New Grower, Question

[Bowii]

Hello I Just purchased my first grow tent which was this one https://www.amazon.com/VIVOSUN-Hydro...hlbWF0aWM&th=1
I am just now wondering what fan I can or should get that will work fine and fit my tent, I don't care much about the scent elimination part so a bit more budget with that in mind is ideal as I only need good air filtration. Any suggestions are appreciated, thanks!

[MeowMeow]

You need an exhaust fan pointing out from the grow tent to expel the heat from the lights, bring in fresh air, and vent out all the humidity your plants give off. I don't know how big your grow light, but if it's smaller, you can probably use a 4" fan, and if it's 200W or bigger, you probably want to go with a 6" exhaust fan.

Vivosun has a cheap 4" fan by itself or in a kit with a filter. That fan actually works pretty good despite being small, but it is loud. I got the 4" 'quieter' version but it's underpowered compared to the loud version so I had to send it back. I ended up getting a 6" quiet fan kit with a filter. It's powerful enough for a 200-300W light, filters smells, and runs quiet. Plus you can turn it way down, so it's perfect for drying buds in the tent too (where that little 4" fan doesn't have a very low setting, and moved too much air).

Anyways, hope that helps!

[Bowii]

Thank you for your suggestion, I have a 300W light So I think I will get the 6" one like you said. I was wondering if I could also happen to ask if there is any ideal way to arrange the fan, because I see in the images below the item it shows a couple different ways you can arrange the fan. I was wondering if I could do something like the 4th example for more space in the tent but I also wanted to know if that wouldn't be good for the fan for any reason, thank you!

[Bowhunterwoody]

I have that same tent. I have a SF SE3000 300watt light and I get by with a 4" AC infinity exhaust fan and filter. The filter lasts quite a while, I just replaced it after about 8 complete grows with some of Going2fast 's and others dankest stuff. I try to keep the lung room on the cool side but I've never had to have the fan higher than 6 and its pretty quiet.

[MeowMeow]

I was wondering if I could also happen to ask if there is any ideal way to arrange the fan

If you have space inside the tent, the most effective way is this way with the filter inside the tent.

FILTER > FAN IN PORT (pointing out)



The less ducting, or no ducting, the better the heat removal and carbon filtering.

But usually you can't fit it that way because you can't lift the light all the way up, so you can use ducting to "tuck" the exhaust in the corner of the tent. But the longer the ducting, the worse it works.

FILTER > DUCTING> FAN IN PORT (pointing out)



Or out the top. This is how I do mine. I like that it's really quiet.



If you can't fit the carbon filter inside the tent, you can put it on the outside, but you have to make sure it is complete airtight from inside the tent to the carbon filter outside. And this way, even with a perfect seal, is not quite as effective as when the carbon filter inside the tent.

When the fan is sitting on top like this, I've noticed it's way louder than when the fan is hanging from inside the tent. I think maybe the tent itself helps block the sound, and maybe hanging reduced vibration?



I copied most of that off the GrowWeedEasy.com website. Just thought I'd share! I've fiddled with a few different ways over the years.

The biggest lessons I've learned with carbon filters is the carbon filter has to be at the ends (either the beginning of the last part of the line), the ducting has to be airtight (and as little as possible), and the fan has to be pointing out. Also use rope ratchets to lift the carbon filter instead of trying to pick it up.

If you accidentally rip a little hole in the ducting, or there's a loose connection with some air able to escape, the room still smells like weed. But if you set up the exhaust right with a filter, it shouldn't smell like weed except when you open the tent. So if it's still stinky, usually there's something you can do to make the exhaust better.