Input needed on fan/carbon filter combination

[blueberryfarmer]

Hi there..
I've purchased a 130cfm squirrel cage fan to vent my cabinet grow, and it is working very well so far. I was planning to build my own carbon filter, following the instructions in the popular DIY Carbon Scrubber thread on this forum. However, i was going to order some nutes from www.bustan.ca, and found this scrubber which looks quite appropriate and would save me some time: http://www.bustan.ca/product_detail.asp?menuID=1&SID=14&PID=913 .

It seemed like a decent price (CAD$) for a scrubber, but i'm wondering whether it will be that much more expensive than building my own. It looks like buying activated carbon in my area is a little pricey, and i'm questioning whether it would really save me that much money to build it myself. Anyone in southern ontario built a small scrubber? If so, how much did it cost you? This is partly why i'm intrigued about buying the filter i linked to.

Also, It says its a 94cfm scrubber? Will this impede my ventilation significantly? Will it harm my fan? The fan will not be drawing the air straight through the filter, but it will be connected via 3" PVC tubing, so its pretty close. Will this work okay? I dont want to harm my fan. What do you people think? Thanks for your input!

 

[Equipment Junki]

Carbon filters are vacuum bagged.

If you don't vacuum pack them you will have thin and thick areas of carbon.

The job is messy, and carbon filters are cheap.

See if you can find a Airbox 1 by Hydrotek. It is rated for 150 cfm and it is made to run inline. The best thing about it is it has replaceable carbon cartridges. It should sell for around $200 and the replacement carbon is around $60.

Respect

 

[blueberryfarmer]

Thanks for the advice... but i was thinking of either buying the one i showed, for $89 CAD, (as long as it wont be too harmful to my overall airflow or my 130cfm squirrel cage fan) or i would make my own. It seems you're recommending not to make my own, so therefore i should buy one? If thats the case, this is the only one im considering, because thats the most i can afford to spend. My question then is whether it'll be bad for my fan or it will impede my airflow too much. Anyone with any further thoughts? Thanks

 

[MTF-Sandman]

That scrubber will be fine for that blower...blowers are notorious for losing output due to back pressure, so I doubt it would be pulling more than 90cfm anyhow. The rating of the scrubber is the threshhold where 99.5% of the air passing through it will have the odor molecules removed. If you move more air through it, all that you risk is slightly less optimal odor control - not damaging your fan.

Who told you that crap Equipment Junki? Carbon filters are filled via vibration tables to settle the carbon in very tightly so there's no air pockets...a vacuum bag wouldn't do shit to control that anyhow.

 

[blueberryfarmer]

Thanks for the informative response, MTF-Sandman. That helps me make my decision... I believe i will end up buying the scrubber, although its still more money that i dont have! Haha.... such is the way sometimes.

I described that my blower will be attached to the scrubber via some 3" PVC tubing... is this okay? Will i lose much fan efficiency/odour control efficiency because of this?

Thanks again everyone!

 

[MTF-Sandman]

PVC is probably better than foil ducting for creating less backpressure...if you can fit 4" PVC, I'd go that route if possible tho. You might wanna check out the grey PVC conduit - the bends in it are very gradual and won't cause undue restrictions to the airflow...but they take up more room so pick your poison

You'll be glad you got the scrubber...they really do work incredibly well.