Back to the Roots Indoor Aquaponic Garden - 3 Gallon Self Watering, Mess-Free Planter and Self-Cleaning Fishtank for Herbs, Microgreens, Bamboo, Succulents, and Houseplants, support Fish

Great starter kit for plants. Lightweight, easy to use. affordable. And a pretty color

I love the setup! The plants grew so fast I have to keep trimming them, and the tank does not get dirty unless I use it for shrimp and have to use algae tablets... but even then it's not that much build up as you would expect. If you like the little waterfall sound you can let it get a little low and appreciate that, otherwise it might be a downside that you have to refill the water more often than you would in a regular tank setup. I say if you are on the fence, get it! It's adorable, it's fun, and it actually does everything it says!

I've been looking for a tiny plug-and-play aquaponics solution for years. Except for this one, they were all overly complicated and had terrible reviews. While this isn't perfect, it's the best one I've found yet. To be honest I was suspicious that it was from the "Back To Roots" company because we had previously tried their mushroom grow kit (nothing grew) and their "Garden In A Can" variety pack which sprouted seeds, but they never thrived. I bought it as a gift for my spouse on a Black Friday sale. It's $5 cheaper a month later. A good reminder that such sales are just gimmicks. It comes with almost everything you need, including a coupon for a discount on a beta fish if you live near a Petco. After stopping by a store to get a fish and some aquarium gravel (gravel not included with this "everything included" kit) and hopefully a fake plant and a tiny castle or something for the fish's enrichment, just add water and included water treatment chemicals and it's ready to go. The aquaponic component works pretty well for most micro greens. Some radish and wheat grass seeds, if there is anybody who actually eats wheat grass, is included. The radish seeds sprout and grow almost immediately and are ready to eat a few days later. They are tasty and just a tiny bit spicy. They are an excellent first choice for somebody to try unless they prefer to have a tiny lawn of wheat grass. We bought other micro green seeds to grow from Johnny's seeds like corn, sunflower, salad mix, cilantro, onions, etc. We accidentally let our first batch of corn shoots grow too much so they got transplanted into the garden. The next crop of corn shoots we tried were harvested at the right time and had a sweet, fresh corn taste. A lot of the microgreens don't need any sunlight but some of them do. This is where the kit falls short, there is no lighting kit for this product that one can buy. I did find an LED desk grow light that works well with this unit. The other way this falls short is that they don't sell replacement pumps on Amazon, and while they can be ordered from the Back To the Roots web site, they will not ship to Hawaii, so the replacement pump is effectively unavailable to us. I don't understand why they can't put a 2 ounce pump into a first class padded envelope and mail it for $4 and charge us to do that like every other company on the planet. Their customer service did recommend a different pump we could buy from a company that does ship to Hawaii. Is this going to produce enough microgreens to supplement your diet? No, not even close, but a tray of them (there are three trays on top of the little aquarium) adds a nice garnish to a salad or a bit of crunch and flavor to a sandwich. It's a fun way to add some value and entertainment to a fish tank. It has a stylish, integrated look, which is even more striking with a full crop of microgreens on top, but I could not find a lighting solution that complemented the appearance so if you plan on adding a light, expect a more cobbled-together appearance. Overall, I would recommend this for anybody who has or has been thinking of getting a fish that would be happy in a 3 gallon tank and wants to dip their little toe in aquaponics and microgreens.

I love this product. Love it. Since pets can be too much responsibility for a New Yorker, I decided to try a single fish as an adult. I was a kid when I used to have fish and times were simpler then, but now there's so many accessories and things to worry about. I wanted a simple eco-friendly solution, with a nice presentation, that gave me food to eat, and something pretty to look at. This water garden checked all the marks. — SET UP — Setting this up was incredibly easy. There is an included brochure that walks you step-by-step throughout the process with illustrations and easy to understand instructions: wash all the pieces, pour in tap water in tank, add dechlorinator, attach pump, add top white piece, add sponge, add grow rocks, add beneficial bacteria, add seeds, add gravel, add fish, and add additional decorations (purchased separately). Pretty easy. — GROWING — This comes with three growing trays, and you are provided with two different types of seeds: wheat grass, and radish micro-greens. They take anywhere from 7-10 days to be ready to eat, with the wheatgrass good for one extra regrowth. I was hesitant about throwing seeds on wet rocks and expecting something to happen, but three days in and they are all sprouting! (The radish are the faster, more obvious grower). I make shots with the wheatgrass, and use the radish on pizza. I also grow scallions (green onions) in here—which is easier to clean because the roots don't get tangled. — CHOOSING A BETTA — You are provided a $3 coupon at Petco for a Male Veiltail Betta. This is enough to make it free. I would suggest seeing how well you can take care of your first Betta and if you are successful, maybe consider a prettier but more expensive Betta (but don't put them together, of course). I didn't use the coupon and got a Double Veiltail for about 2.5x that price. — ADDITIONAL DECOR — I spoiled my Betta and got him live plants (to rest on), extra gravel, and two snails to clean any possible algae, along with food options. You are free to decorate how you wish. I do have to note that the gravel provided is minimal so you may want to get more. — THE ECOSYSTEM — If everything is done correctly, this system should basically be the circle of life in a 3-gallon tank: you feed your fish, the fish poops, the poops turn into food for the plants, the plant's roots clean the water, which your fish will enjoy living in to continue eating. I threw in live plants and snails, so we'll see if that helps to maintain overall cleanliness and liveliness. Also, this may not be obvious, but you *need* to be growing something on top. If you have dead/dying plants on top, it will throw things off and the water will turn gross. Try to have at least one or two trays growing something. — MAINTENANCE — As with any aquarium, you will have to take clean this at least once a month minimum. For me, I usually do a 25-35% water change every week. I take out water and pour distilled water back in. The rocks on top might grow fuzzy mold if you don't have good airflow in your home, so that will require taking the containers out to clean, along with the rocks. The tube will also have to be cleaned out regularly so that water can flow up. This is all part of the package of owning an aquarium. It will require upkeep. — THINGS TO NOTE — Don't put this in direct sunlight because your fish will hate you, and algae will grow faster. Also, the pump can be noisy; adjust the cord so it isn't vibrating too loudly. There should only be the sounds of humming and drops of water from the tray, which creates a soft white noise in whatever room you put this in. — SUMMARY — I happened to get this during a sale, which made it worth it to me. This is a wonderful idea well-executed (this is version 2.0 of the product, btw). You get to take care of a low-maintenance fish, grow food you can eat on a weekly basis, and beautify your home. Recommended.

I’m confused about the negative reviews. I’ve had this now for 2 weeks. My betta is so comfy. The wheatgrass and radish sprouts come up really fast. I’ve already trimmed them 2x. I have not experience any cloudiness or icky ness. The water looks great. I don’t see how anyone had a betta sucked up by the filter either. It’s pretty small, way too small to suck up a betta. If you follow the directions to a tee, you won’t have any of the issues other reviewers have talked about. It is a little louder, but it’s the sound of a waterfall, the pump is very quiet, it’s the water dripping back in that’s a bit noisier. I enjoy the sound, tho. It’s gentle and relaxing. Also, the company sends great instructions and they point you to their website also. The website has video tutorials to also help get you started. I’m loving it and my betta is happy. I only wish they did this in a 5 gallon because I’ve read that betta should be in 5 gallons minimum. Also, betta like a lot of stuff in their environment. I’ve got live plants, a silk plant, rocks with caves in them and I added the brown river rocks since it matches a bettas environment. Add a lily pad or betta hammock for them to sleep on and an Indian almond leaf for healthy betta water and viola!

Update 3: Really struggling to find replacement pump. Which makes this whole thing useless. Was hoping to grow catnip on the top, but now feel that the whole thing was something of a waste of money, since I can't find a replacement for the pump. Quick Update (and some spelling corrections... I'm terrible at touch-typing on my phone): The pump for the aquarium broke, which was really disappointing. The roots did end up getting moldy once the grass died, but it really wasn't difficult to remove most of it, and rinse the rocks I couldn't remove (trying to keep as much of the beneficial bacteria on "rocks" as possible). The following is from after more than a year of use: I had moved Wolfgang (the betta) to a different tank and had three pygmy puffers in, and they were thriving until the water pump broke. Since it's at my office, I don't know how long the pump was malfunctioning, but when I arrived to work on Monday (after three days away) my poor puffers were belly-up and the pump wasn't working at all. I did manage to rig a pump from an old cat water fountain, but since the only working materials I had on hand were a glue gun and some rubber bands, this fix didn't last more than a few weeks. I will say that I am currently successfully growing Rosemary, Pothos, Basil, Mint, and Pineapple Sage in the plant section, and they are thriving. I would probably not recommend fish, just on my own heartbreak with the puffers... if you stick with snails, they can survive just about anything and still provide an educational experience. Even Neocaridina shrimp aren't a bad fit, but be sure to keep a look-out for any sign the pump isn't working properly. ~End Update, Original Review: I love this!! I was letting it get established (had it going for a little over a week) when I had an emergency and had to move my blood parrot fish in for one night. I was relieved head it through the night, and promptly took him to his permanent home. I did a 3/4 water change, followed instructions exactly, and moved my 'baby boy' betta in. He is loving it! I soaked paper towels, wrapped about half the seeds from both packs in separate wet towels, and left them in the balcony in the sun for about half a day before putting the seeds in with the "rocks"... it was more than enough to jump start the growth within two days I had sprouts growing at insane rates. Less than a week and I could let my cat have open access to the grass and not see a difference in the plant growth from her unrestricted snacking. No sign of mold, no smell. Just incredible growth esp considering I only used half of both seed packets! I also couldn't resist slipping in some Marimo moss balls, cholla wood, and pathos cutting for my betta & Wolfgang to have some additional resting places. I also added a bubbler that I turn on for an hour or two a day... He seems to enjoy playing in the bubbles, rising up with them and darting through the bubble stream depending on his mood.

Mom has been wanting a fish tank, but I was weary of getting something that required a lot of maintenance and frequent cleaning. I picked the Back To Roots system because it's an American small startup, and I liked the idea of a "self cleaning" tank that required little attention after initial setup. I was impressed when the package arrived. The instructions came with great diagrams and photos, and I had it set up within an hour. I will add that you really need to wash and rinse the stones in cold water thoroughly. I kept adding water and swirling the stones in a large bowl, and did this several times until the water was clear and left litte sediment in the bowl. I used two and a half gallons of purified water instead of tap water, so I didn't even need to use the water treatment that was included. Instead of throwing a fish in right away, I decided to start the plant growing process first to let the ecosystem start with plants to start the oxygen cycle process. I also threw in some live plants on the bottom that the person in the pet store recommended. After about 3 days, plants were already starting to sprout. I then went out and got Buddy, a fiery red Betta. After letting Buddy sit in his bag inside the aquarium for 15 minutes to allow the water temperatures to balance out, I let Buddy into his new environment with a little fear and hope. He swam around freely, but I knew it would be a little while before we would know if he would be ok in the new water. Well, he adapted pretty smoothly. After a week or so, the wheat grass and micro radish was growing strong. We decided Buddy needed sone companions, and maybe something to keep the bottom clean from food that settled to the bottom. Went out and bought two Cory catfishes that I researched online, and found that they were good for that purpose and wouldn't upset Buddy. We named them Tom and Jerry, one was much smaller than the other. The 3 of them have been happy together for over 3 months now, and Mom loves watching them. I eventually added 3 bamboo plants to each section, and still grow wheat grass amongst them, removing the grass when when it has gone though its growing cycle. She gets a lot of compliments about how beautiful her tank is. We couldn't be happier with our purchase. Oh yeah, I named the Betta, Buddy, so that when we check in on him, we always ask, "What's up, Buddy?" :-)

I will start by saying that there is a lot I admire about this company and I loved the mushroom grow kit I got from them. However, this product is frankly irresponsible and inhuman, creating a toxic environment for fish. I got my tank about 6 weeks ago and purchased a beautiful female betta named alpha. She died last night. I spent over $200 on aquarium care - heater, gravel vacuum, water conditioner, a solution to introduce healthy bacteria, several plants/decor, and an expensive fish food. I also bought pH strips and tested the water daily. I was heartbroken thinking I failed her until I learned from a vet and a couple people who have raised bettas for decades that the biggest contributor to her death was that the tank was 3 gallons, when the minimum for a single betta is 5 - especially females, who tend to swim more. As a company that is meant to encourage caring for the earth, I am extremely appalled and disappointed that they are selling a product either knowingly or not caring to know the basic needs of bettas that the tank is designed for. I hope they will read/take this review seriously and rethink this product. Especially as a product that advertises this as being great for engaging with children, I cannot believe how irresponsible this is.