THANK YOU DUB!!!!! this is the answer i was looking for. i already have dude on ignore. seems like he needs a morning bowl to smoke. yeah i have thought about 2 options. a reducer, OR literally cutting a duct hole and buying a 8" flange kit. BUT!! after dumping $300-whatever on the tent i thent is counter productive to modify it, ya dig? and YES! 6" ports. and the box says there is only 2!!! i onw the same companies tent in a smaller size and it has like 9 ports!!! 3 different sizes!! why do companies do this shit? just to piss me off? i was almost debating returning the tent and building my own out of 2x4's and Visquen plastic. could i get the better Can-Fan Max? just for extra bonus? ya see, my major issue is i really do not know how im going to run all my exhaust system. i have a few ideas. if i cut the hole out in the wrong area, im fucking screwed! ya know what im saying? i have a portable a/c unit. i can not cut any hols into my walls, im renting. i was hoping i could use the a/c unit to make the ambient room temps cooler, dra in the cooler air to cool off the lights. and exhaust cool air into the room. that is the only way i can do it. so my question does have merit. i am knocking my head on the wall. i returned the Grow Lab tent yesterday because it was only 3'11". the guy at the hydro shop told me he has the same tray and same tent. supposedly Botanicare designed a new 4x4 tray. and the new one is has smaller outside dimensions. dont know if that is true, but i have the Sun hut Silver XXL now. im hating this tent with a passion. so much i haven't even opened it. im debating returning it today.
is there any other tents on the market, besides Sun Hut, Grow lab and the Hydrofarm ones. them HF ones are fucking like $700!!!! what are my freaking options? i was debating getting the next size up of the Grow Lab tent, the 140L. but then i will not be able to get around my plants. i will have no outside room in the actual room room. my head hurts....
Yes, Botanicare did make new trays that are 4' Outside diameter instead of 4' inside diameter. This allows them to fit in all the 4' grow tents.
There is Secret Jardin tents also out there. I've owned Grow Lab and Secret Jardin. They are of comparable quality and construction. I purchased all of mine used and they were quite affordable. Just have to watch and save your searches on eBay so they will email you when items you want come up! Tents are cool, but are limiting like you have mentioned. I totally understand not wanting to cut into something that costs that much. My advice would be to return the grow tent and build your own. A Dozen 2x4s, some good wood screws, pvc plastic film, a few joints and brews and you'll have yourself your own tent in just a few hours.
I always recommend building your own tents with Polyfilm or PVC type plastic sheeting for a multitude of reasons.
You won't be afraid to cut the right size ducts needed.
You can cut in anywhere you like.
You can make the ceiling to fit EXACTLY in your area instead of just going with their premade dimensions.
It will save you some dollars without a doubt.
Allows for most effective CO2 supplementation with least amount of waste
Allows for A/C's intake to pull from outside the tent creating a higher cooling efficiency.
You can expand wherever and whenever you like without having to buy a new tent that cannot connect to your current tent.
You can create an Entrance to the room where YOU need it, not where the commercial grow tent company put it.
I've used tents off and on over the years and at this point I only use tents for really one one reason, to dry my product. They create an awesome dark area, that is accessible yet doesn't allow for drafts or for airflow to dry out the product too quickly.
Not to mention, cooling a tent that you intend to keep closed with a consumer level A/C unit is a challenge all into its own. With your own tent, you could cut a spot for the front of the AC to be in your tent, and the back to be outside. This setup works wonders in sealed grows, not only will it cool much more efficiently then being in the room, but it will allow you to supplment CO2 into the room without concern of it being exhausted out.
