Are you looking for a grow tent under $100? Looking at the Mars Hydro as one of your indoor grow tent options? Need to find more alternatives to the Mars Hydro grow tent?
I’ve got these questions (and more) covered in this full guide and Mars Hydro grow tent review. I’ll talk about its build quality, materials included, setup, and the price/value for money.
I’ll also give a few alternatives to the Mars Hydro grow tent and answer the most commonly asked questions about it.
Mars Hydro Grow Tent Overview
While there are many ultra-cheap and wildly expensive grow tents, the Mars Hydro grow tent lands somewhere in between.
They offer different tent size options, from a 2’x2′ small tent to a larger tent measuring 8’x8′ that can fill up a small room. The grow tent model I’ll be reviewing is the 2’x4’x6′ variant.
The Mars Hydro grow tent is WELL-BUILT and comes with the basic tools and materials necessary to set up a grow tent.
There’s also a full tent kit version, which I’ve included in the alternatives below. After the tent kit review, there’s also an alternative with similar features to this one.
PROS
- Great value at $100
- Durable zippers
- Clear viewing window
- Versatile design with outlets
- Easy setup
CONS
- Hollow tubing and crossbar
- The tent’s plastic material feels cheap
Company Background
Mars Hydro was founded in 2008 by Mandy Hu in Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China. The company originally made LED grow lights but expanded to other products like Mars Hydro tents.
Mars Hydro eventually expanded its business to warehouses and repair centers in the US, Canada, UK, EU, Russia, and Australia.
Where Was it Manufactured
Mars Hydro has research, design, development, and manufacturing plants in Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, in China. Therefore, Mars Hydro tents are made in China.
Set-Up/Assembly
The set-up and assembly instructions for the Mars Hydro grow tent is EASY TO FOLLOW. The bars use spring-loaded snap pins for a simple and toolless assembly.
This means you don’t need any tools to set up the tent, only the instructions and a bit of organization to make the process go faster.
You can easily set this grow tent up within 30 minutes from unboxing to completion.
Build Quality
The build quality of the Mars Hydro grow tent’s structural bars is adequate. But I think it could be built better. While they have an all-metal frame, they are hollow inside, making them a bit flimsy.
One good effect of this is that it’s VERY LIGHT, which makes it easy to break down and transfer.
The Mars Hydro grow tent claims to have 110 pounds of hanging weight, but the cross bar’s hollow construction doesn’t inspire confidence.
While hanging a LED grow light didn’t result in the bar bending or breaking, I wouldn’t suggest putting an overly heavy LED light inside.
On the other hand, the zipper seams and zipper flap, as well as the corner adapters, are built very well and feel like they will last for a long time.
Materials Used
The diamond mylar inner lining is one of the STANDOUT FEATURES of this Mars Hydro grow tent. This mylar lining is reflective and diamond patterned to help reflect light.
This prevents light leakage and light loss by reflecting it back into the grow tent and onto the plants. This can help stimulate plant growth more than if the light leaked out.
This is important in growing cannabis because getting enough light is CRUCIAL in its growth stages. This makes the Mars Hydro a great grow tent for growing cannabis.
It also has a waterproof lining to keep the humidity inside and ensure the plants don’t dry out. The Mylar itself is hard to stain and easy to clean due to it being waterproof too.
Price and Warranty
The price point is where the Mars Hydro grow tent really shines. It’s priced between $89.99-$139.99 depending on where you buy it from, which is a GREAT VALUE.
For any green thumb, you’ll want to check the Mars Hydro grow tent out. It’s a great option for both a new grower and an expert.
Mars Hydro also has a 5-year warranty which is long enough for you to make full use of the tent and will last more than a couple of growing seasons.
They also offer a 30-day money-back guarantee where you can have it refunded if you’re unsatisfied with the unit you receive.
Availability/Where Can You Buy
You can check out the Mars Hydro grow tent at Amazon and from Mars Hydro’s website. Periodically check to see if they come out with discounts or promos.
Features of the Mars Hydro Grow Tent
Next, I’ll discuss the features that stood out to me when reviewing the Mars Hydro grow tent.
Diamond Mylar Lining
This highly reflective lining makes the Mars Hydro grow tent lightproof, meaning even if you’re fully blasting your lights outside, the inside will still be pitch black, and vice versa.
Light from grow lights will bounce around and be reflected back onto the plants, which makes unwanted light bleed outside NON-EXISTENT and gives the plants more light for growing.
Although the material feels cheap, it performs its intended purpose very well. If feeling cheap is a trade-off for being lightweight and effective, I’ll take that any day.
It also has a double-layer lining, which helps keep light in, makes it tear-proof, and keeps air and any skunky smell from leaking.
Velcro Viewing Window
The next standout feature is the velcro viewing window. It allows you to see the status of your plants without completely opening the whole tent.
It can also be used as an additional ventilation outlet to let extra sunlight in.
Ventilation and Power Outlets
The tent features several openings that can be used for PROPER VENTILATION. There are two on the sides and one on the ceiling if you want to put a carbon filter.
The two openings on the sides can be used for installing a circulation fan, intake fan, or exhaust fan.
Hanging Bar
The hanging bar itself is made of metal poles. While they are made of an all-metal frame, they are hollow. It won’t be as sturdy as a solid metal bar.
The bar is rated for 110 pounds holding weight, and hanging a LED grow light from it produced no issues.
However, I wouldn’t recommend using other lights, especially if they add much more weight to the bar.
If you want to be safe, you should use the Mars Hydro TS1000 — a LED light you can purchase from Mars Hydro. It should be 100% compatible with the hanging bar.
Hanging Pouch
A hanging pouch is included in the box, which is useful and convenient for storing things inside or outside the tent.
If you choose to have the hanging pouch in the tent interior, you can include things like a spritz bottle, small nutrients, or similar items.
It can also be hung with the pouch facing outside the growing environment for EASIER ACCESS.
Access Ports
The Mars Hydro tent features ports at the sides near the bottom where you can run electrical cords, an ethernet cable, or water lines.
Proper and tidy cable management is IMPORTANT in keeping tent kits clean and safe. You don’t want the wires coming into contact with the grow lights.
Additionally, it has the standard air vent and air filter ports to circulate cool air and let hot air out.
Alternatives to the Mars Hydro Grow Tent
Before you go out and buy the Mars Hydro Indoor grow tent, you should check out some alternatives that might fit your needs better.
Full Kit – Mars Hydro Grow Tent Kit
This Mars Hydro grow tent kit includes the grow tent plus additional equipment and features for your growing needs when making your indoor gardening setup.
The inclusions you can find in tent kits mean it’s a lot MORE EXPENSIVE than just getting the standalone tent, at around $500.
Features
The additional equipment and features it has includes the Mars Hydro TS1000 grow light, 4-inch inline fans for extra airflow, an air filter, and 33 feet of 4-inch flex ducting.
The Mars Hydro TS1000 grow light also features a detachable power supply, so you can keep it outside the tent. It will help keep the air inside at a proper temperature.
It also has a dimmer, so you don’t need to use the full wattage during the early stages of growth.
Other pieces of equipment included are a 24-hour programmable timer, a hygrometer and thermometer combination, 5 grow bags, and a grow net.
PROS
- Includes everything you need to start growing indoors
- All equipment works well together
- Generous amount of ducting included
- Easy setup
CONS
- Not the best lights, but are good enough for the price
- Zipper can catch on the tent sometimes
Bigger Alternative – Opulent Systems Hydroponic Grow Tents
Opulent Systems’ Hydroponic Mylar Water-Resister Grow Tent is a great larger alternative (5′ x 5′) for a similar price of only $118. This means you can grow a larger variety of plants.
Smaller tents are also available for lower prices, one being a 2.5’x2.5′ for $63. 4’x4′ tents sit somewhere in between, and you can check out the best tent kits here in that size.
Features
It’s similar to the Mars Hydro grow tents in features. It also has a reflective inner lining, hollow metal frame, and view window.
Because of the larger 5’x5′ size, it can accommodate growing both smaller indoor plants and growing medium-sized plants too.
PROS
- Larger size can accommodate more plant types
- Cheap and good value for the price
- Similar features to Mars Hydro grow tents
CONS
- Smallest tent size is still a bit bigger than the Mars Hydro options
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
After learning more about the Mars Hydro grow tents, you might still have other questions related to them. I’ve answered the most commonly asked ones below.
Is Mars Hydro a Good Brand for Grow Tents?
These tents are in the mid-price region of grow tents, and they provide great value for the features they offer.
They are a good brand, especially if you consider getting their grow lights to go with it. They will work seamlessly together and will work for at least a few seasons.
Another great brand to consider is Spider Farmer. These two have competing products that each have their pros and cons.
Is Mars Hydro a Chinese Company?
YES, they’re a Chinese company. They were founded in 2008 in Guangdong Province, China and still manufactures and develops its products there today.
How Big Should My Grow Tent Be?
Your grow tent size depends on which room you’ll place it in and the size of the plants you plan on growing.
Get a bigger size tent if you plan to put it in a bigger room and grow bigger plants, and get a small tent if you plan to grow smaller plants in a smaller room.
Conclusion
Here are my final thoughts for this Mars Hydro grow tent review. It’s a great grow tent for the price, and both beginners and experts should consider getting it.If you need a COMPACT and SMALL tent that you can place in your room without taking up too much space, then this grow tent is for you.
