Are you searching for the best fan for your grow tent? Grow tents are easy to set up and allow better control of the environment. For a successful yield, proper ventilation is crucial.
With requirements for specific temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide levels, a plant is a plant of many needs. Luckily, these can all be controlled, to a certain extent, by choosing the best grow tent fan.
Selecting the right fan isn’t as straightforward as it may seem. Size, type, power, noise, and other factors need to be considered before purchasing one. Don’t worry, this guide gathers all the information you need to make an educated purchase.
What Is A Grow Tent?
Grow tents come in different sizes, and most are portable and reusable. The outside fabric is usually made of canvas, while the interior is covered with reflective material for optimum lighting. Many are insulated, to maintain heat, temperature, and humidity.
Some grow tents come fully equipped with lights and fans, while others require you to purchase these separately.
All types, however, should feature circular holes to install a grow room inline fan or duct. Many grow tents also come with metallic bars to be placed across the ceiling. These will be important when securing an inline fan.
Why Do You Need Fans In Your Grow Tent?
Ventilation is essential to the health of your plant. The best wall fans for growing plants even include useful accessories to make your growing life easier.
Carbon Dioxide
Like all plants, plant needs both carbon dioxide and oxygen to survive. In a closed environment without any ventilation, CO2 levels will rapidly be depleted.
When using a grow tent, direct access to an open window isn’t always possible. This is where the best fans for grow tents come in.
Ideally, an exhaust system should allow for 2-way air circulation. Fresh and cool air comes in, while the hot air goes out. The light breeze will also strengthen your plants’ stems.
Humidity
Plant breathes. In a closed setup, humidity can accumulate. A stable airflow and controlled humidity levels prevent fungi, rot, mildew, mites, or mold from developing and thriving.
You’ll want to aim for 40 to 60 percent humidity up to the final weeks. A proper exhaust system — and potentially a hygrometer — will help keep humidity levels under control.
Temperature
Grow lights will raise the temperature in your grow room. This needs to be counterbalanced to avoid burning the leaves. Growers using high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps should be especially cautious, as these lights emit a considerable amount of heat.
You should aim for a temperature between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit when lights are on. When they’re off, the temperature can range between 58 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
ECO Farm 6 Inch Oscillating Clip Fan with 3 — Speed Control
Features:
The ECO Farm fan is specifically made to be connected to the poles in the tent so they don’t slide down the pole. Triple spiral fan blades are angled to deliver efficient airflow with high and low settings to keep you and your plants cool and comfortable. A sturdy, lightweight mesh exterior protects the fan blades and the fan’s surroundings from damage. High-quality components keep this fan running whisper softly. The fan is simply adjusted by a shake rod to direct airflow exactly where you need it. This oscillating fan has an exceptional 90-degree horizontal range and 120-degree vertical range. The sturdy, compact fan is ideal for circulating air in grow tents for even temperatures and improved ventilation.
Hydrofarm HORF8 Active Air 8 inch Clip Fan 7.5W
Features:
Hydrofarm HORF8 Active Air 8in Clip Fan, 7.5W 7.5W brushless motor for longer life Energy efficient, low voltage Ultra-quiet operation Great for small gardens Clips to flood tables for air flow under foliage. This is easy-mount active air unit is designed to help keep your grow room and leaf temperatures optimal. The compact design is wall-mountable, saving space. It has a quiet and smooth operation. The pivoting head allows for ninety-degree oscillation. This ensures air is effectively moved at the base as well as above the plants’ canopy. Simple and easy assembly means you will have the unit installed in your grow room in no time. You only need two screws to successfully mount it on the wall.
What to look for the best Oscillating Fan
There is no reliable grading system for fan efficiency when trying to choose the best model. However, we have uncovered a few tips that will help with your selection.
Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM)
This refers to the airflow rate, which is the volume of air the fan delivers in a given time. Visualize one cubic foot as a block of air measuring one foot by one foot by one foot.
Almost all manufacturers supply a cubic foot per minute rating, showing the volume of air the fan will push per minute.
A larger number indicates more air movement in your growing environment. However, small differences don’t interfere with airspeed.
CFM can also be used to determine the efficiency of the fan. Theoretically, CFM divided by watts gives an efficiency index.
The higher the index, the more efficient the fan is in using energy. Other manufacturers may argue that the efficiency index is of little importance.
You should also know that oscillating fans that deliver the highest air movement tend to be noisy. But this is normally wind noise and nothing to worry about.
Size
Oscillating fan size may range from as small as 6 inches to more than 20 inches. The size is usually determined by how large the blades are by design.
The most ideal size for a grow room should range from ten to twenty inches. Blades of such sizes can drive sufficient air in the grow room.
We recommend a 16-inch, 18-inch, or 20-inch for most normal size indoor gardens. However, you can opt for a larger rotating fan, if your growing space is larger.
It is also worth mentioning that the blade size determines how big the fan is, but the number of blades is no indication of its quality or performance.
According to our analysis, a three-bladed model can move more air than a five-bladed model, depending on the size and pitch of the props.
Speed Settings
It is advisable to choose a fan with variable speed settings. This helps to effectively control how the air is moved in your growing environment.
The most popular models are equipped with three-speed settings: low, medium, and high. You can adjust the speed conveniently.
Variable speed controls help to eliminate any stagnant air in the room, thus improving the transpiration rate of your plants.
Apart from the front-mounted control knob, you can opt for a model that comes with a pull chain control for easy adjustment.
Tilting and Adjustable Head
The convenience of controlling the oscillation is of utmost importance. An ordinary oscillating fan will just rotate from left to right, but an advanced design allows you to modify the oscillation.
Consider a unit that has a tilting head (can move up and down). This enables you to mount the fan facing downwards or upwards conveniently, depending on where you want the air to be directed.
Some models are engineered to oscillate in a unique figure-eight motion. This kind of oscillation maximizes air movement in the growing room in all directions.
You can also opt for a model that can be locked into a specific position. This will conveniently allow you to direct air to one specific direction at a given time.
Mounting Options
This may as well be one of the most important factors when shopping for a quality oscillating fan for grow room.
There are two major types of mounting or installation options you can consider: standing and wall-mounted.
A standing rotating fan is ideal for a grow room with sufficient flow space to spare. However, a standing model can tip over and damage the head or even your plants.
Also, most standing designs are not very sturdy. Repeated contact with the fan may deteriorate the structural integrity of the stand.
The most desirable option for most growing rooms is a wall-mounted oscillating fan. You will not have to worry about floor space.
Wall-mounted units are also very sturdy. They sit above the plants’ canopy, providing a wider coverage.
Remote Control
Apart from the control knob and pull chain control, you can choose a model with remote control. This allows you to change mode and speed easily without having to use the knob.
Conclusion
Proper air circulation is necessary for any plant grow space. Luckily, grow tents allow better control over temperature and humidity, making your ventilation job easier.
Whether you’re looking for an intake or outtake fan, or simply to boost existing airflow, a fan will meet your needs. The best fans for grow tents might represent a larger investment but will be worthwhile in the long run.
Growers using high-intensity discharge lamps should be especially cautious, as these lights emit a considerable amount of heat.
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