Air ionizer -vs- homemade carbon?

[filpz]

I put a ? at the end of the title so it didn't seem like I had results from a test.

I just dropped $80 on an air ionizer. My question is how well it will work to control smell compared to just a cheap home made activated carbon filter made with pc fans and a couple of tupperwear containers (the one that has the instructions on here. Sorry, too short on time to look up the author).

So should I keep the ionizer to control the smell, or should I return it and build the carbon one? I'm just growing in a 4x4 closet in the back of the house but you can smell it as soon as you walk in the front door. I was thinking sticking it in the closet will help. I was just wondering which might work better.

And secondly I know that ozone can cause damage to plants. Should I worry about that?

Thanks in advance.

Edit: I was referring to Red_Greenery's filter as mentioned here

 

[Brian1975]

How far along are they in veg/flowering? With the strains I have, I am able to control the odor with lots of windage on the plants and keeping that temp. in control. If I remove the windage, within 10 minutes things get warm and stinky. The stronger smelling strains this wouldn't work for I am guessing but I have done well and I am in the second half of my flowering with 8 & 10 week average flowering strains. As far as ozone, the majority of what I have read says there is no substitute to a good carbon scrubber. You could use the "pinesol/water in a bucket w/ airstone" method to help as well but my money would be on the scrubber to eliminate any doubts in odor control. I have 3 fans running on these girls 24/7 and I keep my temps in check with a/c as well.

 

[filpz]

I am only about a month in to veg. I have 2 plants that are just a mix of seeds, not sure what they even are any more. That is where I think most of the smell is coming from. I also have 3 more that are top44's but like I said I think the smell is coming from the 2 others.

Temps are kept in the high 70's (80 usually being the hottest it gets) and they are blown with a large fan. But like I said... you can smell it as soon as you walk in the house. I'm afraid to even put these girls in to flowering. haha.

 

[dangbongdang]

hey filpz, I don't think air ionizers are that effective in controlling odor. If you drop about 30 bucks (if even that) you can make such a effective scrubber that you wont even need your ionizer, since youve already bought it, i think you should throw it inside your grow to ventilate and keep air fresh in there. Aslong as you have your grow contained (i.e. light leak wise) you should direct your exhaust air into a homemade carbon scrubber cause they kick total ass. I'm on my second grow right now, I had an old carbon scrubber that i made and believe me this thing looks like shit, but it does so much concerning smell i can literally walk 4 feet away from my grow and not smell a thing. cheers

 

[dangbongdang]

oh yeah and when you need to replace the carbon, you will know cause it will start to get a little stinky, 5 bucks on fresh carbon from the pet store is alot less pricey than 30 bucks for a replacement ionizer filter... right?

 

[filpz]

Ok, thanks dang. I have no problem returning the ionizer, that's why I came on here to ask. The grow is in a semi-contained area.

I have a bedroom with nothing in it, and then a closet in that room. The grow is in the closet. I keep the closet door open, but the bedroom door shut. So it's kind of contained, but no way for me to really scrub/filter all of the air. But if the carbon will work better then I'll just make one of those and stick it in the closet.

 

[dangbongdang]

the best thing you wanna do is contain that stanky stank in your growroom, invest the extra time in making your closet air tight, having a passive intake with an exhaust fan on the opposite side, that way all your exhaust stink air will go through that carbon scrubber, within an hour your house will smell normal and your grow will be contained and you wont have to worry about stinking your neighbourhood up during flower
cheers