Vivosun carbon filter quality

[TCH]

I have been noticing a little smell here and there the last couple weeks and came to the conclusion that my inline 6" carbon filter needed to be replaced. Cost of doing business, I get it. I have a Vivosun fan and filter and have been very happy with them so I figured I'd order the exact same filter I did 5 years ago when I got this one. Opened up Amazon, found the old order, ordered the same filter from before. I got the new one today and a couple things are different on it. The closed end now has a big cone indentation, no biggie, I assume it helps with air flow or something. The 2nd thing I notice is that this thing felt a bit lighter than I remember the original being. The walls where the carbon is also felt thin. For kicks and grins, I decided to weigh the new filter and the old filter. The old filter was almost twice as heavy as the new filter. My assumptions are that the amount of carbon in the filter has been slashed by half in order to try to keep costs in line. My question/fear is that this thing will not even last an entire grow now that there is considerably less carbon in it. When I installed it, the flange was slightly larger than the old one as well. The old one could be pressed onto the fan with a little bit of force and it was nice and snug and wouldn't come apart. No ducting, no hose clamps, just force. The new one slides right on and off of the fan and I had to use what I had to try to seal it up a bit and wrap the joint in masking tape.


New Filter: 8.647lbs = 3,922g



Old Filter: 16.067lbs = 7,288g




I realize I haven't bought a new filter in 5 years and I expect the price of goods to rise, but to lose 7+ lbs of carbon seems to be like quite a bit and still be selling it through the same link. Anybody have one of these lighter filters and can prove me wrong? I want it to be awesome because to date, I have been very satisfied with all the Vivosun stuff I have used, this just irritated me a bit.

 

[MICHI-CAN]

I have been noticing a little smell here and there the last couple weeks and came to the conclusion that my inline 6" carbon filter needed to be replaced. Cost of doing business, I get it. I have a Vivosun fan and filter and have been very happy with them so I figured I'd order the exact same filter I did 5 years ago when I got this one. Opened up Amazon, found the old order, ordered the same filter from before. I got the new one today and a couple things are different on it. The closed end now has a big cone indentation, no biggie, I assume it helps with air flow or something. The 2nd thing I notice is that this thing felt a bit lighter than I remember the original being. The walls where the carbon is also felt thin. For kicks and grins, I decided to weigh the new filter and the old filter. The old filter was almost twice as heavy as the new filter. My assumptions are that the amount of carbon in the filter has been slashed by half in order to try to keep costs in line. My question/fear is that this thing will not even last an entire grow now that there is considerably less carbon in it. When I installed it, the flange was slightly larger than the old one as well. The old one could be pressed onto the fan with a little bit of force and it was nice and snug and wouldn't come apart. No ducting, no hose clamps, just force. The new one slides right on and off of the fan and I had to use what I had to try to seal it up a bit and wrap the joint in masking tape.


New Filter: 8.647lbs = 3,922g
View attachment 5201856View attachment 5201859


Old Filter: 16.067lbs = 7,288g
View attachment 5201860View attachment 5201861

View attachment 5201870

I realize I haven't bought a new filter in 5 years and I expect the price of goods to rise, but to lose 7+ lbs of carbon seems to be like quite a bit and still be selling it through the same link. Anybody have one of these lighter filters and can prove me wrong? I want it to be awesome because to date, I have been very satisfied with all the Vivosun stuff I have used, this just irritated me a bit.

The fancy cone is reduction in area of exposure. A shady lowering of carbon by weight while decreasing flow.

Open the old one and refill it with activated charcoal. Vivo sux!!!

 

[TCH]

The fancy cone is reduction in area of exposure. A shady lowering of carbon by weight while decreasing flow.

Open the old one and refill it with activated charcoal. Vivo sux!!!

That is going to be my next question. Where does one source activated carbon? What size or quality or whatever unit of measurement they use to classify it do you get? How do you go about swapping the activated carbon? Drill out rivets, make mess, dump old out, refill? Is it that simple? Is it a colossal pain in the ass to refill one?

 

[TCH]

Vivo sux!!!

I would also like to reiterate that I'm not bashing or talking bad about Vivosun. So far, everything I have bought of theirs, I have been very happy with. I realize that they are a more budget brand and I am 100% on board with that for all the stuff I have used so far. I'm really hoping that someone will come in here and tell me that they sourced some bad ass activated carbon from the other side of the moon and you only need a quarter of the amount to do twice the work that the old shit did.

 

[MICHI-CAN]

I would also like to reiterate that I'm not bashing or talking bad about Vivosun. So far, everything I have bought of theirs, I have been very happy with. I realize that they are a more budget brand and I am 100% on board with that for all the stuff I have used so far. I'm really hoping that someone will come in here and tell me that they sourced some bad ass activated carbon from the other side of the moon and you only need a quarter of the amount to do twice the work that the old shit did.

Fish doctor. And I have paid for my opinion. LOL.

 

[TCH]

And I have paid for my opinion. LOL.

Thats fair. Everybody has their reasons

 

[Billytheluther]

I would also like to reiterate that I'm not bashing or talking bad about Vivosun. So far, everything I have bought of theirs, I have been very happy with. I realize that they are a more budget brand and I am 100% on board with that for all the stuff I have used so far. I'm really hoping that someone will come in here and tell me that they sourced some bad ass activated carbon from the other side of the moon and you only need a quarter of the amount to do twice the work that the old shit did.

You should try their ph pens..

 

[MICHI-CAN]

You should try their ph pens..

I was thinking anything electrical. 6" fans are the best. Oscillating. Glad they stay in the housing when they melt down. Tent comes with plenty of holes and limited aluminum duct tape.

 

[Hook Daddy]

You can also reactivate the charcoal by soaking in hydrogen peroxide, then baking about 225 f for 2 hours.

Edit: google the method for better instructions

 

[DrDukePHD]

That is going to be my next question. Where does one source activated carbon? What size or quality or whatever unit of measurement they use to classify it do you get? How do you go about swapping the activated carbon? Drill out rivets, make mess, dump old out, refill? Is it that simple? Is it a colossal pain in the ass to refill one?

I'd like to find this out as well

 

[Billytheluther]

Had a tent from them that lasted 1 run
Not even that so i would through sheets over the tent
Figured its best to do that regardless if its a bad or good tent as theres almost no chanse for light leaks..
Its a hassle thought..
the ph pens i used when starting out and had 3 to verify which one was off, they all read different after calibration after about a month, a real headache..
I dont grow year round but my vivo sun 6 in inle has held up nicely even though i zip tie the thing and isnt straight and leveld, i run it at half speed though and notice the heat is quite high so maybe it is a little ran down

 

[Billytheluther]

You can also reactivate the charcoal by soaking in hydrogen peroxide, then baking about 225 f for 2 hours.

Edit: google the method for better instructions

The whole can? I have a fresh 8x 24 that was pretty pricey and haven’t ran alot, would it help renew it?
I dont want to gut it and repack though..

 

[Billytheluther]

Never mind just saw it said charcoal not charcoal filter

 

[MICHI-CAN]

https://www.amazon.com/Wave-point-Premium-Activated-Charcoal-Aquarium/dp/B084FMKWVP/ref=pd_lpo_2?pd_rd_i=B084FMKWVP&psc=1

 

[futurebanjo]

The closed end now has a big cone indentation, no biggie, I assume it helps with air flow or something. The 2nd thing I notice is that this thing felt a bit lighter than I remember the original being.

In theory it does help with airflow, It's used in some automotive air filters/induction systems:
http://pipercrossusa.com/px700alloyneckuniversalfilters.aspx
Not sure how usefull it would be in a lower pressure environment like a grow tent though...

The old one could be pressed onto the fan with a little bit of force and it was nice and snug and wouldn't come apart. No ducting, no hose clamps, just force. The new one slides right on and off of the fan and I had to use what I had to try to seal it up a bit and wrap the joint in masking tape.

Often they are designed to have a small section of flexible duct, between fan and filter, so you just need a bit of duct and two jubliee clips:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274575157976

Or maybe something like this would be neater: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184580974227?_trkparms=amclksrc=ITM&aid=1110006&algo=HOMESPLICE.SIM&ao=1&asc=20200818143230&meid=7d94a449d1084b219e37a115173615a7&pid=101224&rk=5&rkt=5&sd=274575157976&itm=184580974227&pmt=1&noa=1&pg=2047675&algv=DefaultOrganicWeb&_trksid=p2047675.c101224.m-1

 

[xox]

vivosun not surprising honestly you get what you pay for these days. can-lite filters and phresh filters are good. ive been contemplating trying vortex since there fans are good.

 

[coreywebster]

It's just typical of any budget brand.
Release a product, build a rep then spend the next few years cutting cost and lowering quality.

 

[TCH]

I did score a 20lb bucket of activated carbon for $40, so I am going to make the attempt to refill the old filter and see how it does. Whenever I get around to that project, I will report back on it.

 

[Fallguy111]

I did score a 20lb bucket of activated carbon for $40, so I am going to make the attempt to refill the old filter and see how it does. Whenever I get around to that project, I will report back on it.

Keep us updated, I've been interested in this. A 40lb can660 is $185 locally this would save a bit if its easy enough. I predict a sooty mess, good luck.