Vivosun user this was a total fail, I own a tent and lights from Vivosun and no problems always great. This on the other hand was a a disaster. Unit arrived and the assembly was good no problems, but it leaks so bad, at certain joints that I refill Holding container everyday, sometimes twice. Pump is no where near strong enough to run amount of water and length of flow and volume needed. Too late to return but will not recommend.

It works amazing for growing lettuce so far! I made a stand with copper pipes for it to make it look nicer. Pump and timer works perfectly.

The number of pieces seem daunting, but makes sense. I used no glue or cement on joints with no leakage. I do recommend an upgrade to fountain pump, 3 ft high. Use a level to ensure pipes are level. Use plant food with anti-fungal to keep mold from growing. I put a splash pan under the assembly for overflow, which did happen, until I used felt weather strips to lift and support the pipes. I started the top tier with 2 head uv grow lights. I found some long uv lights that I placed between the pipes for next layer down. I grew the seedlings in a kit with 1.5 inch sponges, then when 3 leaves, transferred to hs system. The corners and 1.5 inch pieces are custom sized, so not easily replaced, and customer service is AI, so no help there. Plants that are fairly small do well. Larger rooted plants need to be potted.

I've been using this system for about a month now. We've used lots of lettuce from it. It's great for smaller vegetables. Pump and timer run great. Directions for setting up the frame were poor but I figured it out.

Up and running for a few weeks and it’s doing great. No leaks with the joints just pushed together which will aid I six month cleaning. Very small water pump which works surprisingly well. I’m using this on the wall in my grow room to make use of the extra light. Channels are very small and best for small plants.

Excelente calidad de las piezas del sistema. Adaptable a cualquier espacio

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.

Good product for the price, only negative is the sponges given to grow.