Ebay Bulk Activated Carbon

[theroadwarrior]

Looking on ebay for best deals on activated carbon. I need 50 lbs to change 3 filters. I heard the smaller size carbon works better but it is $50 more. Should I go for the cheaper or does the second one look worth the extra.


$90 with shipping for 50 lbs or $1.8 lb

http://cgi.ebay.com/25-LBS-Activated-Carbon-For-Aquarium-Pond-Garden_W0QQitemZ320325891487QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item320325891487&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A570|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

or

$140 with shipping for 55lbs or $2.5 lb

http://cgi.ebay.com/55-Lbs-10Gal-Premium-Activated-Carbon-Charcoal-Xtras_W0QQitemZ180323136527QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item180323136527&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A570|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A2|294%3A50

 

[FreezerBoy]

Well,

How'd I miss this? I ordered from the second guy a few days ago. $1.99 lb PLUS shipping.

I'm not impressed with the idea of pellets but, building my first legit scrubber, I know squat. I'll rationalize my purchase as: much lower than local store prices, superior warranty and 10% of purchase to Doctors Without Borders.

 

[theroadwarrior]

Well,

How'd I miss this? I ordered from the second guy a few days ago. $1.99 lb PLUS shipping.

I'm not impressed with the idea of pellets but, building my first legit scrubber, I know squat. I'll rationalize my purchase as: much lower than local store prices, superior warranty and 10% of purchase to Doctors Without Borders.

Personally I think I will go with him too. You didn't miss much if you don't like the pellets though right.

 

[FreezerBoy]

My uneducated guess is, pellets provide a smoother, wider, less interrupted exit for air and thus smell. Dude doesn't give us much to work with. I see no size specs or scale object like the second guy gives. First guys return policy seems a bit firm. Not saying unfair but, the second guy's, "No questions asked, keep the carbon, no restocking fee," ... Makes you wonder why guy #1 has so many hoops ...

 

[niacinamide]

I would skip the extruded activated carbon. Ideally, you want to have the highest surface area possible for the absorption of odors. Granular activated carbon will have a much higher surface area than extruded pellets. This U.S. Army Corps of Engineers design guide states that smaller sized granular activated carbon is used for vapor phase applications whereas the larger sizes are used for liquid phase applications.

 

[vigilo]

word, i bought small ass granular carbon...i thought it was going to be too small and no air was going to get thru. none the less i packed it tight, and tried my homemade scrubber out. worked flawlessly...still does

 

[_Dude]

So has anyone actually tried the carbon from either seller? Or have a tried and true seller of carbon in bulk that they can recommend?

 

[nekoloving]

word, i bought small ass granular carbon...i thought it was going to be too small and no air was going to get thru. none the less i packed it tight, and tried my homemade scrubber out. worked flawlessly...still does

how small were the grains? 1mm? 5mm? .1mm? thanx!

 

[FreezerBoy]

So has anyone actually tried the carbon from either seller? Or have a tried and true seller of carbon in bulk that they can recommend?

I bought from Guy#2 He has several different packages if this one's too big or small.

My cab only grows 1-2 plants in 4 sq ft so it's small but, my last grow, Mandala's 8 Mile High was SUPER stinky at week 3 and quickly overpowered my DIY odorsock. The carbon above in DurbanPoisons DIY Scrubber was so effective, I'm thinking of rebuilding the scrubber to 1/2 inch thickness to improve airflow.

 

[dasmo]

Sorry all.. don't wanna get off subject or anything but with all this talk of carbon filters... (i'm in the process of making one now.. gotta day off work tomorrow!)
http://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/7074-easy-build-diy-carbon-filter.html

I bought larger aquarium carbon so I thank niacinamide for that link above for saving me from making a further mistake

Anyone think these prefilters would be a good idea? Seems a hell of a lot easier than having to make an outter cylinder (for most diy filters) to hold the loose carbon..

Lets hope home depot has these tomorrow..
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100063845

 

[FreezerBoy]

If you mean in lieu of granulated carbon, maybe.

My DIY odorsock did well with my single Destroyer in a freezer with a 250 CMH. My Current 8 Mile overpowered it within days. Conversely, my dual core scrubber was so effective against the 8 Mile's stench, I'm going to reduce it to 1/2 inch thick for improved airflow and see how that works.

If you mean in addition to granulated, I'd think it would have to help. Carbon doesn't absorb like a sponge, it adsorbs like fly paper. Once covered, it's useless. There's only so much surface, which is why the extra surface area of granulated is preferred.

 

[Bumble Buddy]

Don't buy the carbon prefilters dasmo, they are overpriced and contain only a tiny amount of carbon, you need a carbon filled filter like the Sun Scrubber that FreezerBoy linked.

I got 5 gallons of carbon from thirdmilennium ebay seller years ago, the stuff is great- although he may have had a different source back then, his current stuff (irregular small carbon chips) seems ideal; also, I was able to use the filter material he provides in place of pantyhose for the Sun Scrubber, which saved me another humiliating encounter with the employees at Target.

 

[dasmo]

Thanx Bumble...
and my home depot didn't carry the prefilters.

 

[Twisted Metal]

Have any of you ever opened your can filter to replace the carbon. I mean dam a new one cost a couple hundred or just replace the carbon on the existing one.

 

[FreezerBoy]

$200 will by a scrubber or 100 lbs of carbon. If the scrubber weighs less than 100 lbs, it's cheaper to replace the carbon.

 

[Gunnarguchi]

i made 2 DIY carbon filters some time ago using pellets bought at a company that sells them for use in garden fish pools

cant remember exactly but i think the pellets where like 2-3 mm wide and like 6-10 mm long
i have had very good results from these
save me a lot of money compared to buying filters pre made in a store

i made them by making some net tubes and cover with some cloth
then made larger net tubes and also cover with cloth
then filled carbon in between and sealing it with gafa tape

i bought 10 liters/5 kg and it was enough for a large and one a little smaller filter for an 130 mm and one 120 mm fans and then a had a little left afterwards, but much

 

[happyherb]

the activated carbon on ebay ive looked at suggests its made out of coconuts ....(1) is that normal?... (2)and/or is that what you guys(everyone) is using?....i assume it could be made from different materials and wondered if this is just as good?...thanks.HH. =]-~

 

[Tarbosh]

small granules = me breathing carbon......

tryed the diy hepa scrubber..... couldnt find sheets of window gasket/casket at HD - so used air conditioner pre filters..... looking to clean odor from air using carbon in air around.... since my area is co2 controlled and somewhat sealed - any suggestions as to how to do this?

at the very least - any suggestions as to what i can put over the current hepa scrubber so that I am not constantly breathing carbon dust?

 

[FreezerBoy]

Sounds like you forgot to wash the carbon first. You want water. Lots and lots of water.

 

[nekoloving]

Sounds like you forgot to wash the carbon first. You want water. Lots and lots of water.

washing the carbon wont do the same thing as it being exposed to a bunch of humidity? might i ask why?