LearningAquaponics

Products We Use & Recommend

Everything on this page is something we've personally used in our home systems. No sponsored reviews, no products we haven't tested ourselves.

Affiliate Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep the site running and buy more gear to test. Our opinions are always our own.

Tower Gardens

Garden Tower 2 vertical tower garden with lush greens and herbs growing in a home setting
Our Pick

Garden Tower 2

Our Pick
~$599 CAD
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The tower garden we started with and still use every day. 50 planting pockets, a central compost tube, and food-grade materials. It's not cheap, but it's the most complete kit we've found for home use.

What We Like
  • 50 growing spots
  • Central compost tube adds nutrients
  • Food-grade, UV-resistant plastic
  • Complete kit — pump included
  • Great customer support
Worth Knowing
  • Expensive upfront
  • No grow light included

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Grow Lights

Indoor hydroponics system under full-spectrum LED grow lights
Best Value

Mars Hydro TS 1000

Best Value
~$120–160 CAD
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The grow light we use in our spare room setup. Full-spectrum LED, low heat, and efficient enough to run 14+ hours a day without a huge electricity bill. Covers a 3×3 ft area well.

What We Like
  • Full spectrum
  • Low heat output
  • Energy efficient
  • Quiet — no fan noise
  • Good coverage for the price
Worth Knowing
  • Not ideal for large areas
  • Dimmer switch can be finicky

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Nutrients & pH

Thriving aquaponics plants fed with General Hydroponics nutrients
What We Use

General Hydroponics Flora Series

What We Use
~$50–80 CAD (3-part kit)
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The nutrient system we've used since day one. Three-part formula (FloraGro, FloraBloom, FloraMicro) that you mix based on what stage your plants are in. Reliable, widely available, and well-documented.

What We Like
  • Proven formula used by pros
  • Flexible — adjust for growth stage
  • Widely available in Canada
  • Clear mixing instructions
Worth Knowing
  • Three bottles to manage
  • Requires pH adjustment

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Homeowner testing water pH with a digital meter in an aquaponics fish tank
Worth It

Bluelab pH Pen

Worth It
~$90 CAD
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We tried three cheaper pH pens before buying this one. The Bluelab is accurate, easy to calibrate, and has lasted 18+ months of daily use. If you're serious about growing, don't cheap out on your pH meter.

What We Like
  • Very accurate
  • Easy to calibrate
  • Durable
  • Clear digital display
Worth Knowing
  • Expensive for a pen
  • Needs calibration solution

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Water Testing

Water quality test kit being used to check aquaponics system parameters
Essential

API Freshwater Master Test Kit

Essential
~$45 CAD
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Tests pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate — the four most important parameters in any aquaponics system. Liquid test kits are more accurate than strips. This one lasts for hundreds of tests.

What We Like
  • Tests all 4 key parameters
  • Very accurate
  • Hundreds of tests per kit
  • Colour-coded and easy to read
Worth Knowing
  • Takes a few minutes per test
  • Glass vials need careful handling

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