SMELL PROBLEMS Help Please!!

Are your lights a cooltube or reflector type setup? I know my air cooled reflector lets air in through the glass so with your current setup you could be pulling air in through the CF filtered but then pull in additional unfiltered air through the reflector out the room. But you said it worked fine last go around.

sounds like your carbon filter is done! buy a new one not second hand, and there will be no smell for 9-12 month. i think the one you bought second hand was already finished.