Carbon filter not working...

with some strains, it doesn't matter if you have a filter. dunno what level of funk
that amnesia has, but it's something to consider. i would have probably went with
a 6" fan/filter combo personally- but that's just like, my opinion man.

Yes i think them scrubber fan combos usuall suck because there all ways trying to pair up a good product with a shit product to move tha shit products..
Don't ask me how i know this..i work in retail.

its been said., speed controller if u pull to much to fast filter will not work.

don't skimp on your freedom! i understand about not always having the coin, but find some where else to go cheap. i've used can filters and am afraid to try another brand…the can always works….i get at least 1 1/2 years outta em and i run stinky ass strains.

I agree, fan speed and old carbon... If you bought it from Amazon and Low_baller was the supplier, email them and tell them it isnt working and or Amazon customer service. I have done that with a few things and got new stuff pretty quick without too much hassle. Amazon even extended my prime for the inconvenience. Light reading on sizing fan/filter for growing indoors... http://botanical.com/hydro/air/calculating_fan_requirements.html or http://www.just4growers.com/stream/ventilation-and-environmental-control/how-to-calculate-the-size-of-your-extraction-fan.aspx

Thanks everyone, I appreciate all the responses and help! I was still within 30 days of ordering so I am just returning this cheap filter and getting a Phresh filter since they are one of the top 3 recommended quality filters. I know a lot of you like to make DIY filters and would suggest I do the same but for $80 I'd rather just get this done and out of the way ASAP since it fuckin stinks lol

By everything mentioned by everyone I am doing everything right as far as correct fan speed matched to correct filter size and providing negative pressure. It just stinks like as if I'm not running a filter what-so-ever. Those of you who said to refill with new carbon, it's only a 3 week old filter, so it's just a cheap junk filter.

Again thanks guys, I'll post an update this weekend once i got the Phresh filter running for a couple days clearing the smell out.

Don't slow down your fan speed if its going to reduce your required Fresh Air Exchange your plants will suffer from not having the proper air turn over. I'm going to say its a shit carbon filter. Go with a good Can filter, Phresh filter, Phat filter, Mountain Air, all have high quality carbon. Maybe even over shoot the filter size so you don't have to slow the fan down to effect the FAE in that tent.

Anon Emaus said:

Thanks everyone, I appreciate all the responses and help! I was still within 30 days of ordering so I am just returning this cheap filter and getting a Phresh filter since they are one of the top 3 recommended quality filters. I know a lot of you like to make DIY filters and would suggest I do the same but for $80 I'd rather just get this done and out of the way ASAP since it fuckin stinks lol

By everything mentioned by everyone I am doing everything right as far as correct fan speed matched to correct filter size and providing negative pressure. It just stinks like as if I'm not running a filter what-so-ever. Those of you who said to refill with new carbon, it's only a 3 week old filter, so it's just a cheap junk filter.

Again thanks guys, I'll post an update this weekend once i got the Phresh filter running for a couple days clearing the smell out.

Click to expand...

Smart move!! It sucks to get inferior quality products, but it is all a part of living and learning, we all do it!

I use an 8" connection 3 foot carbon filter, I have one of those booster fans that is 4" connected to it. Maybe like 150 CFM tops probably much less. No, smell whatsoever. It's a no name brand and works. as it was said before, SLOW DOWN YOUR AIR.

I have used name brand also, it's about the air flow passing through the carbon. Unless you have a carbon filter that is so cram packed that flow s reduced through it, then you have to control the air coming into the filter.
The filter should be inside the room if it's a sealed room and just recirculating the air.

I agree with another poster phresh is the best and will stand by it! 2 1/2 years before i got a new one well worth it.

i wouldn't suggest turning the fan speed down at all, get a filter that can handle your fans top speed. i can probably count on 1 hand how many of u turn your air over twice per minute…

I had a cheap filter so I went with a phresh, still doesn't work 100%. Some strains are just too dank for the recommended size imo.

i have a phresh i pull thru it with a hyper 8 in at half speed so thats about 350cfm in a 4x4x7 tent so more than enough airflow and never stinks its all about the airflow thru filter save your old one and put it on the end of your exhaust if it recirculates into your house for extra stink proofing

Another vote for phresh. I have a few of them including their inline version. Right now, running some stank, so I have them doubled up. 6"x18" to vortex inline fan to 6" inline filter. No smell now. I originally replaced the 18" with a 24" and it only helped a little, so I'm not sure I'm a believer in going bigger. Seems like anything beyond 20% over your fans rating is a waste. All you need is a better filter and you'll be good

@eastcoastled I agree partially to bigger is not better, but my referral to go bigger was to consider the CFM requirements of his grow area. I see a lot of posters telling him to slow his fan down. Well if his fan at max speed is already turning the air 2x then slowing it down will help the carbon work better, but it will effect his FAE in the grow area as a whole and which in turn will effect his plant growth. So by increasing size, which will mean thicker carbon bed (more surface area), then the air drawn thru the filter will be restricted a little more and make the scrubbing action more efficient and only minimally dropping his FAE....So bigger isn't better in the measuring dick size scenario, in this case bigger is more efficient to not hender the already calculated FAE

BAMS said:

@eastcoastled I agree partially to bigger is not better, but my referral to go bigger was to consider the CFM requirements of his grow area. I see a lot of posters telling him to slow his fan down. Well if his fan at max speed is already turning the air 2x then slowing it down will help the carbon work better, but it will effect his FAE in the grow area as a whole and which in turn will effect his plant growth. So by increasing size, which will mean thicker carbon bed (more surface area), then the air drawn thru the filter will be restricted a little more and make the scrubbing action more efficient and only minimally dropping his FAE....So bigger isn't better in the measuring dick size scenario, in this case bigger is more efficient to not hender the already calculated FAE

Click to expand...

Wasn't trying to disagree with anyone, just pointing out my real world experience. I have a brand new $180 filter sitting on the floor, while two smaller filters, 1 1/2 yrs old each are doing the job it couldn't. Sometimes the air just needs to be double filtered.

you can wash it too. vac the outside. run a few buckets of water through. moisture isnt bad for carbon its used in liquid filtration. and tons of dust is washed out. especially if u dont prefilter. ive done this with the filter raised on some bricks. few buckets of cold water. let it drip dry real good. & then put a fan on to get the filter dry. ive washed 2 filters. they work fine maybe you should vac & wash it. if you're gonna buy a new one. why not try. id never replace the medium. just buy a new filter. and i agree w/ ona backup. or ionizer on a multi timer. maybe 15minutes every 3 or 4 hours.

Foothill Filters makes some good filters

I put some ona gel in the exhust duct end in a small plate, will

works pretty good..

The whole place smells fresh and clean not like toilet sprays just make sure to get the professional blue one.

Cheers
Bubble

Found my problem, the CFM rating listed of a filter is the MAX CFM only recommended when doing multi pass through, where I was under the assumption that your fan and filter should be similar in rating for single pass through(especially since they sell similar ratings together as combos, like the one i bought). For Single Pass Through filtering it is recommended to run your fan at a CFM that is about 50% of your filters Max CFM. Upon turning my cheaper filter(which was BRAND NEW, i know a lot of you were thinking it was old) down to 50% I was able to gain decent odor control. Still not completely happy with it being "decent odor control" though.

So as most of you said, turning down my fan speed helped, but in turn it increased my temperature. I'm now running the Phresh filter and will be trying out different fan speeds to find a happy medium of heat exhaustion and odor control. The Phresh filter is really nice in that it's much lighter and compact compared to the huge bulky cheap filter so I'm happy already. If anything I'll just double filter because I don't want to buy new bigger ducting, bigger fan and blah blah