Circulating fan really necessary in a tent with filter on top?

hades65

Member
Is a circulating fan always necessary in a tent? I grew back in 1986 indoors and I used a fan then and I believe I still remember the reason behind it, but with a tent that has it's carbon filter on top pulling hot air, you have circulating air going from bottom of the tent to the top due to heat rising and from having passive intake on the bottom. Wouldn't a fan blowing across the top of the canopy mix up the hot air in the tent a bit and make it less efficient in using the heat rising mechanism? CO2 should diffuse with the other air at the leaf surface with only minor air movement I would think.

TIA
 
I use circulating fan to keep a little more air moving around the plant to reduce the chance of any heat stress from the lighting, besides some stalk health and CO2 which you sound to already know all about , if you are certain your cf is pulling enough cfm then I wouldn't think it a problem for you, but this is just my opinion and I prefer personally to have the extra movement so I dont get any mould or mildew around my base , HIH
 

stvitusdance

Well-Known Member
good question! something i've been wondering about too. i always use an oscillating fan, or two, in my tent 24/7. i always thought it helped exchange CO2 and make them shorter if you're blowing on the top of the canopy. i also think that air flow is good to irritate bugs and inhibit fungus. but i'm always ready for new ideas.
 

hades65

Member
I had forgotten about fungus from moisture buildup on the plant.... I guess I knew that once... was a long time ago. Fear of fungus in the flowers would probably lead me to just run the circulating fan if the temp is right. Just seems a little fan could mix up the air in a tent pretty easy where the heat would be somewhat evenly distributed rather than rising to the top as much and being as effectively pulled out. I've seen some people put fans on the floor blowing up... something to think about.
 

Adjorr

Well-Known Member
I use LEDs so my setup dosent generate much heat, I use a 4 inch extraction fan with a carbon filter, and I only need to run it at about 25% max power. The LEDs also have fans built into them so there is lots of air flow and movement wthin my tent so I do not need a oscilating fan. However besides cooling the other reason you want an oscilating fan is to help strengthen the stems of your plants, so to make up for not having a fan (if I did have one it would be to cool In my tent) I go in twice a day and rough up my plants a little, just shake the branches, bend the stems a little, just enough to simulate a strong wind.
 

prosperian

Well-Known Member
I use LEDs so my setup dosent generate much heat, I use a 4 inch extraction fan with a carbon filter, and I only need to run it at about 25% max power. The LEDs also have fans built into them so there is lots of air flow and movement wthin my tent so I do not need a oscilating fan. However besides cooling the other reason you want an oscilating fan is to help strengthen the stems of your plants, so to make up for not having a fan (if I did have one it would be to cool In my tent) I go in twice a day and rough up my plants a little, just shake the branches, bend the stems a little, just enough to simulate a strong wind.
I have the same experience with my LED. Had to have canopy fans with my HID, but it's not a necessity anymore. If your plants are healthy and growing correctly, the stems will support the fat buds as nature intended. But I guess if I got SUPER fat buds, I could just string them up and make due.
 
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