DIY Scrubber

[hydronaut]

I just recently purchased a 350 CFM inline fan that i will use to extract air from my 4.5 x 4.5 x 6.5 growroom and I want to make a homemade carbon scrubber. I'm thinking about doing a 6" core and the outer filter 8" and have it be 16"- or 18" in length. Will this be suitable for the fan size? And what kind of carbon is best to use?

 

[ilovethewest]

activated carbon, otherwise i believe you gotta go old school and activate it your self, by baking it in the oven before you use it. any way, get it in a 50 pound box at the local hydro shop. like $15. i haven't ever gotten any though, just what i have heard.

 

[Mr. Bongjangles]

I hate to be down on DIY, but with a scrubber you should just drop the loot and get a commercial filter.

Reason being, you will likely not be able to pack the carbon as tightly and evenly as the pros do because they fill them on a big vibrating plate that ensures the carbon stacks properly.

These DIY filters will work a while, but eventually the air will develop preferred channels because you can't pack it the same way, and then your filter will be useless and you'll be dealing with a security risk.

 

[hydronaut]

Now I have a fan rated at 350CFM, so that means the filter will have to be rated higher than the fan correct?

 

[bs0]

Don't give up!

You can vibrate and pack your carbon as well, and save quite a bit!

If you buy a new carbon filter, yes, make sure the CFM rating on your filter is higher than on your fan. Check the diameter as well

 

[!!!]

DIY scrubbers work just as well if you know what you're doing. My scrubber is LITERALLY a coffee machine box, with one side taken off and a grill in its place, and carbon sitting on it, with the hose attached to the side of the box. Here's a pic..

black is the carbon, laying on a grill.

Important: Make sure the carbon is for odor control/air pollution and NOT the one used for aquariums. The odor one comes in little pellets (looks like fat black rice) as opposed to the one for aquariums which looks like little coffee grounds. The latter will take 90% CFM off your fan.

Having gone the DIY route, next time I will probably just buy a commercial scrubber, because the odor control activated charcoal is very expensive. A commercial scrubber would only cost about $30 more.. at the cost I calculated for my needs. Though you can re-use activated carbon by baking it in the oven at 400F for 20 mins.

 

[hydronaut]

I'm looking at 6" inner core and outer 8" and now I'm thinking 21-22" length? My fan is a 6" 350CFM.

also will the carbon you get at an aquarium or pet shop work well at getting rid of odors?

EDIT: Hmmm maybe i should just say fuck it and buy one on ebay then.

 

[hydronaut]

I was thinking about going with this design-http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=502235864&blogId=529791989