LoveSalads
Board Moderator
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Post by LoveSalads on Oct 3, 2024 13:43:28 GMT -5
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CatHerder
AGA Sprout
"If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat".
Posts: 142 
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Post by CatHerder on Oct 3, 2024 13:55:37 GMT -5
Thanks!  Good to be back. I just got done live-chatting with AG and they don't know when/if they will have more pumps. They told me to look on Amazon and linked me to the general search, so.... I should have bought them last night instead of waiting until today. Dammit. I asked about nutrients, and they said they didn't know and to continue to "look for further announcements on our website regarding parts, nutrients and more." I'm not sure what to do about the nutrients, as I've only used theirs and have no CLUE how to use others. I just bought a few liters to add to the three unopened ones I already have. I just want a 'squirt the stuff in the water and go' kinda nutrient - which is why I like the AG stuff. I would hope, because MiracleGro owns the nutrients, that they would continue to make it. I mean, it would be stupid not to... right?! |
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Post by bluetech on Oct 3, 2024 14:06:11 GMT -5
Well I read the Letpots are decent... Sad times.
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pfunnyjoy
AGA Bounty
Made more grow room in my office!
Posts: 791
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Post by pfunnyjoy on Oct 3, 2024 14:50:29 GMT -5
Well this forum will still be here.... Thank you for that reassurance! I hope my existing AG units will last quite a few years more, and as units suffer failure, this forum will be a great resource for comparing notes on other units or finding lights to use with units that work, but whose light hoods have gone south. Really, there's three main things to worry over. Pump, (currently not at all difficult to find from third-party sellers on Amazon), light hood, and electronics. Of the latter two, the lights could be dealt with using third-party LED grow panels. The electronics, well, I don't know how reliable those are in the newer units, but my 2008/2009 units all still work. Pumps, even if they become hard to find, one could get an air-stone pump. Basically, as stuff fails, it will depend on whether one wants/needs the convenience of all in one, or is willing to DIY a bit. I probably lean toward the former, but it would depend on just what failed. Small parts, well, folks need to be careful when disassembling for cleaning. Or hope they are available on Etsy, or plan on picking up used units on Facebook Marketplace/eBay for parts. I haven't lost an AG part yet because I am careful. Grow baskets, grow domes, very reusable and can last a long, long time if one just sanitizes after each grow. I've got baskets from 2009 that are going strong. My supply of grow domes, well, lets just say I have WAY more than I will ever need, since I've saved 'em all. Pump filters, easily available third-party currently, in a pinch, get some Scotch Brite green scour pads, cut to size. Works. Did it for years back when as a cheap alternative to AG filters. Nutrients, there's plenty of choice there. Likewise for grow sponges. Those aren't going out of style anytime soon. |
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Post by lynnee on Oct 3, 2024 17:28:01 GMT -5
Well this forum will still be here.... Yay Shawn !  |
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slw
AGA Bounty
Posts: 846
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Post by slw on Oct 3, 2024 17:45:55 GMT -5
SO... I've only used aerogardens. A lot of you have tried the various other gardens that have sprung up in recent years as competitors to the aerogarden. I think most of you have agreed with the fact that aerogarden seemed to be the best quality and best design of them all.
Those that have tried others, which ones are good? which ones are the closest to the functionality of the aerogarden? Which ones should one consider when it comes time to migrate to another product?
I have tried many of the alternatives, including IDoo, Mufga, LetPot, AHopeGarden and SpiderFarmer. Of all of them, I'd buy the SpiderFarmer again. They all work OK but none have the quality/functionality/features of AG. SpiderFarmer has the best lights IMO... probably because their company makes a lot of hydroponics equipment and grow lights.
I will also say that I would definitely not buy another IDoo system.
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Post by lynnee on Oct 3, 2024 17:51:41 GMT -5
I asked about nutrients, and they said they didn't know and to continue to "look for further announcements on our website regarding parts, nutrients and more." I'm not sure what to do about the nutrients, as I've only used theirs and have no CLUE how to use others. I just bought a few liters to add to the three unopened ones I already have. I just want a 'squirt the stuff in the water and go' kinda nutrient - which is why I like the AG stuff. I would hope, because MiracleGro owns the nutrients, that they would continue to make it. I mean, it would be stupid not to... right?! That's my problem, too. I supplement the AG nutrients with CalMag+ and Koolbloom, but have never used anything but AG for the basic feeding. Does General Hydroponics or some other company have a basic nutrients solution available?  |
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Post by Clovis Sangrail on Oct 3, 2024 19:46:49 GMT -5
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Post by scarfguy on Oct 3, 2024 20:22:19 GMT -5
Hey CatHerder! Really glad to see you. We missed you! ===
I bought a couple of these pumps. They look the same and seem to function just as well. They have a much longer cord that I don't understand.
ALSO, the filters that comes with them are a bit cheesier. They aren't as dense. You can see through them more than the AG filters BUT... they seem to do the job also.
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pfunnyjoy
AGA Bounty
Made more grow room in my office!
Posts: 791
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Post by pfunnyjoy on Oct 3, 2024 21:37:45 GMT -5
If you need less cheesy/flimsy filters, get some scouring pads, cut to size using an AG filter as a pattern. Like this: Scotch Brite Scour Pads (or similar, likely a dollar store might have something just as good even cheaper) work great. I never would buy filters from AG, and I still have a nice little supply of these cut and ready to go. Just installed one in a Harvest 360 I finished cleaning out. |
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slw
AGA Bounty
Posts: 846
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Post by slw on Oct 3, 2024 23:15:08 GMT -5
I bought these filters from Amazon last year and they are identical to AG filters. 25 of them for $6. CLICKETY!! |
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veng1
AGA Sprout
My logo is from a spectroradiometer I designed to measure a Sprout.
Posts: 51
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Post by veng1 on Oct 4, 2024 9:21:31 GMT -5
Maybe this requires it's own thread as I'm very interested in other folks opinions but I don't think a water pump is required.
My experience on my DIY AeroGarden knock-offs is that an air pump and air stones gets all the oxygen into the nutrient that is required.
For germination, I keep the container very full so the sponge is moist until some visible roots form. Then the sponge is moist by capillary action.
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Post by scarfguy on Oct 4, 2024 9:35:29 GMT -5
Maybe this requires it's own thread as I'm very interested in other folks opinions but I don't think a water pump is required.
My experience on my DIY AeroGarden knock-offs is that an air pump and air stones gets all the oxygen into the nutrient that is required.
For germination, I keep the container very full so the sponge is moist until some visible roots form. Then the sponge is moist by capillary action.
Correct! Air stones work very well. I'm using them to supplement the pump.
I don' remove the plants or inspect the pump when I do an R&R. I just syphon the water and replace it. Consequently, over the life of the plant, the pump gets full of roots and becomes much less efficient. I add an air stone or two at that time to restore the oxygen level.
You don't need the pump and you don't need the light hood. There are many manufacturers of external grow lights. Just find a way to suspend the light above the AG and put it on a timer.
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swimmom500
AGA Harvest
Posts: 297
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Post by swimmom500 on Oct 4, 2024 10:01:57 GMT -5
The nutrients are back in stock! I just ordered them even though I use the Flora series for my peppers and tomatoes.
I had a 60% off coupon in my email this morning so I also order 2 Bounty Elites, a trellis for my Farm, the watering jug and the felt for my Microgreens tray since I haven’t had any luck using other media.
Check your emails for the coupon. I couldn’t resist ordering again at 60% off!!
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LoveSalads
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Post by LoveSalads on Oct 4, 2024 10:53:43 GMT -5
The nutrients are back in stock! I just ordered them even though I use the Flora series for my peppers and tomatoes. I had a 60% off coupon in my email this morning so I also order 2 Bounty Elites, a trellis for my Farm, the watering jug and the felt for my Microgreens tray since I haven’t had any luck using other media. Check your emails for the coupon. I couldn’t resist ordering again at 60% off!! 60% off how can one resist that. Time to go buy more nutes and stuff. Thx for the heads up |
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LoveSalads
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Post by LoveSalads on Oct 4, 2024 11:17:43 GMT -5
Maybe this requires it's own thread as I'm very interested in other folks opinions but I don't think a water pump is required.
My experience on my DIY AeroGarden knock-offs is that an air pump and air stones gets all the oxygen into the nutrient that is required.
For germination, I keep the container very full so the sponge is moist until some visible roots form. Then the sponge is moist by capillary action.
The Agitation at the surface of the water is where you get the oxygen exchange. The deeper in the water you go with you air supply the more surface agitation. scarfguy is 100% correct. I do like the water fall effect that the pump provides so I will continue to use my water pumps. When you have long grows and the roots are everywhere that extra air supply is an awesome addition. I used this on one of my cherry tomato grows as per scarfguy instructions. The water pump was basically just spinning not providing much flow anymore and, the whole grow went wild again within a few weeks. |
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swimmom500
AGA Harvest
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Post by swimmom500 on Oct 4, 2024 11:46:17 GMT -5
The nutrients are back in stock! I just ordered them even though I use the Flora series for my peppers and tomatoes. I had a 60% off coupon in my email this morning so I also order 2 Bounty Elites, a trellis for my Farm, the watering jug and the felt for my Microgreens tray since I haven’t had any luck using other media. Check your emails for the coupon. I couldn’t resist ordering again at 60% off!! 60% off how can one resist that. Time to go buy more nutes and stuff. Thx for the heads up I am sitting here wishing I ordered more at those prices. Didn’t want to take too long making up my mind and have stuff sell out! |
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
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Post by Shawn on Oct 4, 2024 12:13:07 GMT -5
Thanks!  Good to be back. I just got done live-chatting with AG and they don't know when/if they will have more pumps. They told me to look on Amazon and linked me to the general search, so.... I should have bought them last night instead of waiting until today. Dammit. I asked about nutrients, and they said they didn't know and to continue to "look for further announcements on our website regarding parts, nutrients and more." I'm not sure what to do about the nutrients, as I've only used theirs and have no CLUE how to use others. I just bought a few liters to add to the three unopened ones I already have. I just want a 'squirt the stuff in the water and go' kinda nutrient - which is why I like the AG stuff. I would hope, because MiracleGro owns the nutrients, that they would continue to make it. I mean, it would be stupid not to... right?! there are other brands you can use that are simple. I do have one. Let me look for it and I will post it later. |
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slw
AGA Bounty
Posts: 846
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Post by slw on Oct 4, 2024 13:09:34 GMT -5
I got the 60% off coupon, too. I bought 4 more jugs of nutes and a box of seed pods.
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swimmom500
AGA Harvest
Posts: 297
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Post by swimmom500 on Oct 4, 2024 14:27:20 GMT -5
I got the 60% off coupon, too. I bought 4 more jugs of nutes and a box of seed pods. I was going to order more seed pods but I have so many seeds. It seems like every time I turn around I have a new seed order coming. Ordered 2 Bounty Elites instead and will retire those old units that still use the bulbs. I have a Veggie Pro, Pro 200 and Elite 6+. I also have an Ultra LED but the lights don’t work again so I am about to give up on that one completely! Also ordered the nutes even though I don’t use them that much. I had ordered earlier at 30% off as well. Glad I didn’t go overboard at 30 off. I also figured for under $9 I would try one of those watering jugs everyone seems to like. |
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Good to be back.
Good to be back.