Carbon Filter w/ Carbon Falling Out?

Do they do this or is mine f'd up? I unboxed it and noticed some carbon rolling around in the plastic it was wrapped in. I got it from Gotham Hydro its a 4 inch inlet 18 inch filter/ fan combo

That being said I can't complain too much as I got the deluxe kit on my new light, even though I ordered the standard. My free extras were a timer, some yo-yo's, and a MH bulb to go with the HPS. I wonder if they hooked me up for telling them about the listing I was looking at being messed up. Either way free MH bulb and a timer makes me happy.

filling a filter is kinda messy when done by hand...I'd only worry if there was carbon falling out of the filter now if you shook it or turned it all around...it should be completely sealed now

There is always excess carbon that fell out in the filter and around the packaging when you buy a new one. Just dump the inside of any big pieces, and wipe down the outside. Particles also sometimes come out during use. This is one reason I've heard not to put a filter in a duct run before your lights when air cooling, because a peice of carbon could blow through the line and break the bulb. I personally have never experienced this however, though I have definitely heard a chunk fly through before.

Thanks for the info fellas. I wasn't sure just how they were made (sealed/reusable) and I imagine its hard to get all the excess cleaned off before packaging once they are filled. I mostly didn't want to open it and have a giant pile of carbon end up at my feet...that would suck.

Over all gotta say gotham treated me right, free extras, shipping was damn fast and free, and the prices were decent too. Free shipping was only offered their ebay store, the same order with a slightly smaller filter was going to cost 50-60 $ in shipping getting it from their website.