Your thoughts on this DIY inline carbon filter.

3" PVC cleanout tee. $4
Screw cap. $3

End plugs. $2
Aquarium filter carbon. $5 for 3 pounds.

Drilled holes in the end plugs. Scotch Brite pads used as "pre-filter". End plugs fit snugly inside ends of cleanout tee. Will use a small stainless screw to hold end caps in. 4" dryer vent hose fits snuggly over ends of tee. 3 Pounds of carbon is more than enough to fill. Screw cap with get an eye screw for easy hanging.




Tent is 2'x4'x5'.

Will be easy to refill. Let me know what you think.

Thanks.

This looks like an awesome idea. What are the end caps? Can you show a few more pics? What cfm inline are you using? I have the same specs in for my closet and if this works well I will deff be making on. Thanks!!!

Bongboy00 said:

This looks like an awesome idea. What are the end caps? Can you show a few more pics? What cfm inline are you using? I have the same specs in for my closet and if this works well I will deff be making on. Thanks!!!

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The end caps were in the same section as the other parts. I believe they may be called plugs. I found the T then found the "plugs" that would fit snuggly inside. I got the parts from Lowes, but any big-box home store should have the parts. The exhaust fan is a 4 inch 100 CFM fan I got from Amazon. Should be plenty for a 40 CF tent.

I did order a speed control for the fan to slow it down, because I am going to have issues with keeping the temp high enough for a good grow.

Thanks for the reply man. You think you can snap a few pics of the inside. I can't visualize how you have the end caps. I get the two caps the one with the holes and the one with the opening with the scotch pad. Are you going to push air through the filter or pull it through?

Bongboy00 said:

Thanks for the reply man. You think you can snap a few pics of the inside. I can't visualize how you have the end caps. I get the two caps the one with the holes and the one with the opening with the scotch pad. Are you going to push air through the filter or pull it through?

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OK, I think I see where to confusion is coming from. The two caps are the same. One is just flipped over to show the scotch pad insert, and the other is flipped to show the holes. They are identical. Both have holes and both have scotch pads to hold the carbon in and act as a pre-filter.

I will be pulling air through the filter.

i used a diy with a 4' pvc pipe and sheet metal fittings(cap/w holes and connecter for fan)and 8lbs of carbon. it didn`t work so well for me. i`d like to know how this works out for ya.

I think You need to make more holes or just use some metal netting at the filter intake.

Ohhhh I gotcha I thought there was something else inside of those caps cool thanks looks like a great idea. Maybe instead of drill holes cut out a hole the entire diameter of the cap but leave a little sort of lip if that makes sense and put a screen in it. Screen material is also super cheap I just redid all my homes window screens and think that would be perfect big enough holes to let air through but small enough to hold the carbon

Yes. And Your idea is great. Like it Let us know how it works.
Peace

Bongboy00 said:

Ohhhh I gotcha I thought there was something else inside of those caps cool thanks looks like a great idea. Maybe instead of drill holes cut out a hole the entire diameter of the cap but leave a little sort of lip if that makes sense and put a screen in it. Screen material is also super cheap I just redid all my homes window screens and think that would be perfect big enough holes to let air through but small enough to hold the carbon

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That's not a bad idea. A 3" hole saw will cost more than the filter. lol

I am only exhausting a small tent with a 100 CFM fan. This should work well.

Where are you installing the duct? I would suggest at the "T" itself and do away with the plug. I think you have more than enough holes and if you hook your duct to where the "T" is you'll have air being sucked in through two openings.

In any case a brilliant DIY!

more holes, way more holes. and instead of scotch brite as your backing material, use panty hose. I have a monster custom scrubber that uses 180oz of charcoal. i used 2 layers of pantyhose inside, and 2 layers as a prefilter. works perfectly. the PH will be less restrictive, allowing your fan to be more efficient.

DemonTrich said:

more holes, way more holes. and instead of scotch brite as your backing material, use panty hose. I have a monster custom scrubber that uses 180oz of charcoal. i used 2 layers of pantyhose inside, and 2 layers as a prefilter. works perfectly. the PH will be less restrictive, allowing your fan to be more efficient.

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I will put more holes in. The scotch brite will be less restrictive and more durable than panty hose.

sandjsdad said:

Where are you installing the duct? I would suggest at the "T" itself and do away with the plug. I think you have more than enough holes and if you hook your duct to where the "T" is you'll have air being sucked in through two openings.

In any case a brilliant DIY!

Click to expand...

The plan right now is to go tent exhaust duct --> filter --> exhaust fan. Plans can always change. I am a little ways off from needing a filter.

Why did this get moved out of the DIY section?

that thing will severely limit your airflow. You are better off upsizing to 6" or larger if you plan on filling it up with carbon. Hold onto your wallet though. 6" fittings get expensive. Good luck

I like this design. I think I'm going to put together something similar once I find out how well it works for you.

joe, I currently run a larger size of this filter like I posted above. with the filter I use a 8" 750cfm fan 100% power and have ZERO smell issues in my grow area. I even had 2 electricians, 1 city official to sign off on said electrical work, and family stop by. NO one can smell a thing.

My only concern is the fan. Make sure the fan can be operated through a variable speed controller. Not all units are designed to operate with a controller. If it is not rated for the controller it will burn up the motor pretty quick..

I'm thinking about using an 8 inch net pot as a filter for my 8 inch 400-something cfm fan:
http://www.amazon.com/Round-Pots-inch-Super-Heavy/dp/B00266SO54/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1392868294&sr=8-3&keywords=8+inch+net+pot

An 8 inch PVC T is difficult to find locally, I've tried, and would be expensive and weird to ship. So I intend on capping the bottom of the above net pot, filling it with activated carbon, and wrapping some sort of pre filter around it. What do you guys think? Overall looking at about $21 plus whatever materials for the pre filter and something to attach it with. Might just tape it tbh, it's called duct tape for a reason.

panty hose, doubled up works excellent for a prefilter or inside filter to hold your scrubbing medium.

duct tape will separate if you leave the filter inside your grow tent. the heat after a month or so will delaminate the sticky part from the duct tape part. I use 3m hvac tape for all my taping needs anytime I need to tape something that goes inside the tents.