The AQUAEL Versa Garden Hydroponics Plus is a wall-mounted freshwater (FW) refugium system — it pumps aquarium water up to a tiered planter, trickles it down through emersed plants that strip out nitrates and phosphates, then returns clean water to the tank. It's essentially a freshwater version of the macroalgae refugiums saltwater reefers have used for years, and it's a great fit for a low-tech planted tank, cichlid tank, or goldfish tank that's producing plenty of nutrients for plants to use.
What's in the Box
AQUAEL PAT Mini filter/pump with a foam pre-filter to keep debris out of the system
Three tiered planter shelves with drainage pots (stack in a staggered pattern, expandable with a separate pot-only kit)
LED grow light with mounting arms
Hanging hardware (wall hooks, drywall anchors) and connecting tubing
Clay-based hydroponic media — ionic, so it holds onto nitrates/phosphates/NPK while giving roots something to grip without waterlogging them
Setup Tips
Mounting must be level or the tiered draining won't work correctly. Each tray drains into the next through a slit system, with adjustable stoppers to raise or lower the water level in any individual tray. If your wall doesn't line up flush over your tank, a length of vinyl tubing (softened in hot water, shaped in ice water to hold the bend) routes the final drain point directly into your aquarium instead of onto the floor.
Ongoing Care
Even with nitrates and phosphates being pulled from tank water, plants still need micronutrients and potassium to avoid a limiting nutrient — a potassium/trace supplement keeps growth turbocharged. Run the grow light 8–10 hours a day like any other planted setup, and clean the pre-filter sponge regularly to keep flow consistent. Important: don't eat anything grown in this system unless you know exactly what's in your water — dechlorinator, medications, and other tank additives can be absorbed by the plants.
