From my own experience of hydroponics without a fan (I was trying to keep things simple) my plants were weak, bendy and I had a seriously mould problem.  My hydroponics setup was in a small enclosed space which had large ventilation holes but this wasn’t enough to prevent the problems that occur without sufficient air flow.  In hindsight it’s clear to see that I needed to exchange the moist air that my plants had created with drier less oxygenated air.  A fan would have helped prevent the mould or at least slowed down it’s growth.

For many hydroponics setups that use MH / HPS lights a hydroponics fan is necessary to keep the temperature from rising to high and scorching the plants.  I had used CFL (compact Fluorescents lights) as my hydroponic lights so heat wasn’t really an issue.  However there were one or two occasions where I forgot to check the plants growth and accidentally burnt a few of the leaves.

When growing using hydroponics it is beneficial to try and create the condition that the plant would normally thrive in.  For example plants grow stronger as a reaction to their stems being flexed by the wind.  This ensures that their steams and branches are strong enough to proudly hold their flowers or buds.  In hydroponics, a fan compensates for the lack of natural wind, helping the plants grow stronger.  You wouldn’t want to grow a beautiful plant only for it to collapse under the weight of it’s stunning flowers.

So what are the options for a Hydroponics fan setup?

For those who are confident with electrical wiring, there seems to be a trend of wiring up computer fans as DIY Hydroponics fans.  They are popular because they are quiet and use very little electricity. I am not confident with electrics and therefore this isn’t something I would do myself but I’m sure a search on google would give you all the information about creating this type of hydroponics fan that you would need to know.

For those who have enough space in their hydroponic setup then use a desktop fan.  They are readily available and can be bought cheaply.  If you wait until the end of the summer months when shops are selling off their surplus stock of fans, you will be able to grab yourself a fantastic deal.  This type of fan can be plugged straight into the mains so there is no wiring to be done.  However ensure that the electric cable isn’t a tripping hazard.

Of course if you have a hydroponic tent then their are fans specifically designed to fit inside.  Why not pop over to our shop and bag yourself a hydroponics fan at bargain prices. 

Hydroponic Extractor Fans