Saving and searching for an affordable but effective carbon filter.

Hello all, i'm on a budget and am trying to get a grow going.
I have some room but no tent (hence auto's), the space is roughly -
width - 40in
length- 60in (i may be able to extend this a couple of foot)
height- 90in (7.9ft)

Light - 600w HPS

5" systemair extractor fan and four auto' seeds from a very kind forum member on the way

Fabric pots on the way

Could anyone please provide some pointers on obtaining a budget carbon filter that actually works? I might need special adapters so the filter will attach to the extractor correctly, which may further slow me down (on a budget but in a hurry) which i presently have no knowledge of. Second hand would do fine providing it works. I'm not sure or am unaware of places i could get one. I'm trying to avoid delaying my grow by saving for more months on a filter i could've got cheaper if i'd bought it from the right place. I don't know if links are allowed on here so i'm not certain if i'll be able to find the right place, but perhaps it can be done by words somehow.

The sooner i can sus this out, the better, please remember i'm in the u.k.

Thanks kindly for any advice in advance!

Mahatma Coat said:

Hello all, i'm on a budget and am trying to get a grow going.
I have some room but no tent (hence auto's), the space is roughly -
width - 40in
length- 60in (i may be able to extend this a couple of foot)
height- 90in (7.9ft)

Light - 600w HPS

5" systemair extractor fan and four auto' seeds from a very kind forum member on the way

Fabric pots on the way

Could anyone please provide some pointers on obtaining a budget carbon filter that actually works? I might need special adapters so the filter will attach to the extractor correctly, which may further slow me down (on a budget but in a hurry) which i presently have no knowledge of. Second hand would do fine providing it works. I'm not sure or am unaware of places i could get one. I'm trying to avoid delaying my grow by saving for more months on a filter i could've got cheaper if i'd bought it from the right place. I don't know if links are allowed on here so i'm not certain if i'll be able to find the right place, but perhaps it can be done by words somehow.

The sooner i can sus this out, the better, please remember i'm in the u.k.

Thanks kindly for any advice in advance!

Click to expand...

Check the best deals thread. I saw some discount filters posted there in the past day or two.

Thanks.

I turned on my computer earlier today and got an ebay offer of a watched item, 22 quid for a Rhino Hobby Carbon Filter 6 Inch 150 X 300 mm 600M3/Hr which i had enough for so i bought it. In the description it says the life of the filter is 2 years but in the further description it says 'used not much' which 'tells me not much'. At least i've got a stop gap while i save for a better quality one while i get on with the grow.

Do you have any idea how effective these type of filters are please?

Thanks.

Mahatma Coat said:

Thanks.

I turned on my computer earlier today and got an ebay offer of a watched item, 22 quid for a Rhino Hobby Carbon Filter 6 Inch 150 X 300 mm 600M3/Hr which i had enough for so i bought it. In the description it says the life of the filter is 2 years but in the further description it says 'used not much' which 'tells me not much'. At least i've got a stop gap while i save for a better quality one while i get on with the grow.

Do you have any idea how effective these type of filters are please?

Thanks.

Click to expand...

I only buy used filtration equipment. I do it on webay auctions or best offer. Contact seller and negotiate. $35 USD is the most I've ever paid. I use compressed air to blow dust and debris from the filters after a good firm but gentle charcoal agitating. A hose and water will work also. Just the filter must be put on the exhaust end of fan to blow dry before use. Also heavily mist with ISO after running in correct direction. Will kill most pathogens in the filter.

I use a Vivosun 6 inch filter. Some people say they're no good but it does what it's supposed to do and filters out the smell. I'm satisfied with the product.

MICHI-CAN said:

I only buy used filtration equipment. I do it on webay auctions or best offer. Contact seller and negotiate. $35 USD is the most I've ever paid. I use compressed air to blow dust and debris from the filters after a good firm but gentle charcoal agitating. A hose and water will work also. Just the filter must be put on the exhaust end of fan to blow dry before use. Also heavily mist with ISO after running in correct direction. Will kill most pathogens in the filter.

Click to expand...

That's honestly very reassuring, however, i can't get compressed air, don't know what charcoal agitating is (yet). don't know what ISO is and had absolutely no awareness pathogens could exist in the filter itself and i need to kill them.
A forum member is very kindly donating a 5" systemair to me, and there i was thinking the main struggle might be connecting the two correctly, now i'm not sure what to do or how to do it.
Thanks very much for the head's up though, nasties getting in my grow would be a disastrous waste of time, money and medicine.
.

xtsho said:

I use a Vivosun 6 inch filter. Some people say they're no good but it does what it's supposed to do and filters out the smell. I'm satisfied with the product.

Click to expand...

Thanks, i've seen Vivosun getting fairly good reviews.
Advice based on personal experience is invaluable.
I'm going to save for one.
Cheers!

Mahatma Coat said:

That's honestly very reassuring, however, i can't get compressed air, don't know what charcoal agitating is (yet). don't know what ISO is and had absolutely no awareness pathogens could exist in the filter itself and i need to kill them.
A forum member is very kindly donating a 5" systemair to me, and there i was thinking the main struggle might be connecting the two correctly, now i'm not sure what to do or how to do it.
Thanks very much for the head's up though, nasties getting in my grow would be a disastrous waste of time, money and medicine.
.

Click to expand...

Agitating is merely bouncing the filter on both ends on a blanket or a few sheets of cardboard to loosen the charcoal and rub off the outer surface of the coal. Don't damage the filter. ISO is alcohol. My apologies. Hope this helps.

Thanks.
Is there any special method of bouncing the filter to avoid damaging it that you know of?

Hello all.

After finding out about pathogens in the second hand filters, i asked the seller some questions (politely) last night, when i turned my computer on this morning i found he'd cancelled the order, so now i'm searching again.

I haven't got enough experience or resources to buy a second hand filter again i'll err on the safe side and buy new, if my grow fails it'll mean all this going without to try saving up has been pointless.

Are there any particular brands of filter that're known for been effective? I ask because i'll probably have to get the cheapest brand new one i can find for now and just risk it til i can afford a better one. Are there any better sources/sites than ebay? I'm in the u.k. so u.s. outlets cost too much due to shipping costs.

Does anyone have a link to the best deals thread please?

Thanks.

Seeing you are getting a 5 inch systemair extractor fan, buy a 5 inch to 4 inch reducer ($7.00), then buy a Vivosun 4 X 14 CF ($33.00). And the 4 inch on the reducer will fit right into the lip of of the 4 x 14 CF, and the 5 inch on the reduce will slide right over the lip on systemair fan! And a 4 x 14 CF is more than enough for that area, plus the 5 inch systemair extractor fan CFM will match up nicely 4 x 14 CF CFM.

piratebug said:

Seeing you are getting a 5 inch systemair extractor fan, buy a 5 inch to 4 inch reducer ($7.00), then buy a Vivosun 4 X 14 CF ($33.00). And the 4 inch on the reducer will fit right into the lip of of the 4 x 14 CF, and the 5 inch on the reduce will slide right over the lip on systemair fan! And a 4 x 14 CF is more than enough for that area, plus the 5 inch systemair extractor fan CFM will match up nicely 4 x 14 CF CFM.

Click to expand...

Thanks but it's too late now, earlier today i ordered a 5" Rhino hobby 125mm x 300mm 5" x 12" for £43. Hopefully it works out okay, and perhaps i can upgrade in the far future.

Thanks for the advice.