Frequently Asked Questions

We agree, having a vegetable garden at home is great. However, what we tend to forget is that a vegetable garden requires space, financial resources, a lot of time, certain physical abilities, solid knowledge, and ... luck with the weather conditions! The MyFarm system has been designed so that you can grow your fruits and vegetables while minimizing these 6 constraints. Let's compare the traditional vegetable garden and the MyFarm aquaponic greenhouse on each of these points.

1. Less space: a vegetable garden obviously requires a certain amount of space. You can grow some herbs in a small garden bed, but if you want to start growing different types of fruit vegetables, root vegetables, and leafy vegetables for 2 to 4 people, you will need a minimum of 10 to 20 m² of space. In this regard, MyFarm performs significantly better thanks to its vertical growing towers, allowing you to cultivate 120 plants in just 5 m². You would need 20 m² of land to grow the equivalent in a traditional garden.

2. Cheaper: one might think that creating and maintaining a vegetable garden is free, but that is far from the case. Growing containers, gardening tools, potting soil, greenhouse, straw, trellis, irrigation system, fertilizers, or repellents if necessary. All these expenses are either included or avoided with the purchase of your MyFarm system. Moreover, to obtain harvests outside of summer, it is recommended to have a greenhouse. However, to have a greenhouse capable of growing 120 plants simultaneously, you will need a greenhouse of at least 20 m². For an equivalent level of quality, this will cost you more than an aquaponic greenhouse with MyFarm!

3. Less time: one might think that it is enough to plant a seed and that 3 months later all that is left is to harvest. Unfortunately, this is not the case with a traditional vegetable garden. You have to sow, water every day, transplant, and water again. You need to maintain your soil, think about a good crop rotation, and be careful of diseases carried by foxes and other mammals that roam around. You must act quickly in case of plant diseases, drought, or excessive humidity. You need to watch out for rodents, slugs, and caterpillars. It is very difficult to obtain a salad without repellents and other chemicals, as insects love them. Some years, pests can be devastating. And there is nothing more frustrating than seeing your little ones get eaten raw after you have devoted so much time and love to them. For sensitive souls, it is sometimes better to abstain. And when you finally reach the harvesting stage, you still need to take the time to remove the soil from each vegetable and pray that there is no pest infestation. In comparison, MyFarm vertical growing towers significantly reduce the risk of attack from any type of pest: rodents, slugs, caterpillars, parasites, mammals. You no longer need to water, the system takes care of everything. You no longer need to worry about crop rotation, nor even remove the soil from your harvests since there is none! All you will have to do is roughly manage your sowing, check that the water flows normally, maintain your filter, fill the feeder, and add mineral salts from time to time (see “What does the schedule of a MyFarm aquaponist look like?”).

4. Less physical constraints: here is something that is often forgotten. Moving large amounts of soil or potting mix, working the land, pruning plants, harvesting from the ground, ... can sometimes be very exhausting and can prove to be an impossible task for an elderly person, a pregnant woman, someone with reduced mobility, or someone with back pain. The absence of soil and the vertical farming of the MyFarm system greatly reduces these problems. You plant and harvest at your height.

5. Less knowledge required: see "Can I get started as a novice?"

6. Less dependent on weather conditions: some years can be quite discouraging for budding farmers like us. Rain, diseases like downy mildew, slugs, and caterpillars can devastate gardens. And unfortunately, we must expect this trend to continue with climate disruptions. As for the MyFarm aquaponic greenhouses, they continue to produce quite normally thanks to their closed system, which is much more resistant to external threats!

In conclusion, your MyFarm greenhouse will greatly simplify your life for a very competitive price given its quality, longevity, productivity, accessibility, and especially the time and space it saves you. Moreover, you can see it as an investment that can yield you more than 25% per year. It's better than solar panels or any stock index!

If you already have your garden, it’s even better. Your MyFarm greenhouse will take care of the most difficult plants to grow (according to permaculture principles) such as lettuce, basil, or parsley. Your vegetable garden can continue to host different vegetables like root vegetables.

• Mandatory fixed costs: a minimum of 40 fish of at least 10 cm (about €100), clay balls (between €15 and €90 depending on the chosen extensions)
• Mandatory recurring costs: fish food (€20 per year), seeds, mineral salts to boost your harvests and address any deficiencies (€35 per year), electricity (50 watts), water (2,000 liters/year, about €5/year)
• Optional fixed costs: gravel to cover the greenhouse floor, shading cloth, rainwater collector

No, there is no better season to start. Each time of year has its advantages. Starting in spring, summer, or autumn allows you to directly harvest seasonal vegetables, while starting in winter ensures you have a more mature bacteria system for the beginning of the next season. Indeed, the biological filter takes about 6 months to reach its full effectiveness, and its performance only increases over time. Therefore, we recommend starting as soon as you feel ready, without waiting for a particular season.

Yes. The water in the basin is kept at a temperature above 0°C thanks to the movement of the water and oxygenation.

In the case of prolonged extreme temperatures, the water in the circuit could freeze, but the temperature of the basin will remain positive, ensuring the health of the fish. The pump will automatically restart when the water thaws.

The metabolism of fish slows down in winter. Therefore, they will need to be fed less, which is convenient because the system will also be less demanding.​

Not at all. For the same reason that products grown in soil do not taste like soil or manure, fruits and vegetables grown in aquaponics do not taste like fish. It is recognized that products from bioponics have less flavor, but this is not the case for aquaponics products, which are particularly tasty!​

Guillaume Eveillard, curator of the Paris aquarium, is categorical: fish raised in an aquaponic system are happy fish.

Indeed, three factors affect the well-being of fish: clean water, a density that is neither too low nor too high, and regular feeding.

The cleanliness of the water is ensured by the system composed of bacteria and plants. The bacteria decompose the fish waste into nutrients that are assimilable by the plants, and the plants consume the nutrients. Together, they form a biofilter that keeps the water perfectly clean.

Regarding the density of fish in your pond, if it is too low there is a chance that dominators will form and stress the dominated, and if it is too high the fish do not have enough space to evolve freely. The general rule is about 1 liter of water for 1 cm of fish, which you will easily comply with using the MyFarm greenhouse setup.

Finally, your fish will enjoy a stable diet as they are regularly fed by your feeder.

In conclusion, you can boast about raising happy fish. This is not the case for many farmed fish living in densities that exceed understanding, constantly swimming against each other and eating the excrement of their peers.​

No. The only device you might possibly hear from inside the greenhouse is the oxygenator, but it is one of the quietest on the market. You really have to listen closely to hear it. What you will hear the most is the gentle sound of water flowing.​

For beginners, we recommend the red comets (the famous goldfish), particularly robust and beautiful when they reach 30 cm at maturity. They can withstand large temperature fluctuations (up to 30°C) and pH levels (6 to 8). Koi enthusiasts or anyone interested in other ornamental fish will also find their happiness.

Next, if you want to take your home farm experience a step further, you can replace your ornamental fish with edible fish. The carp is making a comeback in gourmet restaurants and is very easy to raise, as it can withstand temperature variations from 2 to 32°C. Finally, more sensitive to water parameters but with rapid growth and particularly tasty flesh, the trout is the queen of aquaponics in Belgium. It survives at temperatures from 1 to 26°C, which means you will need to catch your trout before the summer heat sets in, and combine them with carp.

To maximize sunlight in your greenhouse, orient its ridge in the north-south direction, placing the entrance facing south. This will allow you to capture the first rays of sunlight in the morning while limiting excess heat in the afternoon.

In most cases, installing a greenhouse does not require a permit, but the rules may vary by municipality. It is therefore advisable to check local regulations before starting work.

Yes, it is entirely possible to assemble the greenhouse yourself. You will receive detailed instructions to facilitate the assembly, making the experience accessible even to amateur DIYers. With two people, it is possible to assemble the standard models in one to two days.

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On stable and flat ground, concrete foundations are not essential. If you install the greenhouse directly on the ground, it is advisable to pour some quick-setting concrete around the anchor points three days after assembly to reinforce the structure. If the ground is unstable, marshy, or has a significant slope, concrete foundations are necessary to ensure a solid base.

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In any case, it is essential that the surface is level and that the greenhouse is at a right angle. Along the length, a slight slope of about 1 cm per meter is ideal to allow for the natural drainage of rainwater.

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You can pay for your order by bank transfer.

This is the simplest method and 100% free, with no transaction fees.

2. By PayPal (+3% fee)

This payment method includes the PayPal Purchase Protection, ideal if you want additional security.

Please note that PayPal charges a commission fee. An additional 3% is therefore added to your order.

To use PayPal, please request it at [email protected], specifying what you would like to order or by sending a pre-prepared cart.

3. Installment payment by SEPA direct debit (6 or 12 monthly payments)

We offer payment in several installments, directly via secure SEPA direct debit.

How it works:

• 40% deposit upon order
• Remaining amount spread over 6 or 12 monthly payments
• Fixed administrative fees: €80 (regardless of the chosen plan)
• No interest, no additional percentage
• You sign a SEPA mandate and the direct debits are automated

Advantages:

• Simple and flexible solution
• Automatic payments every month
• No need to follow up or make manual transfers
• No credit card required

This payment method is ideal for spreading the investment while remaining simple and transparent.

All our products are delivered to your home, quickly and securely.

Delivery is free for MyFarm aquaponics kits and their extensions (when shipped together), as well as for all greenhouses. For accessories and extensions delivered alone, a specific rate may apply.

The

Les deadlines for production and shipping vary depending on the product (kits, extensions, or greenhouses).

You can find the complete details of delivery methods, deadlines, carriers, and special conditions on our dedicated page for delivery.

There are 3 things you need to do while waiting for your order to arrive.

First, you need to think about the plants that you will plant in your towers once your greenhouse is set up. If you have chosen to buy your plants already mature from a nursery, then you do not need to prepare anything. But if you have chosen to start from your own seeds, then it is better to prepare your seedlings during the delivery time of your order.

Second, if applicable, you need to prepare the location where your greenhouse will be installed:

• Make sure that the ground where your greenhouse will be installed is perfectly flat. It is possible to install a greenhouse on sloped land, but you will need to level the ground. A good shovel and a little elbow grease, and it's done!
• Make sure nothing obstructs the greenhouse.
• Make sure there is at least 4 hours of sunlight exposure per day.

Third, you need to ensure that an electric outlet comes inside the greenhouse, for example, an outdoor extension cord. If in doubt, consult a certified electrician.​

To install your greenhouse, you can obtain an optional assembly service, or you can assemble the greenhouse yourself. You will need the following tools: tape measure, drill-driver, 3 mm metal drill bit, suction cup for handling glass, cutter, screwdriver, 10 mm wrench, pliers, cutting pliers, mallet, water level, shovel.

Regarding the kit MyFarm, you need to install it yourself using our explanatory videos. To do this, you will need a drill-driver with 3 mm wood and 3 and 6.5 mm metal drill bits, a cutter, a 10 mm wrench, screwdrivers, a hot air gun or hairdryer, pliers, and a basin.​

MyFarm Products 

• All MyFarm products(MyFarm aquaponics kit, extensions, accessories)are guaranteed for 2 years.
• Furthermore, if you are not satisfied or change your mind, you can return the MyFarm kit, any extensions, and accessories within 60 days after delivery, provided that the product has not been altered. Return shipping costs are covered by MyFarm.

Euroserre Greenhouses

• 10 years of decreasing warranty on manufacturing defects.
• 1 year of decreasing warranty on moving parts (door wheels, hinges).
• Free replacement of damaged or missing parts upon delivery.
• The warranty is valid only for the first owner and is not transferable.
• Certain damages, such as those caused by misuse or extreme weather conditions, are not covered.

ACD Greenhouses

• 12-year manufacturer warranty, 2 years on the coating, and 1 year on moving and rolling parts.
• The warranty covers defective parts upon delivery, but it excludes labor costs.
• The warranty is valid only for the first owner and is not transferable.
• Damage caused by misuse, third parties, or exceptional conditions is not covered.

At MyFarm, we are committed to your satisfaction! If you purchased a MyFarm kit or its extension and realize it is not for you, you can return it within 60 days of delivery for a full refund. Additionally, we cover the return shipping costs.

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Please ensure to carefully pack the products and secure them on the original pallet before sending them back to us. The products must not have undergone major alteration. MyFarm reserves the right to assess the condition of the returned products and may adjust the refund in case of alteration.

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Please note that this commercial gesture applies only to MyFarm products. Return shipping costs for Euroserre or ACD greenhouses remain your responsibility.

Taking care of an aquaponic greenhouse is accessible to anyone capable of taking care of a goldfish. The only somewhat technical moment will be the first few days after the greenhouse installation, during the cycling of your water. But you just need to follow the indicated steps. If you have any questions, we are at your disposal and respond very quickly.

Note that it is significantly easier to maintain a MyFarm aquaponic greenhouse than a traditional vegetable garden. Indeed, since a vegetable garden operates in an open system, the number of mistakes you can make and problems you can encounter is infinite (slugs, rodents, caterpillars, aphids, wild animal droppings that carry diseases, too much or too little watering, excessive rain and wind, poor soil quality, poor crop rotation, plant diseases, deficiencies, ...). Simply identifying the nature of the problems encountered can be very complex. For example, when your turnip is not growing, the problem could come from the soil, the temperature, interference from other plants, insects, animals, your watering, ... By the time you find the source of the problem, an entire season may pass. In an aquaponic system, since we are in a closed system, the number of potential obstacles is limited and each problem has a specific solution. With our documentation at hand and our support, your chances of success are assured !

To watch the video,click here..

To give you a clear idea of what to expect, we have prepared for you the list of regular tasks involved in acquiring a MyFarm system.

Every day

• Harvest.

Every 2 weeks

• Check that the plants are healthy.
• Check that the water flows normally.
• Fill the automatic food dispenser.
• Check that there are no solid residues in the basin (uneaten food, plant waste).
• Check the water level and adjust if necessary.
• Prepare seedlings and plant them in the towers to ensure the next cycle.
• During high season, monitor the temperature (leave the door open when it's hot, possibly put up a shade cloth).

Every month

• Clean the filter and purge the valves.
• Test the water using a strip.
• Add mineral salts according to the season.

Every year

• Clean the towers and remove dead roots.

We have listed all the problems you might encounter during normal use of your automated greenhouse:

• Water leak or clogged system
• Water temperature too high
• pH too high or too low
• Nutrient-deficient plants
• Overfed or sick fish
• Defective devices
• Power outage

Each of these problems has a simple solution that we provide in our guide.

Of course. The automatic feeder has a capacity of 2 weeks. In case of problems, the fish can even go up to 2 weeks without eating.

If you regularly leave for longer periods, you can always acquire a larger feeder.

Before leaving for several weeks, simply empty the drain valves, clean the filter, and fill the feeder. Upon your return, you will find your greenhouse with an explosion of greenery!

Of course. If you do not wish to have a season or if you are away for a long period, you can pause your system in two ways: short-term pause and long-term pause.

For the short-term pause, you empty your growing towers, but keep your fish. You just need to continue filling the automatic fish feeder and set it to a low opening, clean the filter regularly, and change the water when the nitrates rise above 150 mg/l. You can maintain this situation for as long as you wish.

For the long-term pause, you sell or give away your fish so you no longer have to feed them or clean the filter, and to be able to shut down the entire system. You can restart your system at any time by cycling again and acquiring new fish.