Installing an Extraction System
Installing an Extraction System
Once your tent is up, extraction is next. Even with efficient LEDs, heat and humidity build fast. Good extraction keeps temperatures steady, refreshes CO₂ and clears odours — all day, every day. Here’s how to size and install it around 600W LED fixtures, like the Omega Infinity, but the same formula applies to any sized LED or just needs amending slightly for HPS fixtures.
What Your System Does
- Extractor fan: Removes hot, stale, CO₂-depleted air from the tent/room.
- Intake vents/fan: Brings in fresh, CO₂-rich air.
- Air circulators: Mix the air inside the tent to prevent hot spots and stratification.
The Fan Formula (Works for LEDs)
Start with the tent volume and target air changes per hour (ACH). For 600W LEDs, aim for 30–45 ACH (a little lower than HPS, which often needs 45–60).
(Length × Width × Height) × target ACH = m³/h you need at the filter
Choosing the Right Extractor Fan
Use the calculation above to pick a fan. Here are guideline pairings for common tents running 600W LED fixtures. Adjust one size up if your room runs warm or ducting is long/twisty.
| Tent & Fixture Example | Volume (m³) | Target ACH | Required Flow (m³/h) incl. +30% | Suggested Fan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 × 600W LED in 1.2 × 1.2 × 2.0 m | 2.9 | ≈ 45 | ~ 170 m³/h | Mammoth TT 125 |
| 1 × 600W LED in 1.5 × 1.5 × 2.2 m | 5.0 | ≈ 45 | ~ 290 m³/h | Mammoth TT 150 |
| 2 × 600W LED in 2.4 × 1.2 × 2.2 m | 6.3 | ≈ 45 | ~ 370 m³/h | Mammoth TT 150 (or step up to TT 200 with long duct runs) |
| 4 × 600W LED in 2.4 × 2.4 × 2.2 m | 12.7 | ≈ 45 | ~ 740 m³/h | Mammoth TT 200 (consider TT 250 for hot lofts/summer) |
Why LEDs change the numbers: 600W LEDs push less radiant heat into the canopy than legacy HPS, so you can usually target fewer ACH. Still, ambient room temperature, dehumidification needs and CO₂ strategy can nudge you up a size.
Assembling the Extraction System
- Power & wiring: Mammoth TT fans are supplied pre-wired for quick set-up.
- Airflow direction: Make sure the fan draws air through the carbon filter (check the arrow on the housing).
- Match the filter: Use a carbon filter that can handle your fan’s airflow. If in doubt, choose the next size up to reduce restriction and noise.
- Ducting: Fit ducting to the outlet with a fast clamp or jubilee clip. Keep runs short and straight. Avoid sharp bends.
- Hang securely: Fans and filters are heavy. Use rope ratchets or suitable hangers and share the weight across bars.
Pro Tips for 600W LED Rooms
- Controller ready: Pair your Mammoth TT with a temperature or EC fan controller for quieter, steadier extraction.
- Negative pressure: Slight tent “suck-in” confirms odours are going through the filter, not escaping.
- Humidity watch: LEDs keep leaf temps a touch lower than HPS; aim RH by stage and don’t be afraid to increase ACH during late flower to dry the room after lights-off.
- Service items: Replace pre-filters periodically and check for dust build-up on the fan impeller.
Dialled-in extraction around your 600W LED fixtures keeps the climate stable and the canopy happy — which is exactly where consistent yields start.
