NFT Hydroponics Growing System Kit - 64 Plant Slots - NFT Channels w/Covers- Vertical Hydroponics- Easy Cleaning & Fast Growing

This product arrived extremely dirty, obviously used, and partially broken. Felt robbed opening up the box to this hydroponic system to see not only water/dirt residue all over the place, but also saw it was broken which was extremely disappointing. The pieces of the system arrive unwrapped and thrown in the box like a kids toy bin stuffed to the brim.Do NOT buy this hydroponic system. I was at Lowe's this weekend looking for replacement parts to fix the mess I was sent, and everything that's in this hydroponic kit can be found at Lowes/Home depot for probably the same price or less.This is not even a good system to buy for beginners because it's such a piece of crap. If I had known this was going to be such a hassle to deal with beforehand, I wouldve paid twice as much to just avoid this experience all together.

You will need to glue it together even though it says you don't have to

I reviewed available information about home NFT systems, and selected this HISource product for its evident attention to quality and design in the price range. I knew that assembly would be a project--but far easier than trying to design, provision, and build from scratch! Here are some tips to help you get to the fun part where you're growing the seedlings of your favorite plants in a home NFT system.Use the hose to spray off the white manufacturing dust from the parts first. You'll need to try to fully insert all connecting parts. (For the four straight vertical parts of the structure, it's quite possible that the likely small differences in insertion depth for the dozen or so segments will later require that you add spacers under one or more of the four legs, to fine tune the flow of water.)While I don't believe that cement is necessary for the legs, it's critical that the in/outflow PVC tees integrated in the four legs that connect to the channel end-caps each line up with one another (consider marking those before tapping them down onto the verticals). And make sure to follow closely the instructions provided for the "block up" or "block down" directions of these tees.The parts that comprise the four vertical legs are actually the easiest to compress fully. For those parts, you can carefully use a rubber mallet as you build the vertical (or use a stick of wood or folded hand towel under a regular hammer). For the more delicate end-caps on the channels and the few round joints, you may wish to carefully use the rubber mallet (or regular hammer with folded hand towel).Consider cementing the end caps to the channels. (If you use a Q-tip to apply the PVC cement deep in the end cap, it won't touch the water flow.)I cemented the parts that make up the four horizontal parts of the framework. Since PVC cement dries immediately, it is challenging to get the curved end pieces on these horizontals to line up in exactly the same direction. I ended up using a heat gun to loosen the cement in order to have a second or third chance at this alignment. I found that the eight channels can be best inserted by laying the whole thing on its side. Then get help to carefully set the completed structure on its legs.Once done with the build, you can drill holes in the lid of a five-gallon (or larger) tote/reservoir, for the top input hose (which you attach to the pump that comes with the system), the short bottom output hose (which is cut from the same long hose provided), and the pump's electrical cord. The lid can stay thus attached when you service the water and nutrients or clean the bottom part of the reservoir tote.Since we set this up indoors, I put it (including the reservoir) inside two 2.5" deep washing machine pans that I got at the hardware store.Finally, test and experiment to equalize the water flow to the extent possible. The two bottom channel rows don't have enough incline, so I put a 1/4" spacers under both rear legs (by rear I mean opposite the input/output side). If too little water is coming into one of the two top channels, either the floor or (more likely) the legs are uneven as built (which you can confirm with a level on upper horizontal where the top valve is and the water comes in). In that case, you can put a spacer under that leg until the water flow is more equal. You can also adjust the top valve to control incoming water volume (I settled on about 1/4" off full flow).Time to move your seedlings into your NFT, sit back, and watch them grow!

If you buy this kit also get kitchen grade silicone, a white rubber mallet, colored markers, CPVC solvent glue and a metric ruler. Pre-assemble the kit without glueing it as best you can and mark guidelines to keep everything straight for final assembly. Double check all fittings. Use the white rubber mallet to gently tap pieces into place. When glueing pieces together be sure about placement because solvent glue is permanent. Use CPVC glue that is food grade or potable water grade. CPVC glue is UV stable and the glue's manufacturer website will tell you if the glue is for food contact or potable water grade. When done assembling "stress test" the system by pumping clean water though it and allowing it to drain before using it with plants. Mark any joints that are leaking during the stress test for sealing with the silicone after the system has dried.