Best Carbon Filter
- Thread starter varriform
- Start date
Hawk
Member
Recently I was involved in a discussion about the worth of purchasing carbon for a DIY filter with a CTC absorption rating vs. the more common iodine absorption rating. CTC ratings are specific to vapor applications while iodine ratings are (I guess) suppose to be specific to water filtering applications. The ratings are a measure of absorption ability. I wanted to know what kind of carbon the various manufactures where using. Here's a copy and paste of some of what I wrote in that thread. All the links supporting what I found did not copy over but the info I found is easily tracked down....
--CanFilter makes NO mention as to what type of carbon they use. CF Group :: Canfan, Canfilter
--I can't find any website or specific information on the Carbonaire (Eco-Plus) filters other than retailer descriptions about it's "highly activated" carbon content.
--ProFilter (made by Atmosphere, the Vortex fan folks) describe their carbon as "...TC940 3mm grain sized carbon...". I have no idea what TC940 means. I couldn't find any info about it. 940 is too large to be a CTC number although it is suspiciously in-line with typical iodine rating numbers. Atmosphere Inc -- High Performance Inline Duct Blowers
--All I could find for Mountainair filters is from the following "more info" link from a retailer. All I really see there is ad-speak about how their carbon is the best carbon on the planet--no real specifications or test data. MountainAir Filters - More info
--General Hydroponics filters (Dutch Breeze) only says in it's PDF brochure that its carbon is 3mm grain size from coal instead of coconut tree fiber. Nothing more. http://www.bghydro.com/mmbgh/Others/Dutch Breeze Brochure.pdf
--Phat Filter seems to provide the best tech data on their carbon. And it's a granular carbon with an iodine rating--not a vapor phase CTC rating. Phat Filter - Activated Carbon Filters - Technical Data
I went to Norit (http://www.norit-americas.com/industry.php), a source manufacture of activated carbon, and searched under....
Industry: Air Purification
Application: Odors
Challenge: Trace organic vapors
....and looked at the four types of carbon listed. The two that specifically list odor removal from gas streams in their product description (Vapure 612 and Vapure 410) both list an iodine number number, not a CTC number.
I'll let each of you to draw your own conclusions about what all that means.
I'm not challenging that the CTC rated carbon sold by that ebay seller is good carbon. But for me, until more/better information influences me, I believe there is LOTS of alternative carbon choices out there that perform similarly for our application--especially when you include $$ value as a factor. My feeling is that a 10% (or whatever figure is appropriate) increase/decrease in longevity or minimum amount of carbon required to achieve 100% odor elimination, is not a significant concern. And like I mentioned before--I don't distinguish degrees of odor control. It's either 100% effective or it's not. I know that in my attempt at a DIY carbon filter using iodine rating 875+ carbon, it works.
I'm only taking the time to communicate my feelings because I just went through a carbon purchase choice. I specifically debated about whether I should pay the extra money for that CTC carbon on ebay. His advertising makes a compelling case. But I chose carbon from a different ebay seller so I could get more of it for the same price and I'm happy with my results.
$0.02
--CanFilter makes NO mention as to what type of carbon they use. CF Group :: Canfan, Canfilter
--I can't find any website or specific information on the Carbonaire (Eco-Plus) filters other than retailer descriptions about it's "highly activated" carbon content.
--ProFilter (made by Atmosphere, the Vortex fan folks) describe their carbon as "...TC940 3mm grain sized carbon...". I have no idea what TC940 means. I couldn't find any info about it. 940 is too large to be a CTC number although it is suspiciously in-line with typical iodine rating numbers. Atmosphere Inc -- High Performance Inline Duct Blowers
--All I could find for Mountainair filters is from the following "more info" link from a retailer. All I really see there is ad-speak about how their carbon is the best carbon on the planet--no real specifications or test data. MountainAir Filters - More info
--General Hydroponics filters (Dutch Breeze) only says in it's PDF brochure that its carbon is 3mm grain size from coal instead of coconut tree fiber. Nothing more. http://www.bghydro.com/mmbgh/Others/Dutch Breeze Brochure.pdf
--Phat Filter seems to provide the best tech data on their carbon. And it's a granular carbon with an iodine rating--not a vapor phase CTC rating. Phat Filter - Activated Carbon Filters - Technical Data
I went to Norit (http://www.norit-americas.com/industry.php), a source manufacture of activated carbon, and searched under....
Industry: Air Purification
Application: Odors
Challenge: Trace organic vapors
....and looked at the four types of carbon listed. The two that specifically list odor removal from gas streams in their product description (Vapure 612 and Vapure 410) both list an iodine number number, not a CTC number.
I'll let each of you to draw your own conclusions about what all that means.
I'm not challenging that the CTC rated carbon sold by that ebay seller is good carbon. But for me, until more/better information influences me, I believe there is LOTS of alternative carbon choices out there that perform similarly for our application--especially when you include $$ value as a factor. My feeling is that a 10% (or whatever figure is appropriate) increase/decrease in longevity or minimum amount of carbon required to achieve 100% odor elimination, is not a significant concern. And like I mentioned before--I don't distinguish degrees of odor control. It's either 100% effective or it's not. I know that in my attempt at a DIY carbon filter using iodine rating 875+ carbon, it works.
I'm only taking the time to communicate my feelings because I just went through a carbon purchase choice. I specifically debated about whether I should pay the extra money for that CTC carbon on ebay. His advertising makes a compelling case. But I chose carbon from a different ebay seller so I could get more of it for the same price and I'm happy with my results.
$0.02
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Old Yeller
Member
Shipping will kill you on even on a medium sized C/F - Make sure you budget that into the price when buying on the net. My local grow store sells Can Filters at above retail prices so I'm gonna take a little drive & get the 4" Carbonaire for my closet & later the 8" one for my whole basement. The only trouble is I can't seem to find out if you can re-fill them yourself - that would cinch the deal for me...
Old Yeller
Member
I think I read that Phat Filter owns Odor-Sock - would they market a crappy product along side of their own line of filters?
The best can filter is a DIY filter built to size and filled with active carbon from wally-world.
Connoisseur300 said:The best can filter is a DIY filter built to size and filled with active carbon from wally-world.
I did the same thing. But the last grow when I had some really stinky ass white rhino in the room, it's all I could smell in the house during peak daylight hours. I then put the exhaust into a cooler filled with bleach, water and fabric softener. I couldn't smell a thing and figured I was good one day when company was due to arrive. But then mom comes over and asked if one of the dogs go into a skunk. hmm... That's why I'm reading this thread! She's a little dense at times, so I was ok. No breach, but almost.
I used the same carbon you did. Any suggestions on something that you may be doing that I'm not?
Thanks.
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SpacedCWBY said:
High humidity. Humidity over 50 percent pretty much makes the carbon inactive. Drop the humidity and let the carbon dry out and you should be fine.
Another option is you didn't use enough carbon and need to change it out more often.
oh yeah. if your carbon scrubber is too short you could run into problems. Mine is 11 inches long and used on a 175 cfm vortex. My carbon lasts me over 6 months. The fact of the matter is I only chang it out every six months because I Like knowing I have new carbon and no mistakes can happen. I have never had to chang it because it stopped working.
i use a phat filter.
bit more exspensive than the cheaper brand but lasts longer and weighs less.
bit more exspensive than the cheaper brand but lasts longer and weighs less.
phatt or profilters are the way to go.
profilter because they're easily refillable
phatt because they weigh less and they have superior surface area = better smell reducer.
you can refill the phatts, too. it's more of a pita, because you have to clip the rivets and drive a new screw in or get a rivet gun.
cans would win on ubiquity if they were easily refillable.
peace, love & coco
profilter because they're easily refillable
phatt because they weigh less and they have superior surface area = better smell reducer.
you can refill the phatts, too. it's more of a pita, because you have to clip the rivets and drive a new screw in or get a rivet gun.
cans would win on ubiquity if they were easily refillable.
peace, love & coco
G
Guest
green mountain are great but if you do not have the right fan to any filter its not going to work right
ambr0sia
Member
Any experience with the CAN Filter 2600 out there? BGHydro has it for under $50, so it at least seems to be a good deal there. I plan on using it in conjunction with a Vortext 4" 172 CFM inline to vent my 2x 150W (DIY CoolTube) cab - Does this setup seem at all reasonable to those in the know?
DeebeeAhhSee
Member
Thats where I got mine.dongle69 said:
Phat Filter.
I do most of my business with Northcoast Horticulture supply now... but I got my filter from H&H.
I say make it. I know their is a thread on how to make mine and I have no idea where to find it. I am building a new cab at the moment with a new, bigger filter and would be more than happy to creat a new thread for anyone who wants to see it.
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B
Bubble Puppy
Fans
Fans
Anybody on really low budget ,or DIY people ...who needs a fan that can do the job ,
Comair Rotron...Caravel Model ..p/n CL2t2 550 Cfm
These things are made for industial use,but are super heavy duty.I was reading posts about people just replacing them now after 20 years of continuous use.
U can em cheap i,got mine off ebay for $30 used or ,....$50 to $80 new .Still way cheaper than buying a $100 blower
Fans
Anybody on really low budget ,or DIY people ...who needs a fan that can do the job ,
Comair Rotron...Caravel Model ..p/n CL2t2 550 Cfm
These things are made for industial use,but are super heavy duty.I was reading posts about people just replacing them now after 20 years of continuous use.
U can em cheap i,got mine off ebay for $30 used or ,....$50 to $80 new .Still way cheaper than buying a $100 blower
Double post.
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What size filter/fan combination for a 31" x 31" x 63" space? That's not a big grow room and it would be great to find a 4" fan and small carbon filter if one exists at a low price. I say 4" because it's smaller and their seem to be a lot of 4" inline fans so thought maybe there was a small carbon filter also.
I looked at Humboldt Hydro Phats and they seemed to only have 6" filters.. When they say 6" are they talking about the entire length or diameter of the fan and unrelated to the size fan you use? So could a Phat 6" filter be connected through tubing to a 4" inline fan?
The thing that is pissing me off about fan/filter pricing is that those two items are more than some grow light systems, more than an enclosure, more than the seeds. But I guess odor control is paramount. Looks like even a good price on a small fan and filter is $250 plus.
I looked at Humboldt Hydro Phats and they seemed to only have 6" filters.. When they say 6" are they talking about the entire length or diameter of the fan and unrelated to the size fan you use? So could a Phat 6" filter be connected through tubing to a 4" inline fan?
The thing that is pissing me off about fan/filter pricing is that those two items are more than some grow light systems, more than an enclosure, more than the seeds. But I guess odor control is paramount. Looks like even a good price on a small fan and filter is $250 plus.
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Connoisseur300 said:
Great post
I just rebuilt my own and yes you have to fill more often than the pro ones but it took me only 30 minutes to rip apart, rebuild, and refill my DIY unit.
To make them work you have to be able to really compact the carbon also, I use batting and I have a good design going so the body is solid.
I run a small scale op so that's my take, if I had 1000K+ I would shell out the bucks for a CAN carbon filter AND an inline ozone generator.
