5 Best Inline Fans for Grow Tents in 2022

chenell
By: Chenell - Lead Writer and Gardening Advocate
Published:

A healthy grow room starts with good ventilation, and inline fans are an essential part of any ventilation system, as they help to circulate air and remove unwanted hot air and humidity.

In addition, inline fans can help to reduce the risk of mold and mildew growth, as well as pests and diseases. By keeping the grow room well-ventilated, inline fans play an important role in ensuring a healthy environment for plants to thrive.

What is an Inline Fan?

An inline fan is a fan that helps to circulate air within a grow tent, keeping the growing environment consistent and preventing mold or mildew from forming.

An inline duct fan can help make sure your plants have a constant supply of fresh air, and flush out the oxygen from the tent to bring in more CO2 for the plants to breathe.

spider farmer inline fan

What Does an Inline Duct Fan Do?

In addition to circulating air, inline fans also help to remove excess heat and prevent the build-up of dust or other contaminants. As a result, they play an essential role in maintaining a healthy growing environment.

While there are many different types of inline fans available on the market, choosing the right one for your grow tent will depend on a number of factors, including the size of the space and the amount of ventilation required.

With so many options to choose from, it’s important to do your research and select a fan that will meet your situation.

The Best Inline Fans for Grow Tents

Here are some of the best inline fans you can use for a grow tent, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each. If you’re planning on getting a complete grow tent kit, an inline fan is often included in these.

I’m comparing the 6-inch models of each brand to keep things consistent. Each brand has multiple sizes, and I’ll call them out as they are relevant. Here is a quick breakdown of each in terms of the specs, and I walk through them more in-depth below.

CFMNoise (dB)WattageWeight
AC Infinity Cloudline T6402 CFM32 dB40 Watts6.74 lbs
AC Infinity Cloudline S6402 CFM32 dB37 Watts6.64 lbs
Vivosun 6-Inch390 CFM37 dB67 Watts6.75 lbs
iPower 6-Inch294 CFM35 dB50 Watts6.29 lbs
Terrabloom 6-Inch288 CFM31 dB36 Watts5.21 lbs

1. AC Infinity Cloudline T6

The AC Infinity Cloudline T6 can freshen the air at a fast clip, but it also looks nice in your grow tent. No bright green colors, or cheap-looking plastic parts.

The AC Infinity Cloudline fans are also made in America and are among the quietest 6″ inline fans.

This powerful inline fan is designed to ventilate grow tents, transfer heat, and keep your plants healthy and happy.

AC Infinity CLOUDLINE T6, Quiet 6” Inline Duct Fan
$149.00
  • Air Flow: 402 CFM
  • Noise Level: 32 dB
  • Wattage: 40 Watts
  • Weight: 6.74 lbs
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
02/18/2024 10:39 pm GMT
AC Infinity’s explanation of their Bluetooth capability

But what sets the Cloudline T6 apart from other inline fans is its ability to connect via Bluetooth. You can monitor and control your fan from anywhere. Whether you’re at work or on vacation, you can always keep an eye on your plants and make sure they’re getting the ventilation they need.

Additionally, if the environment in your grow tent changes and the humidity jumps or drops, this inline fan comes with an alarm system that will let you know right away so you can take action.

Pros:

About 50% quieter than other brands

Made in America

Higher quality and durability

More energy efficient than most other options

Cons:

Probably the most expensive on the market

This also comes in other sizes, including:

2. AC Infinity Cloudline S6

If you’re looking for quality without the digital aspects of the Cloudline T6, you can get the Cloudline S6 for about $40 cheaper.

You will be giving up the digital display and buttons, as well as the Bluetooth options, but you still get the build quality and effectiveness of the inline fans from AC Infinity.

Pros:

Great build quality

Cheaper than the premium T6, but the fan itself is the same

Made in America

Cons:

Has a manual dial that doesn’t come with Bluetooth capability

AC Infinity CLOUDLINE S6, Quiet 6” Inline Duct Fan
$109.00
  • Air Flow: 402 CFM
  • Noise Level: 32 dB
  • Wattage: 37 Watts
  • Weight: 6.64 lbs
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
02/18/2024 09:25 am GMT

3. Vivosun Inline Duct Fan – 6 Inch

The Vivosun inline duct fans are a less expensive alternative to the AC Infinity options, but they don’t have the same build quality and use up quite a bit more electricity.

It comes with a fan speed controller that lets you easily adjust your, well, fan’s speed. 🙂

It has a similar CFM to the AC Infinity lines, and a similar weight as well.

However, if you’re looking for a slightly cheaper version for an inline exhaust fan, this could be the right one for you.

VIVOSUN 6 Inch Inline Duct Fan
  • Air Flow: 390 CFM
  • Noise Level: 37 dB
  • Wattage: 67 Watts
  • Weight: 6.75 lbs
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

4. iPower 6 Inch Inline Duct Fan

iPower 6 Inch Inline Duct Fan
  • Air Flow: 294 CFM
  • Noise Level: 35dB
  • Wattage: 50 Watts
  • Weight: 6.29 lbs
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

The Terrabloom inline fan is the cheapest option on this list by far, but still has some decent quality to it.

It is about as quiet as the premium options on this list, but does use a little bit more energy coming in around 50 Watts.

However, for the price point (around $55), this might be a good option for you depending on your needs.

What to Look for When Buying an Inline Fan

There are a number of specs you’ll want to pay attention to when buying an inline duct fan.

Size

You want to consider the size of your grow tent so you choose an inline fan that is powerful enough to move the air through the tent, but not so powerful that it creates too much noise or vibration.

Most grow tents have duct ports that fit around 11 inches of a fan, but you can use a reducer or try some other methods to fit a larger fan if you need it.

Most home growers will do just fine with 6-inch duct fans.

CFM (Cubic Feet Per Minute)

CFM stands for cubic feet per minute and is the measurement of how many cubic feet of air the inline fan can exchange every 60 seconds.

To figure out how much CFM you need for your grow tent, you want to figure out the cubic feet of your tent:

Length x Width x Height

For a 4’x4′ grow tent, you’re looking at 4′ x 4′ x 6′, or 96 cubic feet inside the grow tent.

Now, just having a fan that turns over more than 96 cubic feet is good, but you want to leave a little extra for filters or other attachments that might decrease the airflow.

You also want to take into account the grow lights you’re using as most will heat up the tent at least a bit.

Fan Speed Controllers

You also want to take a look at the features of different inline fans. Some have adjustable speed settings, while others come with timers or remote controls. These features can be helpful in fine-tuning the ventilation in your grow tent.

A variable speed controller allows you to change up the fan speed as needed.

Noise

Noise level is important if your grow tent is in a space that you use for living area. Some growers have a tent in their bedroom, so the noise of your fan is going to be super important to consider.

Energy Efficiency

The amount of energy used by the fan to pull air is something to consider as well. Measured in watts, the energy used by the fan can be a big factor, especially since it will be running 24 hours a day for the most part.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do You Need a Carbon Filter with Your Fan

You do not need a carbon filter with your inline fan. A carbon filter is great if you need to keep the smells of what you’re growing from getting into the air outside the tent (if you know what I mean).

If you’re growing vegetables or something that doesn’t have much of a scent, you really don’t need a filter like that.

How to Setup Grow Room Ventilation

Inline fans for grow tents are an important part of any indoor gardening set-up. Not only do they help to circulate air and keep the temperature stable, but they also help to prevent mold and mildew growth. However, choosing the right inline fan for your grow tent can be a bit of a challenge as there are many factors to consider, such as size, power, and noise level.

You can go with a premium options like the AC Infinity Cloudline T6, or you can save a bit of money and get a less durable version like the Terrabloom.

However, once you’ve found the perfect inline fan for your grow tent, you’ll be on your way to achieving indoor gardening success.

chenell

AUTHOR, CHIEF GUACAMOLE CONNOISSEUR

Hi - I'm Chenell! I lived in the city for almost a decade, but after moving to the suburbs in 2020, I decided the logical millennial thing to do was to learn how to grow my own avocado toast. That's what this site is all about. 🥑

You can get access to all of my free resources and get some epic dad jokes (and helpful gardening stuff) emailed to you each week by signing up here.

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