Hydroponic systems are extremely efficient in growing crops that are healthy and bountiful. And while an outdoor hydroponic setup will derive a lot of the essentials required to grow a healthy crop from nature, an indoor hydroponic system has different requirements. Since the plants will not receive the same amount of light and air in an indoor setup, you will need to provide the system with appropriate light and ventilation. For the plants to grow well, proper grow room ventilation is crucial, as its absence can potentially damage the entire crop. 

A proper grow room ventilation system maintains a continuous flow of air between the outside world and the indoor grow area. It also includes a mechanism of keeping a proper airflow inside the grow room. This is done with a combination of exhaust fans and ducts or pipes that maintain the airflow, while fans are used to maintain the airflow inside the grow room. 

Plants are supposed to grow in an open environment full of air, sunlight, and enough CO2. But when these plants are grown in an indoor setup, these key elements go missing, and your hydroponic setup must make them available for a healthy crop. This is why a grow room ventilation setup is important as it maintains the appropriate amount of CO2 levels in the air through proper ventilation and airflow. 

Some other important reasons to have a proper grow room ventilation

The main idea behind growing plants in an indoor setup is to provide them with a conducive environment where they can grow healthily. And one such requirement is CO2, which helps plants in photosynthesis. A closed hydroponic setup will run out of CO2 as the plants will consume it all slowly. But a proper ventilation setup and continuous airflow will ensure that the CO2 level is appropriately maintained. 

It manages the heat efficiently: 

Plants are very heat sensitive, and a change in the temperature to even a few degrees can hamper their growth. In an outdoor setup, the heat source for plants is the sun and the wind provides the cooling effect. This is what a grow room ventilation system recreates in an indoor setup. Grow lights emit heat, and proper airflow is required to maintain the temperature. The absence of hydroponic fans can heat your grow room tent, eventually damaging the plants. 

Plants in an indoor setup will create a humidity-filled atmosphere in the absence of fresh air. This will result in unwanted pest and insect growth. A well-ventilated grow room will ensure that the humidity level is maintained. In addition to that, fresh air will also soak in the water from the upper parts of the plants, which will allow them to soak in water from their roots. This means that the nutrition goes directly into the roots.

Not all indoor hydroponic setups are the same, and thus they require a tailor-made ventilation setup for best results. Depending on where and how your hydroponic system is created, you need to pick up the right equipment. Normal vents, grills, and ducts won’t be enough to provide the right amount of ventilation; hydroponic fans and hydroponic exhaust fans are needed to create the right environment. Here’s how you can achieve that:

Choosing the basic setup: This is the easiest and the simplest setup that only requires two kinds of fans – extractor fan and oscillating fan. While the extractor fan (also called the hydroponic exhaust fan) removes the hot and humid air from the grow tent, the oscillating fan maintains the fresh air flow inside the grow area. 

Active intake system: This is a slightly better system than the basic setup. In the active intake system, there is an additional fan attached to the system that brings fresh air into the system. This balances out the exhaust fan that is throwing out the hot air outside. 

● Fan type: A simple fan works fine for a small setup. The idea is that the air should be circulated properly.

● Fan size: Again, choose a fan depending on the size of your indoor grow tent. The fan size would also depend on the size of the duct.

● Exhaust efficiency: The exhaust fan should be fully functional and should be able to remove the air from inside. The bigger your grow room, the better your exhaust fan should be.

● Duct types: Flexible aluminum types are most suited for an affordable setup. More expensive choices are insulated or heavy-duty ducts.

A proper grow room ventilation system is the lifeline of an indoor hydroponic system. The better the ventilation in your grow room, the better will be the yield. While setting up a ventilation system for a large grow room can be a complex process, it is totally worth it. Those with a small setup can easily create a simple and basic ventilation system that will keep the plants healthy. All you need is the right hydroponic supplies to create an efficient system, and you can continue reaping the several benefits of growing hydroponically.