Manual
Select your Elfsys Grow Kit version from the tabs below to view the manual.
- 2 Layers
- 3 Layers
- 4 Layers
Installation
Check parts
Your package will include 1 primary grow container box and 1 secondary grow container box. Before installation, please check the parts according to the photo and item list below.
Primary grow container box
| No. | Name | Quantity | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary grow container | 1 | piece | |
| 2 | Support columns | 4 | piece | |
| 3 | Support beams | 2 | piece | |
| 4 | Water pump and filter assembly | 1 | set | Pre-installed by default |
| 5 | Water pump power supply | 1 | piece | |
| 6 | Elfsys Grow Power Strip | 1 | piece | |
| 7 | QR code nameplate | 1 | piece | |
| 8 | Corner covers | 1 | bag | 4 per bag |
| 9 | Net pots | 14 | piece | |
| 10 | Grow container covers | 2 | piece | |
| 11 | Clay pebbles | 1 | bag | |
| 12 | T5 LED grow lights | 3 | piece | |
| 13 | Grow light mounts | 2 | piece | |
| 14 | Grow light connecting cords - short | 1 | piece | Approximately 12 inches long |
| 15 | Grow light power switch cords | 2 | piece | |
| 16 | Locking caster wheels | 1 | set | 4 per set |
| 17 | Measuring cup | 1 | piece | |
| 18 | Nutrients | 1 | set | One bottle each of A and B fluids, only for mainland China addresses |
A converter is included in the box if your address is located in a region that does not use Type B or I plug standards.
For international orders shipped in August 2023 and onwards, 1 additional T5 LED grow light and 1 water pump are also included as spare parts.
Secondary grow container box
| No. | Name | Quantity | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Secondary grow container | 1 | piece | |
| 2 | Support columns | 3 | piece | |
| 3 | Feed column | 1 | piece | With blue protection cover |
| 4 | Corner covers | 1 | bag | 4 per bag |
| 5 | Net pots | 14 | piece | |
| 6 | Grow container covers | 2 | piece | |
| 7 | Clay pebbles | 1 | bag | |
| 8 | T5 LED grow lights | 3 | piece | |
| 9 | Grow light mounts | 2 | piece | |
| 10 | Grow light connecting cords - short | 1 | piece | About 12 inches |
| 11 | Grow light connecting cords - long | 2 | piece | About 30 inches |
Assemble the kit
Let's begin assembling the Elfsys Grow Kit. In addition to the text tutorial provided below, you can also view this video demonstration that uses a four-layer kit as an example.
Assemble primary grow container
The primary grow container is the lowest layer of the Elfsys Grow Kit and also serves as the kit's main nutrient reservoir. Each kit only has one primary grow container.
- Install the four locking caster wheels to the four bottom corners of the primary grow container.
- Connect the water pump power supply. The primary grow container is pre-installed with a water pump and its filter assembly. Turn off the power switch and connect the power supply to the pre-installed water pump. Check if there is a rubber plug in the water inlet corner. If there is, remove it as it won't be used.
The water inlet corner is the closest to the water pump, which has a soft tube connected to the water pump.
- Install the grow container covers. Align the slots on the grow container covers to the side walls of the grow container, then install the four corner covers.
- Keep the remaining parts aside, the support columns and beams are installed to the top layer of the kit. You do not need to install grow lights, support columns and net pots now.
Assemble secondary grow container
The secondary grow container is an expansion module that can be added on top of the primary grow container. Each grow kit can add up to 3 secondary grow containers. Each secondary grow container can add 14 net pots, 45W of artificial light output, and 1.85 gallons (7 liters) of nutrient solution.
- Install the feed column. Identify the feed column with blue protective caps. The feed column has two rubber seals at both ends and one internal water feed tube. When installing onto the primary grow container below, first insert the feed tube inside the feed port of the primary grow container into the small hole of the seal at either end of the feed column, then insert the feed column into the primary grow container. When installing onto another secondary grow container below, directly insert the feed column into the feed slot of the secondary grow container. You can twist and tap the feed column to ensure it is fully inserted.
The feed slot in the primary grow container is located in the corner closest to the water pump. The feed slot contains a plastic water feed tube connected to the water pump.
- Install the supporting columns. Insert the remaining three columns into the remaining three slots of the grow container at below. Twist and tap the columns to ensure they are fully inserted.
- Install the secondary grow container. Align the feed slot at the bottom of the grow container with the feed column, and the other three corners with support columns. After alignment, press down hard on the secondary grow container, then tap the four corners to ensure all columns are fully inserted on both ends.
- Install the grow container covers. Align the slots on the grow container covers to the side walls of the grow container, then install the four corner covers.
- Repeat the above steps to install the remaining secondary grow containers.
- Take out the four support columns and the two support beams from the primary grow container box. Install the support columns at the four corners of the topmost secondary grow container. Group two columns on the short side and install the support beams on them.
Install grow lights
With the grow light mount column slots opening facing outwards, insert one end of the each grow lights into each light slots, then clip on another grow light mount in the same manner on the opposite side. Then, tilt the entire light assembly and place it in between the grow container columns. First, from one side, press the grow light mount until it snaps onto the two columns, then adjust the height of the opposite side and snap onto the other two columns.
Wire grow lights
Follow the grow light wiring diagram below to arrange the lights in each tier into two groups, namely the side lights group and the center light group. The side lights should be wired according to the green lines, and the center lights should be wired according to the orange lines. Each group of lights should be connected to an individual power switch cords. This method allows you to independently control them via Elfsys Grow Cloud, and achieve three different light intensity levels.
Each chain of the grow lights should only be connected to a power source at one end. Connecting power to both ends at the same time will cause overload and burn out the grow lights, posing a potential risk of an electrical accident.
Activation
Elfsys Grow Kit is used in conjunction with the Elfsys Grow Cloud App to automate your growing process. Install the Elfsys App and create an Elfsys account before activating the kit.
- Open the Elfsys App, tap the button on the home page, and select Setup Elfsys Grow Kit.
- Select 2 Layers and tap .
- Scan the QR code on the nameplate from the primary grow container box following the instruction on the screen.
- Power on the Elfsys Grow Power Strip from the primary grow container box, and tap Add Power Strip to start pairing it. Check the related documentation for detailed instructions and tutorials. Tap once you have paired the power strip.
- Plug the side light power cord into a socket on the Elfsys Grow Power Strip and select the plugged-in socket on the screen. Switch the toggle in the Test Device section on and off and check if the device is plugged into the right socket. Tap when done.
- Plug the center light power cord into a socket and repeat the selection process in step 5.
- Plug the water pump power cord into a socket and repeat the selection process in step 5. Make sure the water pump is switched to OFF.
- Tap Start Growing to jump to the newly activated system named Elfsys Grow Kit for your kit.
In addition to the text tutorial provided above, you can also view this video demonstration for reference.
Growing
Open the Elfsys App, tap Systems on the home page to list all existing systems, find and open the corresponding system of your Elfsys Grow Kit. You may also use the QR code scanner by tapping
on the home page and then on the top right and scan the QR code on the nameplate of the target kit to quickly navigate to the system.Tap the Start Growing button and choose the grow template based on the type of plant you want to plant. Tap the Start Growing button. The Elfsys App supports planting directly from seeds or seedlings. This tutorial starts with seeds. You can tap the
button at the bottom right to proceed to the next step.Add water & nutrients
When starting to plant, please determine the location of the kit. It is recommended not to place the kit on wooden floors or furniture that is prone to water damage. A kit full of water is heavy and difficult to move. Water is likely to be shaken out when moving. After the position is confirmed, press down the levers on the wheels to lock them in place.
Prepare a water bucket with a known capacity. The primary grow container has a capacity of about 5 gallons (19 liters), and the secondary grow container has a capacity of about 1.85 gallons (7 liters). First, prepare about 5 gallons (19 liters) of final nutrients by mixing water and nutrients concentration (not included) according to the nutrients' manual. Fill the primary grow container. Then, turn the water pump power switch to the position shown in the picture below.
Toggle the water pump switch from
to in the Elfsys App to turn on the water pump and start the initial water cycling.Do not allow the water pump to operate with low water level over time. This will decrease the pump life cycle. If you notice the pump making a louder noise than usual, it's typically because the water level is too low.
Through the initial water cycling, please check any signs of leak around supporting columns connection points, drainage, and the water level window.
After a few minutes of initiating the water cycling, the water level in the primary grow container will decrease. This happens because the water is being pumped from the primary grow container to the uppermost secondary grow container, filling its reservoir, and then cascades down each layer until it returns to the primary grow container, thereby establishing a Deep Nutrient Technique cycle. When the water returns back to the primary grow container, toggle off the water pump switch. The maximum water capacity of the kit you purchased is about 6.9 gallons (26 liters). You will need to add the remaining 1.8 gallons (7 liters) until it reaches to the maximum water capacity line. It's important to remember only to add water to the maximum capacity line when the pump is turned off. The pump will cycle on and off regularly. If you fill the water to the maximum line when the pump is on, it will lead to overflow when the pump is turned off.
After adding water, you can tap the
button at the bottom right. Your Elfsys Grow Kit will start a grow batch according to the grow template selected previously.Plant seeds
- Rinsing the clay pebbles. Each grow container comes with a bag of clay pebbles. Rinse them several times to remove debris. We recommend using a sieve or a vegetable washing basket for this purpose to prevent the clay pebbles from falling into the sink and clogging the drain.
- Filling the planting baskets. Fill the clean clay pebbles to the planting baskets upto 1 inch from the top (as shown below). This position is most suitable for seed germination, as the clay pebbles stay moist and keep the seeds above the nutrient flow.
- Sowing the seeds. To ensure a high germination rate, it is recommended to sprinkle 3 seeds into each net pot. Simply scatter the seeds directly onto the surface of the clay pebbles.
- Cover the seeds. Finally, topping off each planting basket with moisted clay pebbles (as shown below), and put them back into the grow containers.
Next steps
Any upcoming tasks will appear in notifications on the dashboard in the Elfsys App. You can follow the prompts in the notifications to handle related tasks at any time.
Learn more growing techniques by following our social media and join our community Discord server.
Maintenance
Cleaning
We recommend that you clean your kit after every 2~4 grow batches to remove algae growing on the bottom of the grow container. You can check out this tutorial (using a three-layer kit as an example) on how to wash your kit.
Installation
Check parts
Your package will include 1 primary grow container box and 2 secondary grow container boxes. Before installation, please check the parts according to the photo and item list below.
Primary grow container box
| No. | Name | Quantity | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary grow container | 1 | piece | |
| 2 | Support columns | 4 | piece | |
| 3 | Support beams | 2 | piece | |
| 4 | Water pump and filter assembly | 1 | set | Pre-installed by default |
| 5 | Water pump power supply | 1 | piece | |
| 6 | Elfsys Grow Power Strip | 1 | piece | |
| 7 | QR code nameplate | 1 | piece | |
| 8 | Corner covers | 1 | bag | 4 per bag |
| 9 | Net pots | 14 | piece | |
| 10 | Grow container covers | 2 | piece | |
| 11 | Clay pebbles | 1 | bag | |
| 12 | T5 LED grow lights | 3 | piece | |
| 13 | Grow light mounts | 2 | piece | |
| 14 | Grow light connecting cords - short | 1 | piece | Approximately 12 inches long |
| 15 | Grow light power switch cords | 2 | piece | |
| 16 | Locking caster wheels | 1 | set | 4 per set |
| 17 | Measuring cup | 1 | piece | |
| 18 | Nutrients | 1 | set | One bottle each of A and B fluids, only for mainland China addresses |
A converter is included in the box if your address is located in a region that does not use Type B or I plug standards.
For international orders shipped in August 2023 and onwards, 1 additional T5 LED grow light and 1 water pump are also included as spare parts.
Secondary grow container box
| No. | Name | Quantity | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Secondary grow container | 1 | piece | |
| 2 | Support columns | 3 | piece | |
| 3 | Feed column | 1 | piece | With blue protection cover |
| 4 | Corner covers | 1 | bag | 4 per bag |
| 5 | Net pots | 14 | piece | |
| 6 | Grow container covers | 2 | piece | |
| 7 | Clay pebbles | 1 | bag | |
| 8 | T5 LED grow lights | 3 | piece | |
| 9 | Grow light mounts | 2 | piece | |
| 10 | Grow light connecting cords - short | 1 | piece | About 12 inches |
| 11 | Grow light connecting cords - long | 2 | piece | About 30 inches |
Assemble the kit
Let's begin assembling the Elfsys Grow Kit. In addition to the text tutorial provided below, you can also view this video demonstration that uses a four-layer kit as an example.
Assemble primary grow container
The primary grow container is the lowest layer of the Elfsys Grow Kit and also serves as the kit's main nutrient reservoir. Each kit only has one primary grow container.
- Install the four locking caster wheels to the four bottom corners of the primary grow container.
- Connect the water pump power supply. The primary grow container is pre-installed with a water pump and its filter assembly. Turn off the power switch and connect the power supply to the pre-installed water pump. Check if there is a rubber plug in the water inlet corner. If there is, remove it as it won't be used.
The water inlet corner is the closest to the water pump, which has a soft tube connected to the water pump.
- Install the grow container covers. Align the slots on the grow container covers to the side walls of the grow container, then install the four corner covers.
- Keep the remaining parts aside, the support columns and beams are installed to the top layer of the kit. You do not need to install grow lights, support columns and net pots now.
Assemble secondary grow container
The secondary grow container is an expansion module that can be added on top of the primary grow container. Each grow kit can add up to 3 secondary grow containers. Each secondary grow container can add 14 net pots, 45W of artificial light output, and 1.85 gallons (7 liters) of nutrient solution.
- Install the feed column. Identify the feed column with blue protective caps. The feed column has two rubber seals at both ends and one internal water feed tube. When installing onto the primary grow container below, first insert the feed tube inside the feed port of the primary grow container into the small hole of the seal at either end of the feed column, then insert the feed column into the primary grow container. When installing onto another secondary grow container below, directly insert the feed column into the feed slot of the secondary grow container. You can twist and tap the feed column to ensure it is fully inserted.
The feed slot in the primary grow container is located in the corner closest to the water pump. The feed slot contains a plastic water feed tube connected to the water pump.
- Install the supporting columns. Insert the remaining three columns into the remaining three slots of the grow container at below. Twist and tap the columns to ensure they are fully inserted.
- Install the secondary grow container. Align the feed slot at the bottom of the grow container with the feed column, and the other three corners with support columns. After alignment, press down hard on the secondary grow container, then tap the four corners to ensure all columns are fully inserted on both ends.
- Install the grow container covers. Align the slots on the grow container covers to the side walls of the grow container, then install the four corner covers.
- Repeat the above steps to install the remaining secondary grow containers.
- Take out the four support columns and the two support beams from the primary grow container box. Install the support columns at the four corners of the topmost secondary grow container. Group two columns on the short side and install the support beams on them.
Install grow lights
With the grow light mount column slots opening facing outwards, insert one end of the each grow lights into each light slots, then clip on another grow light mount in the same manner on the opposite side. Then, tilt the entire light assembly and place it in between the grow container columns. First, from one side, press the grow light mount until it snaps onto the two columns, then adjust the height of the opposite side and snap onto the other two columns.
Wire grow lights
Follow the grow light wiring diagram below to arrange the lights in each tier into two groups, namely the side lights group and the center light group. The side lights should be wired according to the green lines, and the center lights should be wired according to the orange lines. Each group of lights should be connected to an individual power switch cords. This method allows you to independently control them via Elfsys Grow Cloud, and achieve three different light intensity levels.
Each chain of the grow lights should only be connected to a power source at one end. Connecting power to both ends at the same time will cause overload and burn out the grow lights, posing a potential risk of an electrical accident.
Activation
Elfsys Grow Kit is used in conjunction with the Elfsys Grow Cloud App to automate your growing process. Install the Elfsys App and create an Elfsys account before activating the kit.
- Open the Elfsys App, tap the button on the home page, and select Setup Elfsys Grow Kit.
- Select 3 Layers and tap .
- Scan the QR code on the nameplate from the primary grow container box following the instruction on the screen.
- Power on the Elfsys Grow Power Strip from the primary grow container box, and tap Add Power Strip to start pairing it. Check the related documentation for detailed instructions and tutorials. Tap once you have paired the power strip.
- Plug the side light power cord into a socket on the Elfsys Grow Power Strip and select the plugged-in socket on the screen. Switch the toggle in the Test Device section on and off and check if the device is plugged into the right socket. Tap when done.
- Plug the center light power cord into a socket and repeat the selection process in step 5.
- Plug the water pump power cord into a socket and repeat the selection process in step 5. Make sure the water pump is switched to OFF.
- Tap Start Growing to jump to the newly activated system named Elfsys Grow Kit for your kit.
In addition to the text tutorial provided above, you can also view this video demonstration for reference.
Growing
Open the Elfsys App, tap Systems on the home page to list all existing systems, find and open the corresponding system of your Elfsys Grow Kit. You may also use the QR code scanner by tapping
on the home page and then on the top right and scan the QR code on the nameplate of the target kit to quickly navigate to the system.Tap the Start Growing button and choose the grow template based on the type of plant you want to plant. Tap the Start Growing button. The Elfsys App supports planting directly from seeds or seedlings. This tutorial starts with seeds. You can tap the
button at the bottom right to proceed to the next step.Add water & nutrients
When starting to plant, please determine the location of the kit. It is recommended not to place the kit on wooden floors or furniture that is prone to water damage. A kit full of water is heavy and difficult to move. Water is likely to be shaken out when moving. After the position is confirmed, press down the levers on the wheels to lock them in place.
Prepare a water bucket with a known capacity. The primary grow container has a capacity of about 5 gallons (19 liters), and the secondary grow container has a capacity of about 1.85 gallons (7 liters). First, prepare about 5 gallons (19 liters) of final nutrients by mixing water and nutrients concentration (not included) according to the nutrients' manual. Fill the primary grow container. Then, turn the water pump power switch to the position shown in the picture below.
Toggle the water pump switch from
to in the Elfsys App to turn on the water pump and start the initial water cycling.Do not allow the water pump to operate with low water level over time. This will decrease the pump life cycle. If you notice the pump making a louder noise than usual, it's typically because the water level is too low.
Through the initial water cycling, please check any signs of leak around supporting columns connection points, drainage, and the water level window.
After a few minutes of initiating the water cycling, the water level in the primary grow container will decrease. This happens because the water is being pumped from the primary grow container to the uppermost secondary grow container, filling its reservoir, and then cascades down each layer until it returns to the primary grow container, thereby establishing a Deep Nutrient Technique cycle. When the water returns back to the primary grow container, toggle off the water pump switch. The maximum water capacity of the kit you purchased is about 8.7 gallons (33 liters). You will need to add the remaining 3.7 gallons (14 liters) until it reaches to the maximum water capacity line. It's important to remember only to add water to the maximum capacity line when the pump is turned off. The pump will cycle on and off regularly. If you fill the water to the maximum line when the pump is on, it will lead to overflow when the pump is turned off.
After adding water, you can tap the
button at the bottom right. Your Elfsys Grow Kit will start a grow batch according to the grow template selected previously.Plant seeds
- Rinsing the clay pebbles. Each grow container comes with a bag of clay pebbles. Rinse them several times to remove debris. We recommend using a sieve or a vegetable washing basket for this purpose to prevent the clay pebbles from falling into the sink and clogging the drain.
- Filling the planting baskets. Fill the clean clay pebbles to the planting baskets upto 1 inch from the top (as shown below). This position is most suitable for seed germination, as the clay pebbles stay moist and keep the seeds above the nutrient flow.
- Sowing the seeds. To ensure a high germination rate, it is recommended to sprinkle 3 seeds into each net pot. Simply scatter the seeds directly onto the surface of the clay pebbles.
- Cover the seeds. Finally, topping off each planting basket with moisted clay pebbles (as shown below), and put them back into the grow containers.
Next steps
Any upcoming tasks will appear in notifications on the dashboard in the Elfsys App. You can follow the prompts in the notifications to handle related tasks at any time.
Learn more growing techniques by following our social media and join our community Discord server.
Maintenance
Cleaning
We recommend that you clean your kit after every 2~4 grow batches to remove algae growing on the bottom of the grow container. You can check out this tutorial (using a three-layer kit as an example) on how to wash your kit.
Installation
Check parts
Your package will include 1 primary grow container box and 3 secondary grow container boxes. Before installation, please check the parts according to the photo and item list below.
Primary grow container box
| No. | Name | Quantity | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary grow container | 1 | piece | |
| 2 | Support columns | 4 | piece | |
| 3 | Support beams | 2 | piece | |
| 4 | Water pump and filter assembly | 1 | set | Pre-installed by default |
| 5 | Water pump power supply | 1 | piece | |
| 6 | Elfsys Grow Power Strip | 1 | piece | |
| 7 | QR code nameplate | 1 | piece | |
| 8 | Corner covers | 1 | bag | 4 per bag |
| 9 | Net pots | 14 | piece | |
| 10 | Grow container covers | 2 | piece | |
| 11 | Clay pebbles | 1 | bag | |
| 12 | T5 LED grow lights | 3 | piece | |
| 13 | Grow light mounts | 2 | piece | |
| 14 | Grow light connecting cords - short | 1 | piece | Approximately 12 inches long |
| 15 | Grow light power switch cords | 2 | piece | |
| 16 | Locking caster wheels | 1 | set | 4 per set |
| 17 | Measuring cup | 1 | piece | |
| 18 | Nutrients | 1 | set | One bottle each of A and B fluids, only for mainland China addresses |
A converter is included in the box if your address is located in a region that does not use Type B or I plug standards.
For international orders shipped in August 2023 and onwards, 1 additional T5 LED grow light and 1 water pump are also included as spare parts.
Secondary grow container box
| No. | Name | Quantity | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Secondary grow container | 1 | piece | |
| 2 | Support columns | 3 | piece | |
| 3 | Feed column | 1 | piece | With blue protection cover |
| 4 | Corner covers | 1 | bag | 4 per bag |
| 5 | Net pots | 14 | piece | |
| 6 | Grow container covers | 2 | piece | |
| 7 | Clay pebbles | 1 | bag | |
| 8 | T5 LED grow lights | 3 | piece | |
| 9 | Grow light mounts | 2 | piece | |
| 10 | Grow light connecting cords - short | 1 | piece | About 12 inches |
| 11 | Grow light connecting cords - long | 2 | piece | About 30 inches |
Assemble the kit
Let's begin assembling the Elfsys Grow Kit. In addition to the text tutorial provided below, you can also view this video demonstration that uses a four-layer kit as an example.
Assemble primary grow container
The primary grow container is the lowest layer of the Elfsys Grow Kit and also serves as the kit's main nutrient reservoir. Each kit only has one primary grow container.
- Install the four locking caster wheels to the four bottom corners of the primary grow container.
- Connect the water pump power supply. The primary grow container is pre-installed with a water pump and its filter assembly. Turn off the power switch and connect the power supply to the pre-installed water pump. Check if there is a rubber plug in the water inlet corner. If there is, remove it as it won't be used.
The water inlet corner is the closest to the water pump, which has a soft tube connected to the water pump.
- Install the grow container covers. Align the slots on the grow container covers to the side walls of the grow container, then install the four corner covers.
- Keep the remaining parts aside, the support columns and beams are installed to the top layer of the kit. You do not need to install grow lights, support columns and net pots now.
Assemble secondary grow container
The secondary grow container is an expansion module that can be added on top of the primary grow container. Each grow kit can add up to 3 secondary grow containers. Each secondary grow container can add 14 net pots, 45W of artificial light output, and 1.85 gallons (7 liters) of nutrient solution.
- Install the feed column. Identify the feed column with blue protective caps. The feed column has two rubber seals at both ends and one internal water feed tube. When installing onto the primary grow container below, first insert the feed tube inside the feed port of the primary grow container into the small hole of the seal at either end of the feed column, then insert the feed column into the primary grow container. When installing onto another secondary grow container below, directly insert the feed column into the feed slot of the secondary grow container. You can twist and tap the feed column to ensure it is fully inserted.
The feed slot in the primary grow container is located in the corner closest to the water pump. The feed slot contains a plastic water feed tube connected to the water pump.
- Install the supporting columns. Insert the remaining three columns into the remaining three slots of the grow container at below. Twist and tap the columns to ensure they are fully inserted.
- Install the secondary grow container. Align the feed slot at the bottom of the grow container with the feed column, and the other three corners with support columns. After alignment, press down hard on the secondary grow container, then tap the four corners to ensure all columns are fully inserted on both ends.
- Install the grow container covers. Align the slots on the grow container covers to the side walls of the grow container, then install the four corner covers.
- Repeat the above steps to install the remaining secondary grow containers.
- Take out the four support columns and the two support beams from the primary grow container box. Install the support columns at the four corners of the topmost secondary grow container. Group two columns on the short side and install the support beams on them.
Install grow lights
With the grow light mount column slots opening facing outwards, insert one end of the each grow lights into each light slots, then clip on another grow light mount in the same manner on the opposite side. Then, tilt the entire light assembly and place it in between the grow container columns. First, from one side, press the grow light mount until it snaps onto the two columns, then adjust the height of the opposite side and snap onto the other two columns.
Wire grow lights
Follow the grow light wiring diagram below to arrange the lights in each tier into two groups, namely the side lights group and the center light group. The side lights should be wired according to the green lines, and the center lights should be wired according to the orange lines. Each group of lights should be connected to an individual power switch cords. This method allows you to independently control them via Elfsys Grow Cloud, and achieve three different light intensity levels.
Each chain of the grow lights should only be connected to a power source at one end. Connecting power to both ends at the same time will cause overload and burn out the grow lights, posing a potential risk of an electrical accident.
Activation
Elfsys Grow Kit is used in conjunction with the Elfsys Grow Cloud App to automate your growing process. Install the Elfsys App and create an Elfsys account before activating the kit.
- Open the Elfsys App, tap the button on the home page, and select Setup Elfsys Grow Kit.
- Select 4 Layers and tap .
- Scan the QR code on the nameplate from the primary grow container box following the instruction on the screen.
- Power on the Elfsys Grow Power Strip from the primary grow container box, and tap Add Power Strip to start pairing it. Check the related documentation for detailed instructions and tutorials. Tap once you have paired the power strip.
- Plug the side light power cord into a socket on the Elfsys Grow Power Strip and select the plugged-in socket on the screen. Switch the toggle in the Test Device section on and off and check if the device is plugged into the right socket. Tap when done.
- Plug the center light power cord into a socket and repeat the selection process in step 5.
- Plug the water pump power cord into a socket and repeat the selection process in step 5. Make sure the water pump is switched to OFF.
- Tap Start Growing to jump to the newly activated system named Elfsys Grow Kit for your kit.
In addition to the text tutorial provided above, you can also view this video demonstration for reference.
Growing
Open the Elfsys App, tap Systems on the home page to list all existing systems, find and open the corresponding system of your Elfsys Grow Kit. You may also use the QR code scanner by tapping
on the home page and then on the top right and scan the QR code on the nameplate of the target kit to quickly navigate to the system.Tap the Start Growing button and choose the grow template based on the type of plant you want to plant. Tap the Start Growing button. The Elfsys App supports planting directly from seeds or seedlings. This tutorial starts with seeds. You can tap the
button at the bottom right to proceed to the next step.Add water & nutrients
When starting to plant, please determine the location of the kit. It is recommended not to place the kit on wooden floors or furniture that is prone to water damage. A kit full of water is heavy and difficult to move. Water is likely to be shaken out when moving. After the position is confirmed, press down the levers on the wheels to lock them in place.
Prepare a water bucket with a known capacity. The primary grow container has a capacity of about 5 gallons (19 liters), and the secondary grow container has a capacity of about 1.85 gallons (7 liters). First, prepare about 5 gallons (19 liters) of final nutrients by mixing water and nutrients concentration (not included) according to the nutrients' manual. Fill the primary grow container. Then, turn the water pump power switch to the position shown in the picture below.
Toggle the water pump switch from
to in the Elfsys App to turn on the water pump and start the initial water cycling.Do not allow the water pump to operate with low water level over time. This will decrease the pump life cycle. If you notice the pump making a louder noise than usual, it's typically because the water level is too low.
Through the initial water cycling, please check any signs of leak around supporting columns connection points, drainage, and the water level window.
After a few minutes of initiating the water cycling, the water level in the primary grow container will decrease. This happens because the water is being pumped from the primary grow container to the uppermost secondary grow container, filling its reservoir, and then cascades down each layer until it returns to the primary grow container, thereby establishing a Deep Nutrient Technique cycle. When the water returns back to the primary grow container, toggle off the water pump switch. The maximum water capacity of the kit you purchased is about 10.3 gallons (39 liters). You will need to add the remaining 5.3 gallons (20 liters) until it reaches to the maximum water capacity line. It's important to remember only to add water to the maximum capacity line when the pump is turned off. The pump will cycle on and off regularly. If you fill the water to the maximum line when the pump is on, it will lead to overflow when the pump is turned off.
After adding water, you can tap the
button at the bottom right. Your Elfsys Grow Kit will start a grow batch according to the grow template selected previously.Plant seeds
- Rinsing the clay pebbles. Each grow container comes with a bag of clay pebbles. Rinse them several times to remove debris. We recommend using a sieve or a vegetable washing basket for this purpose to prevent the clay pebbles from falling into the sink and clogging the drain.
- Filling the planting baskets. Fill the clean clay pebbles to the planting baskets upto 1 inch from the top (as shown below). This position is most suitable for seed germination, as the clay pebbles stay moist and keep the seeds above the nutrient flow.
- Sowing the seeds. To ensure a high germination rate, it is recommended to sprinkle 3 seeds into each net pot. Simply scatter the seeds directly onto the surface of the clay pebbles.
- Cover the seeds. Finally, topping off each planting basket with moisted clay pebbles (as shown below), and put them back into the grow containers.
Next steps
Any upcoming tasks will appear in notifications on the dashboard in the Elfsys App. You can follow the prompts in the notifications to handle related tasks at any time.
Learn more growing techniques by following our social media and join our community Discord server.
Maintenance
Cleaning
We recommend that you clean your kit after every 2~4 grow batches to remove algae growing on the bottom of the grow container. You can check out this tutorial (using a three-layer kit as an example) on how to wash your kit.