54 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Comparing to The Classic, December 12, 2009
This review is from: AeroGarden 900340-1200 6 Elite with Gourmet Herb Seed Kit, Black with Stainless Accents (Lawn & Patio)
This is my second AreoGarden from Amazon. My first one was purchased a year ago, the classic which I was thoroughly pleased. The
AeroGarden Classic 7-Pod with Gourmet Herb Seed Kit, Silver. The classic model uses a drip hydroponic method. A small water pump in the reservoir that pumps water over at the top of the seed pods. This model here the AeroGarden 6 Elite uses a small and very low cfm air pump built into the base that pumps the air through a fish tank aerator stone. It creates very little splash water movement in the reservoir unlike the classic. This makes me skeptical AreoGarden may be trying to cut cost on the mechanics and dwelling more on appearance. Only time will tell the truth.
Pros:
Water temp stays cooler (water pump not in water reservoir)
Appearance-big improvement over the classic model
Grow bulbs-(better designed than classic's bulbs. Elite uses a flat more direct light coverage bulbs )
Roots and debris won't interfere with water pump performance
Cons:
Less sophisticated hydroponic method (not a drip method)
Noise- typical of air pump humming
Air pump stone replacement (but replaced for cheap)
Very likely water leaks in the near future (Grommet/hoses bottom of reservoir air line to base)
***Costly bulb replacement on all AreoGarden models***
Bottom line:
Classic has better engineering but the Elite has the good looks
Note: If you do not want to keep repurchasing expensive AreoGarden seed kits. Keep your old pods and moisture caps.
I ordered 100-1"
Grodan Rockwool - 2x2x1.5in. Cubes, 50/sheetcubed off the internet. This is a great replacement alternative material that was originally used in the pods. Use your own seeds of choice. I am using General Hydroponics brand
General Hydroponics MaxiGro 2.2 lbs. for herbs. I believe I am producing higher volumes of growth than with the AreoGardens nutrients and replacement seed kits.
(In my openion LED lighting would have been a better alternative choice, they can last up to 15yrs+ and may use a little less power, and "many" un-waisted bulbs. Go green AreoGarden!)But of course they want to sell you replacement parts, I guess thats what helps keeps them a float.
***
GlowPanel 14 Watt LED Growing Light Panel-Plant Grow Light Rivals 60 Watt Metal Halide/HPS Full Spectrum Growth Lite or
Hydroponic Lamp 225 LED Grow light Panel Red Blue 110 V, 2501MXare available on the web. I hope to try this on my older classic when it is time to replace the bulbs again.
Even though it maybe slightly ugly.
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**UPDATE** Item returned
After having this unit for a short time (used 10 days) the humming sound increasingly got much worse. This was not my only issue with the Elite. I thought I would do a test between the Classic and the Elite. Started them both on 12/10/09 but had to end the experiment 12/20/09 due to the annoying humming sound coming from the air pump in the Elite. The Classic model wins hands down in the small time frame on growth as well. I placed new bulbs in my older Classic and using my own seeds, food, and rock wool and re-used old pods. All pods in the Classic had sprouted much sooner and were full 2 ½ tall on the Dill and Tarragon, and Basel is beautifully full. In this time frame Elite and thier Herb Kit had only three pods with tiny growth pale in comparison. The Elite was returned back to Amazon today. I will order myself another Classic or one of the unites that do not use the air pump method.
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40 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Buzzzzzzz, December 16, 2008
This review is from: AeroGarden 900340-1200 6 Elite with Gourmet Herb Seed Kit, Black with Stainless Accents (Lawn & Patio)
I bought my Aerogarden Elite 6 from a guy on Ebay. It was advertised as "new." but it did not include the seed packet. Since I had ordered several other additional packets from Amazon, I didn't sweat it too much. Anyway, this is one of three Aerogardens I bought within two weeks. I bought them mainly to grow salad greens and flowers. I have the classic 7-pod garden, a 7-pod Pro 100 and this Elite 6-pod. Of all three, the Elite is the noisiest. It buzzes continuously. I don't know if this is a defect, but I intend on contacting the company. I planted the scented flower pack in the Elite and cascading petunias in the Pro 100, but they haven't sprouted yet as I planted them only about a week ago and they take several days to two weeks to sprout. I planted salad greens in the classic and they sprouted in 3 days. The classic and pro 100 are relatively quiet. The only sound is that of dripping or trickling water occasionally but not nearly as disconcerting as that blasted BUZZZZZZZZZZZ in the Elite.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Growing very well, got good service from Aerogarden, March 11, 2009
This review is from: AeroGarden 900340-1200 6 Elite with Gourmet Herb Seed Kit, Black with Stainless Accents (Lawn & Patio)
When I first got this model, it was unpleasantly noisy. Its pump system is different than the Aerogarden Classic's and constant vibration and a low-grade buzzing noise seemed to be the results. I contacted Aerogarden and they were very pleasant and easy to deal with, and are shipping me a replacement pump unit, so I have to recommend their customer service highly. I will update this review when I get the pump as to whether it fixed the problem.
A crop of romaine lettuce is growing beautifully, so if the noise problem can be fixed I am very happy with the purchase. I own the Aerogarden Classic also. I think you probably get as much growth with 6 pods on this model as with the 7 on the Classic, and the lights are a little brighter on this one. That said, the results are good on both. I can't seem to change my earlier 3 stars, but I think it deserves a 4 or 5 if the noise problem is solved.
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