How to light proof my tent zipper???

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Blazin Budz

Well-Known Member
Im not sure how much light is leaking but if its a tiny bit, I wouldn't worry about it. People on forums vastly over exaggerate the amount of darkness you have to have. It's never 100% dark outside in urban areas. I can always see clearly outside at night in my neighborhood. There is a street lamp on the road in front of my house that i can clearly see from my back yard next to my plants and i never have problems with hermies. Plus moonlight is natural light for the plants.

With that being said, there definitely is an amount of light leakage that could screw your plants up for sure. But it doesn't have to be 1000000% dark.
 
Shucks

Shucks

Well-Known Member
Blazin Budz said:
Im not sure how much light is leaking but if its a tiny bit, I wouldn't worry about it. People on forums vastly over exaggerate the amount of darkness you have to have. It's never 100% dark outside in urban areas. I can always see clearly outside at night in my neighborhood. There is a street lamp on the road in front of my house that i can clearly see from my back yard next to my plants and i never have problems with hermies. Plus moonlight is natural light for the plants.

With that being said, there definitely is an amount of light leakage that could screw your plants up for sure. But it doesn't have to be 1000000% dark.
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I agree, I really don't know what happened. At this point I'm just checking off all the boxes. Better watering schedule, new genetics and no bending. I did snap 2 stalks while bending them. I just taped them up and they healed like I have before. I also had fungus gnats during veg and sprayed the shit out them with BT spray before flowering. I just don't know
 
Spiderfarmerled

Spiderfarmerled

Well-Known Member
Rollitup Advertiser
Shucks said:
I agree, I really don't know what happened. At this point I'm just checking off all the boxes. Better watering schedule, new genetics and no bending. I did snap 2 stalks while bending them. I just taped them up and they healed like I have before. I also had fungus gnats during veg and sprayed the shit out them with BT spray before flowering. I just don't know
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Sorry to hear what happen.
Could you please DM us with more information (your order information and the issue of the tent), we will try best to help.
 
V256.420

V256.420

Well-Known Member
I like the Gorilla Lite. Some pinholes here and there on the sides but the zippers never leak light and they last years for me. I also like how you can buy a CFM kit for $20 and reinforce the sides so they don't suck in. I usually buy 2 extra kits for my tents.

You also get 4 bars for the top of the tent, not 2 or 3 like others.

Try to get some velcro strips and rig something up that you can easily pull off every time you go in the tent.
 
Southernontariogrower

Southernontariogrower

Well-Known Member
V256.420 said:
I like the Gorilla Lite. Some pinholes here and there on the sides but the zippers never leak light and they last years for me. I also like how you can buy a CFM kit for $20 and reinforce the sides so they don't suck in. I usually buy 2 extra kits for my tents.

You also get 4 bars for the top of the tent, not 2 or 3 like others.

Try to get some velcro strips and rig something up that you can easily pull off every time you go in the tent.
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Its been working for awhile, no herming. Using better genetics now too, so alot easier as l push plants hard and feed well. Saturate with light, and doing homebrew co2. Couldnt be happier. Unless it was a better tent, that is a setback at this time, gorilla you say?
 
V256.420

V256.420

Well-Known Member
Southernontariogrower said:
Its been working for awhile, no herming. Using better genetics now too, so alot easier as l push plants hard and feed well. Saturate with light, and doing homebrew co2. Couldnt be happier. Unless it was a better tent, that is a setback at this time, gorilla you say?
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Gorilla sells overpriced tents but I've used several kinds and nothing has beaten it yet. The "Lite" line is less expensive but still overpriced. If you can get one from a local Hydro store for $200 it's a bargain.

I have noticed the newer AC Infinity tents have increased their pole size to 22mm and the canvas to 2100D and the kicker is it's still cheaper than the Gorilla Lite 4 x 4 with shipping. I may try one of the newer AC tents for shits and giggles :eyesmoke:
 
Southernontariogrower

Southernontariogrower

Well-Known Member
V256.420 said:
I like the Gorilla Lite. Some pinholes here and there on the sides but the zippers never leak light and they last years for me. I also like how you can buy a CFM kit for $20 and reinforce the sides so they don't suck in. I usually buy 2 extra kits for my tents.

You also get 4 bars for the top of the tent, not 2 or 3 like others.

Try to get some velcro strips and rig something up that you can easily pull off every time you go in the tent.
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I fix stripped zippers too.
 
Lockedin

Lockedin

Well-Known Member
Shucks said:
Hi, I have a 5x5 spider farmer grow tent and the zippers leak light out, so I know light can get in also. I can just tape the sides with duct tape but the front (door) needs to be accessible AND light proof. I just had my first crop hermie on me in there! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
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2 big hand clamps and a comforter. - what I had laying around. --- cost, $.00 (and my Wife giving me "the look" - sorry babe - it was for the cause!)
I hung the comforter with a bit of an air gap to the tent wall, so I got a bit of insulation as well. (it was in a warm room, pulling air from outside)

The comforter now hangs over the window - one the neighbors can't see so I don't look like a tweaker.
It knocks down enough light that I'm (almost) comfortable.
Probably replacing it with Panda Film at some point as other upgrades progress.

Edit - IMHO - tent makers need to provide better "storm flap" type zipper closures. Just another 1.5" of fabric with a few snaps would eliminate light leaks. Doesn't even need to be "tent" material, just light tight.
 
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Shucks

Shucks

Well-Known Member
Lockedin said:
2 big hand clamps and a comforter. - what I had laying around. --- cost, $.00 (and my Wife giving me "the look" - sorry babe - it was for the cause!)
I hung the comforter with a bit of an air gap to the tent wall, so I got a bit of insulation as well. (it was in a warm room, pulling air from outside)

The comforter now hangs over the window - one the neighbors can't see so I don't look like a tweaker.
It knocks down enough light that I'm (almost) comfortable.
Probably replacing it with Panda Film at some point as other upgrades progress.

Edit - IMHO - tent makers need to provide better "storm flap" type zipper closures. Just another 1.5" of fabric with a few snaps would eliminate light leaks. Doesn't even need to be "tent" material, just light tight.
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Exactly my tent zipper flaps are WAY TOO short!
 
Shucks

Shucks

Well-Known Member
Spiderfarmerled said:
Sorry to hear what happen.
Could you please DM us with more information (your order information and the issue of the tent), we will try best to help.
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Well I wrote you guys about my light leaking tent AS YOU requested and have not heard back. I have spent a lot of money on your products and will definitely be telling people NOT to purchase your grow tents. I am very disappointed that you chose to ignore me. Inferior products will not suffice in this age of social media! I hope your lights are better, I bought 4. By the way I also bought 3 tents. Only the 5x5 is flower so I'm not complaining about the 2 other leaky tents you sold me.
 
Shucks

Shucks

Well-Known Member
Stealthstyle said:
Ive had a ligh leaky tent for 7 or 8 years and still no hermies. I only use fem seeds too.
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Well I understand what you're saying however my tent is in a room with many outside windows and strong Arizona light coming through them. I have never done an "open" grow before but now that we are legal and I have no bedrooms I can use I thought I could believe what the manufacturers listing says, "100% light proof" I was mistaken and trust me, if you put fem seeds in this tent, in a room that gets this much light you will see hermies also. BTW, when I grew in a darkened bedroom I never had these issues. So I darkened the living room with black out curtains and it should work. Just another $300
 
Shucks

Shucks

Well-Known Member
rmax said:
Can you pop into the tent and have the other side of we zip you in? Once in make a video - from the insode - for us and post. Maybe it's not that bad???
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Well I have installed stryafoam and panda film on my windows (tore down my venetian blinds, they were no where near light proof) and installed blackout curtains to the dining room entry. I can try to open the curtains in the AM as that side is East facing and do what you suggested. I do however know this, all zippers and velcro vents leak light on this tent. I'm just bummed. I would have and still would just buy a truly light proof tent.
 
Shucks

Shucks

Well-Known Member
Well Spider farmer has been nothing but an aggravation. When I made this post they reached out to me, and I believe the post previous to this one was by them without identifying themselves. They just keep responding to my emails with the same questions. Which is, what is the issue. And can you take video. I am done! They can look at any of my correspondence and the issue is clearly stated and NO I'm not sending pics of my grow. They can easily see their tents leak at the zippers due to insufficient flap material behind it and honestly now that I have spent hundreds of dollars darkening the room it doesn't really matter anymore. I just wish they really made a 100% light proof tent.
 
xtsho

xtsho

Well-Known Member
Going on 4 years with my cheap ass Vivosun tent and not any light leaks or pinholes. The zipper works like brand new. Paid $100 for it. Happy as a clam. It only has 3 bars on the top but I haven't found a reason why I'd need any more than that. Light, fan, filter. All are hanging just fine. I could hang another 50 lbs from it and it would be just fine. More vents than you could ever need and a side door also. Overall an excellent tent. I could have paid more to get the same result but there was no need.
 
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