Frequently Asked Questions about our Hydroponics Systems:

Does the Hydrogon™ come with everything?

No, You will need if you don't already have: Two to three pumps.

We recommend using a large 750 gph pump or one strong enough to push about 350 gph at 6ft to the top level alone. We recommend using another 750 gph pump to do both the bottom and middle levels with a wye or tee in-line. Most strong 350 gph pumps will work well for the bottom two levels.

You will also need a 70 to 115 gal. Reservoir, 1/2" and 1" hose, timers, bulbs and corresponding ballasts, 6" ducting, exhaust fan of 650 cfm or greater for Vertitube™.

The Hydrogon comes with ebb/flow (flood/drain) fittings for each level, but is not pre-drilled.

This allows user to place reservoir wherever they choose.

Also allows for multiple plumbing and water delivery methods to be applied. Such as NFT nutrient flow technique, where a inlet/outlet fitting is placed on the opposite side of the Hydrogon from the overflow fitting and nutrient solution is delivered in a constant flow. Or Drip method where tubing is ran along the outside of the Hydrogon and drippers are placed at the individual plant sites. Or Fog it. With an Aeroponic misting machine. We recommend the flood and drain method because we believe it works well and is simple.

Do the plants just grow up to the next level?

No. The whole interior of The Hydrogon™ will fill with plant canopy as plants naturally grow towards the light. The 3 level system is designed to accommodate sixty three 2'-3' ft tall plants and 4 level system designed to accommodate eighty four 18"-24" tall plants.

How do you contend with a heavy canopy?

Hang a net trellis around the Vertitube spacing it away from the tube as desired.

Does light get inside root area?

No, root development is excellent and unrestricted. With every watering cycle, as nutrient enters the chamber, air inside is displaced. When chamber drains, fresh air is drawn into root area. When not using all plant sites it is recommended empty site holes be covered.

Does PVC breakdown?

PVC, ABS, and Polyethylene does breakdown over time when exposed to prolonged UV (Sunshine). Indoor HID bulbs produce little to no Ultra Violet light. Our systems have been in use for years with absolutely no problems.

How hard is the Hydrogon™ system to set up and use?

We recommend placing the flood and drain fittings between plant holes in sections directly above the reservoir. Reservoir and fittings may be placed on any section of the Hydrogon.

Is standing water an issue with the Hydrogon system?

Like a flat tray hydroponic system, a very small amount of water is left between watering cycles. When plants and root mass are in early stages of growth the net pots and root mass are inches away from the bottom of chamber and are not effected by any trickle of water that may be in the bottom between watering cycles. Once plants are established and the hydrogon growth chambers are full of root mass our experience has shown that (especially with tomato plants) roots seek out any water that is left between cycles encouraging rapid root growth.

Each growing chamber functions like a flat tray system. Imagine several flat trays stacked on top of each other with a hole in the middle. This is the Hydrogon. Use the grow media and watering cycles you are familiar with.

If you have any experience with ebb/flow(flood/drain), NFT, Aeroponics, or similar Hydroponic systems, this one will be a piece of cake for you. If you have little or no experience growing hydroponically, don't worry. The folks at your local hydroponics store can help you. Modern nutrients and techniques have simplified hydroponics greatly.