Tower Hydroponic System Part 3: Accessories

In the third installment dedicated to accessories for the hydroponic tower, new components have been added. And this is not the end—more updates are on the way, since the tower’s configuration largely depends on the specific crops being grown.

Previous sections were designed for five baskets, which works great for compact plants like strawberries. However, when it comes to large and bushy crops such as various types of lettuce, problems arise: they simply don’t fit in that layout. That’s why this update introduces a new module—a three-basket section. It comes with matching extenders and a new lid. The logic is simple: three baskets mean three water inlets. Everything is aligned in number and position.

This update also includes major changes in planting material. I had previously recommended basalt-based mineral wool, but in practice it retains moisture for too long—ideal for drip irrigation, but unsuitable for a tower system that waters for 3 minutes every 15 minutes. In this mode, excess moisture suffocates the roots. That’s why I’ve switched to a specialized foam. Shorter baskets were developed to fit this foam. A standard size that’s easy to find on AliExpress is 40 mm in diameter and 30 mm in height. Links are provided below.

One more important update: the nutrient container. Structurally, it’s the same as before, but now includes fittings for use in a communicating vessel system. This is critical for crops that consume a lot of nutrient solution. A small reservoir just isn’t enough—you’d be refilling it constantly. The new setup allows for connecting to a main tank and feeding the tower via a pump, just like the internal system. This makes it possible to connect multiple towers to a single source and create a full window garden setup. Just remember not to mix incompatible plants. For instance, chili peppers shouldn’t be grown in the same system with basil or lettuce—they’ll suppress the other plants. A separate post will go deeper into that topic.

What’s next? I’m currently working on a lighting module and a controller. The light will be simple, efficient, and universal. The controller will handle both irrigation and lighting. Future updates will also include sections designed for crops with large root systems. These will change the irrigation logic: instead of a sealed base, there will be through-holes with a small emergency drain tray under each basket. More on that later.

Finally, it’s worth noting: you can already assemble a standalone tower using most of the accessories shown here. However, some critical components—like the pump connector and retainer—are not included in this post. You’ll find those in the first publication, which featured the full setup with five-basket sections. This current post is a direct continuation of that, not a standalone project.

Stay tuned for the next updates. It works—verified.

An 80 mm extender for the five-basket sections has also been added this time. I forgot to include it in the previous release.

I recommend downloading the 3MF file — it’s already preconfigured for high-quality printing.