For anyone stumbling upon this looking for a cheap solution, a few words of wisdom from somebody who just built one.
Buy the carbon ONLINE. I spent way too much $$ buying the carbon from the pet store. Had to make 3 separate trips. Also, as mentioned earlier in the thread, get some screen door material and wrap that around the outer core. Not only will it make it much easier to get some panty hose over the top, but it does a really good job of keeping the carbon in.
Lastly, and this was the most important piece to get this working as advertised. Pack the carbon in TIGHT. Bang thing the thing on the ground, shake it and get it as tight as possible. My first go at it was too lose and I had to run to the store for a 3rd time to get more carbon. The guy at the grow shop told me that a lot of the filter manufacturers have machinery that shakes the carbon in tight into the filter, so try you're best to really get it in there.
Mine's been going 2 days now with the carbon packed in as tight as 1 person can get it and the area has been smell free.
Buy the carbon ONLINE. I spent way too much $$ buying the carbon from the pet store. Had to make 3 separate trips. Also, as mentioned earlier in the thread, get some screen door material and wrap that around the outer core. Not only will it make it much easier to get some panty hose over the top, but it does a really good job of keeping the carbon in.
Lastly, and this was the most important piece to get this working as advertised. Pack the carbon in TIGHT. Bang thing the thing on the ground, shake it and get it as tight as possible. My first go at it was too lose and I had to run to the store for a 3rd time to get more carbon. The guy at the grow shop told me that a lot of the filter manufacturers have machinery that shakes the carbon in tight into the filter, so try you're best to really get it in there.
Mine's been going 2 days now with the carbon packed in as tight as 1 person can get it and the area has been smell free.
