Where to buy Activated Carbon... Anyone know?

[NiteTiger]

Any filter that only holds 20 lbs of carbon is not going to cut it in my garden. I don't care if that 20lbs is distributed over a 2 foot tall cyclinder or a 6 foot tall cylinder. Or if the bed depth is one inch or 8 inches, it's still not going to take care of odors in my grow room due to the sheer amount of plants and stink.

Well MP, I'm willing to say that we ccould debate this back and forth til we can't breathe, but the simple fact is, we won't ever know for sure.

Obviously, I can't come to your grow, and you can't come to mine

I'll even go so far as to say this: Maybe 20 lbs wouldn't work. Maybe you'd need 30, 40, or 50 lbs. But I still maintain you could have built one that would have worked just as well.

Like I said, there's no way to settle it definitively, because, unfortunately, we can't share our gardens with each other in person.

I'd love to smell your garden for myself, and I have no doubt that you've got it running like a top

Until we're legal and can settle this in person, we'll have to agree to disagree

 

[TexasToker]

Apparently I'm just being a dick, so for any dick-ness I apologize.

... awesome....'dick-ness'.

 

[Bozo]

I refill my can 33s with the same carbon rrog uses.Think I will end up with 4 refills when bag is gone.

A new can 33 shipped same coast is about 140$ with a flange.A 55 lb bag costs about the same
Can uses CKV-4 (carbon type)..I cant find any data on that type ..I havent looked too hard and wont because ....Having used Cans CKV-4 (carbon type) and the 4x8 virgin coconut type I can say from my experience The coconut works better and lasts longer.

Can uses pelletized and stock they probably flow better (more cfm)
The 4x8 granular packs a little tighter but has way more surface area to absorb odors

So what im sayin is once you have the shell (old filter that needs replaced)it may well be cheaper and better to replace the carbon rather than buy a whole filter.It is for me anyway

 

[rrog]

...Having used Cans CKV-4 (carbon type) and the 4x8 virgin coconut type I can say from my experience The coconut works better and lasts longer.

You're in good company. NASA, as well as the major brands of activated charcoal shoe inserts agree with you and use coconut.

What I find interesting that you (as a activated carbon consumer) have found that the higher quality may in fact prove to be a financial benefit.

 

[GrnMtnGrwr]

I refill my can 33s with the same carbon rrog uses.Think I will end up with 4 refills when bag is gone.

A new can 33 shipped same coast is about 140$ with a flange.A 55 lb bag costs about the same
Can uses CKV-4 (carbon type)..I cant find any data on that type ..I havent looked too hard and wont because ....Having used Cans CKV-4 (carbon type) and the 4x8 virgin coconut type I can say from my experience The coconut works better and lasts longer.

Can uses pelletized and stock they probably flow better (more cfm)
The 4x8 granular packs a little tighter but has way more surface area to absorb odors

So what im sayin is once you have the shell (old filter that needs replaced)it may well be cheaper and better to replace the carbon rather than buy a whole filter.It is for me anyway

CAN uses pelletized? Seriously? Why would anybody use pelletized over granulated, especially a manufacturer like CAN?

 

[Norkali]

I refill my can 33s with the same carbon rrog uses.Think I will end up with 4 refills when bag is gone.
...

So what im sayin is once you have the shell (old filter that needs replaced)it may well be cheaper and better to replace the carbon rather than buy a whole filter.It is for me anyway

This sounds like the way to do it. The Can company can probably put together a 'shell' that is marginally better, on average, than the average DIY'er (god knows they make a better one than I do). This is what I will be doing!

While I am in a thread with fellow carbon users....would you use a Can99 on a 10X12X10 room, passive intake, exhausted via a 8'' inline? (puling through filter) Thanks guys.

 

[okanogan green]

Hi there. I have a Can 33. My indoor garden is kinda isolated so I have not even slapped it on the four inch Vortex fan that I purchased it with. That sucker is so heavy even without any use. They must be like anvils when they start to absorb moisture. Good for odor control when needed it is just that my spot is isolated enough that I have not mounted it yet. Have to figure out how to mount in near the top of my tent where the fan is mounted to extract the hot air. Good luck in your search.

 

[Bozo]

CAN uses pelletized?

That is what was in the can 33s I bought in 2003 ..so maybe the new ones are different? .

 

[lysol]

CAN uses pelletized? Seriously? Why would anybody use pelletized over granulated, especially a manufacturer like CAN?

Most of these kinds of questions can be answered in 2 seconds by going on google.

Granular activated carbon has a relatively larger particle size compared to powdered activated carbon and consequently, presents a smaller external surface. Diffusion of the adsorbate is thus an important factor. These carbons are therefore preferred for all adsorption of gases and vapours as their rate of diffusion are faster.

 

[Sgt.Stedenko]

You're in good company. NASA, as well as the major brands of activated charcoal shoe inserts agree with you and use coconut.

What I find interesting that you (as a activated carbon consumer) have found that the higher quality may in fact prove to be a financial benefit.

rrog,
You're absolutely correct about the coconut GAC being the best for vapor adsorption. The coal and wood based stuff, while cheap, are grossly inferior to coconut GAC, especially for odor control.
I've been working in the environmental field for 20 years and coconut GAC is the industry standard.
I did a tank pull at Calgon Carbon Corp. in Columbus, OH that manufactures the stuff. I got a full tour of the process and was impressed what goes into making quality coconut GAC.
I got a free 5 gallon sample bucket of the OVC 4x8mesh they produce and love it. They dont sell to the public and only sell to vendors in 2,000 pound supersacks.
I've had the same CCC GAC in my 8"x6" scrubber for 3 years. Aquarium charcoal cant do that, and like you said, moisture plays hell on it's effectiveness.

 

[lightsincontrol]

Build your own filter box

Build your own filter box

I have found the activated carbon filters from Grainger Industrial Supply to be very effective for the cost. I built my own fan box to accommodate the square filter that is 2 inches thick.
Here is a link to the 20in x 20in x 2in. The price includes four filters. But you can buy one from a walk in store.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/hv...n+filter?Ns=List+Price|0&op=search&sst=subset

 

[Sgt.Stedenko]

rrog, carbon is an element. It is atoms. That is like asking where the drinking water in your tap came from. Probably a dinosaur's pissing pool 8 billion years ago.

It's all water to me. I have the filter in question, it works excellent. I am not grilling out burgers on it, its not charcoal... wow man lol

even your coconut started out in the ground as charcoal. Now its carbon, an element.

Please refrain from posting nonsense from the University of Wikipedia.

 

[rrog]

I wonder how much cheaper wood or coal or smokestack carbon is from premium coconut?

 

[Mr. Stinky]

doesnt make a difference to me what the stuff is made of. all i care is that it works 100% of the time. this whole arguement is way off track anyway, because anyone who is growing actual plants in large numbers gladly replaces that filter with a brand new one every 6 months to a year. you just cant duplicate the packing job of the factory one with a piece of shit you made in the living room out of window screen and mom's old pant hose.

when you are turning over $20, 000 dollars every room, every 3 months, you will replace the filter with new, just like the rest of us.

 

[lysol]

Please refrain from posting nonsense from the University of Wikipedia.

Carbon is on the periodic table of elements. You know the one that is used by scientists around the world for the last 220 years? Yeah.. thanks.

When you burn weed it turns to ash. The same ash that a cigarette turns into. Just like all ash is equal (because it is chemically altered from it's original forms), so is all carbon. Haven't you ever seen the childhood cartoon where he turns coal into diamond? That shits not just a cartoon anymore, we can do that.

If coconut carbon has benefits (which I'm not doubting) that is because of other elements other then carbon being present, or the structural make up of the carbon (porosity, granularity)

Carbon is carbon. It's an element. A nucleus with some atoms. Take one way I'll give you Boron, Give me an extra electron I'll give you Nitrogen, etc..

 

[lysol]

Most of these kinds of questions can be answered in 2 seconds by going on google.

Granular activated carbon has a relatively larger particle size compared to powdered activated carbon and consequently, presents a smaller external surface. Diffusion of the adsorbate is thus an important factor. These carbons are therefore preferred for all adsorption of gases and vapours as their rate of diffusion are faster.

GrnMtnGrower, you left me more neg rep asking wtf I'm talking about. In my post it clearly says the surface area is not the deciding factor for absorption of gases and vapor. They trade off surface area for increased diffusion. Please read before opening your mouth next time.

You ask questions and neg rep me for giving answers... I don't know how I even have the patience for people like you.. you behave in passive aggressive ways to me.

 

[Sgt.Stedenko]

If coconut carbon has benefits (which I'm not doubting) that is because of other elements other then carbon being present, or the structural make up of the carbon (porosity, granularity)QUOTE]

Coconut GAC has a higher iodine number, which is a measure of the micropore content, and lower ash content than wood or coal based GAC. It had nothing to do with additional elements being present.

 

[rrog]

Thank you for that, Sgt. Data is always welcomed. Might you have any more or a link?

 

[lysol]

Coconut GAC has a higher iodine number, which is a measure of the micropore content, and lower ash content than wood or coal based GAC. It had nothing to do with additional elements being present.

Ok thanks for clarifying. Ash is sodium carbonate, silicon dioxide, and calcium oxide, all of which are compounds that contain elements other than carbon. so yes it does have to do with other elements (or lack thereof)

Now that you have provided objective evidence, instead of simply stating your opinion... you have my interest.. I'm with rrog... got any links?

Also I think we both pointed out the possibility of the carbon itself performing better in a different structural form. (I used the term "porosity", you used the term "micro pore").

Just so you kno.. My original purpose for bringing up the periodic table argument was in direct response to the implication that something can be both "carbon" and "kingsford charcoal" at the same time (entirely different elements altogether there)

 

[Sgt.Stedenko]

Thank you for that, Sgt. Data is always welcomed. Might you have any more or a link?

Here's alittle activated carbon 101 link for ya.

http://www.carbochem.com/activatedcarbon101.html

I'm not trying to sound like a coconut GAC snob. My first three grows were done with aquarium charcoal and it sufficed.

I'm much happier using the coconut GAC though. There's not even a hint of an odor from stinky varieties like AK 48 or Skunk #1.

My first grow was NL, so odor was never really a problem.

Once you grow AK, you will apreciate the coconut.