Short version? For most tents, get the AC Infinity Cloudray S6. It's quiet (33 dBA), it oscillates, and it'll run with the rest of an AC Infinity setup. Want more push for less money? The VIVOSUN AeroWave E9 is £54.95 and the twin pack saves you £5.95. Watching the pennies? A Secret Jardin Monkey Fan from £16.50, or the Maxifan 20cm Oscillating Clip Fan at £14.94, will keep the air moving fine. And if you've got a proper room rather than a tent, that's a job for the Vortex 18" Heavy Duty Oscillating Wall Fan.
The best clip and circulation fans
AC Infinity Cloudray S6
A 6 inch clip fan with a proper brushless EC motor and carbon steel gears in the oscillation. Built for 2x2 and 3x3 tents and the middling sizes in between. And it's quiet. Really quiet.
- 33 dBA
- 10 speeds, 10 wind modes
- 10 oscillation levels
- IP44
- Hooks into AC Infinity's UIS system for app control, timers and climate triggers
- Dual ball bearings, so you can mount it upright or on its side
- Wind modes that vary the breeze, which is nicer on the plants than one flat blast
VIVOSUN AeroWave E9
Bigger 9 inch head, 580 CFM, and still only 36 dB(A). Cheaper than the Cloudray too. If you've got a bigger tent and a tighter budget, this is the one we'd point you at.
- 580 CFM
- 36 dB(A)
- 5-level auto oscillation
- IP54
- Natural wind mode flicks between high and low on its own, a bit like a breeze outdoors
- The oscillation backs off if it hits something, rather than grinding the motor
- Built-in timer with 3 cycle settings
Secret Jardin Monkey Fan
The original tent pole fan. Copper motor and a metal grille, and it clips straight on. Three sizes, so you buy the one that fits your tent and stop there.
- 16W, 20W oscillating, 30W
- 2 speeds
- Poles 16 to 30mm
- 240cm cable
- The 6" 16W (£16.50) suits tents up to about 1.4m²
- The 8" 20W oscillating (£23.00) sweeps a medium tent, up to around 1.5 x 1.5m
- The 9" 30W (£28.00) is the strongest one, for tents up to about 5m²
Maxifan 20cm Oscillating Clip Fan
Under fifteen quid and it still oscillates. Clamps onto anything up to 4cm across. No app, no wind modes. Just moves air.
- 8 inch (20cm)
- 2 speeds
- Oscillating
- Clamps up to 4cm
- Takes up no floor space, so there's more room for pots
- New clamp style grips tent poles and most shelving
Vortex 18" Heavy Duty Oscillating Wall Fan
Clip fans are for tents. Once you've got a whole room, you want something that bolts to the wall and shifts a lot more air. This is that.
- 18 inch
- 3 speeds
- 90 degree oscillation
- 30 degree tilt
- Sweeps 90 degrees, so one fan covers a good chunk of the room
- Tilts 30 degrees so you can angle it over the canopy rather than into the side of it
- Quiet running for its size
Shop all air circulation fans or just the clip-on fans.
Where to put a clip fan
People buy a decent fan and then point it straight at one plant. Poor thing ends up looking windswept.
A circulation fan is there to stop still, damp air sitting in the canopy, and to keep the top of the tent at roughly the same temperature as the bottom. Your extraction fan pulls air out. The clip fans keep what's left from going stale.
- Clip it to a corner pole at canopy height. Then move it up as the plants grow.
- Aim across or just over the tops. You want the leaves gently moving, not flapping about.
- Bigger tent, two fans. Opposite corners, pointing different ways, so the air goes round rather than back and forth.
- Keep one low if you can. Under the canopy is where it gets humid, and humid is where mould starts.
- Clean the grille now and then. Dust and dead leaf build up and choke the airflow. Two minutes with a cloth sorts it.
Getting the air out matters just as much. Our extraction guide covers sizing an inline fan, and the carbon filter guide deals with the smell.
At a glance
Clip fans for tents, wall fans for rooms. That's most of the decision made already.
| Fan | Size | Oscillates | Control | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 AC Infinity Cloudray S6 |
6 inch | Yes, 10 levels | 10 speeds, UIS app | From £59.99 |
 VIVOSUN AeroWave E9 |
9 inch | Yes, 5 levels | EC, timer, GrowHub app | £54.95 |
 Secret Jardin Monkey Fan |
6, 8 or 9 inch | 20W model only | 2 speeds | From £16.50 |
 Maxifan 20cm Oscillating |
8 inch | Yes | 2 speeds | £14.94 |
 Vortex 18" Wall Fan |
18 inch | Yes, 90 degrees | 3 speeds | £68.00 |
Prices as at October 2026. Check the product page for the live price.
How to choose
- Small tent, tight budget? A Maxifan or a 16W Monkey Fan. Job done for under twenty quid.
- Tent in a bedroom or anywhere noise matters? Go EC. The Cloudray S6 is the quietest here at 33 dBA, the AeroWave E9 close behind at 36 dB(A).
- Already running AC Infinity kit? The Cloudray S6 plugs into the same UIS setup, so the fans can react to temperature and humidity too.
- Bigger tent? Two fans beats one big one. The Cloudray and AeroWave twin packs both work out cheaper than buying singles.
- Proper grow room? Wall fans. The Vortex 18" is a good starting point.
Struggling with heat as well as stale air? Have a read of how to cool down a grow tent.
Quick answers
Do I need a clip fan in my grow tent?
Yes. Your extractor pulls air out of the tent, but it doesn't move it round the canopy. A clip fan stops damp air sitting between the leaves and keeps the temperature even from top to bottom.
What size clip fan for my grow tent?
Secret Jardin's own guide is a 16W Monkey Fan for tents up to 1.2 x 1.2m, the 20W oscillating for up to 1.5 x 1.5m, and the 30W for 2 x 2m or bigger. In a bigger tent, two smaller fans in opposite corners usually spread the air better than one big one.
Should a clip fan point directly at my plants?
Not straight at them. Aim it across or just over the canopy so the leaves move gently. A fan blasting one plant all day does more harm than good.
Can I run a clip fan 24/7?
Some, yes. The AC Infinity Cloudray S6 is built to run round the clock in humid tents. Secret Jardin suggest giving Monkey Fans a break, something like 18 hours on and 6 off, to make them last longer.
Are EC clip fans worth the extra money?
If noise or control matters to you, yes. The Cloudray S6 runs at 33 dBA and the VIVOSUN AeroWave E9 at 36 dB(A), with lots of speeds and app control through their own controllers. If you just want the air moving, a £15 Maxifan does that.
Still stuck? Give us a ring on 020 8686 9643 or email info@thehydrobros.com.
Or pop into the shop for a natter: Unit 12, Progress Business Park, Progress Way, Croydon CR0 4XD.
More grow guides
- AC Infinity Cloudline S-Series: a closer look
- Best grow tents by size
- Best LED grow lights for a 120cm tent
- Best carbon filters for grow tents
- Best pH and EC meters
- Grow tent setup guide
The Hydro Bros Team. We sell this kit and talk growers through it every day in our Croydon shop.
