$50 DIY Activated Charcoal Filter - Works Great!

potpimp

Sector 5 Moderator
My plants are about a month old now and for the last week or so it's been getting scary stinky in my house. I could not put it off any longer so last night I went to Wal-Marx and picked up some items to do a DIY carbon filter for my grow tent.

My grow tent is also a DIY, 30" x 54" x 76" framed with 1x2's and panda film stapled to it. These are mother plants and I want them short and bushy so I'm running T8 "Hi Bay" industrial lights, 6 x 4', 3500K.

Shopping list:
1 bucket with lid $1.31 (sign said $4.44 but my receipt says $1.31)
1 pack of activated charcoal (in the aquarium section) $6.68
1 spatter screen (in the kitchen gadgets section) $3.97
1 Honeywell "Turbo Force Power" fan $25. (Wal-Marx was out so I got it at Fred Meyers)
You'll also need a little duct tape.

Cut the bottom out of the bucket, all around the edges. I used a pocket knife and it only took a couple of minutes and no mess.

Turn fan on low and place it, face down, in the bottom of the bucket, letting the cord hang out the bottom.

Cut the handle off the splatter screen and snip it so that you have a little "give".

Lay the splatter screen in the bucket to see how it fits. You'll be putting some duct tape inside where the splatter screen touches the sides of the bucket (for friction).

Remove the screen and put in duct tape around where the screen fits (6-8" pieces work best).

Lay the screen in place, getting fairly level, then tape it in place with more duct tape.

Pour about half of the activated carbon onto the screen and spread it out evenly.

Hang up the your new rig by the handle, plug it in and prepare to be amazed at how fast the odor disappears.

You don't have to have a lid; the lid is only to keep the charcoal from getting out if you move it or store it, otherwise you won't use it.

Oh, and don't bust my balls about the plants; I know they have Mg deficiency but I didn't have any epsom salts until I got some last night. :weed:

I'll move this thread to the DIY section after it gets buried but I'll leave a permanent linkback to it.
 

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potpimp

Sector 5 Moderator
WTF??? Somebody puts a damn thread on here about his f'ing booger collection and gets more views and replies than something worthwhile. Sheesh, you are some sick mofos! :)
 

potpimp

Sector 5 Moderator
hmmn, very interesting take on a common problem. And this really works? no mo smelly ?
It's not as effective as the little $20 ionic balls I used to use but it does a very good job. At least the smell is localized to the bedroom now.
 

indagroove

Well-Known Member
I'm confused. The thread title says $50, but it looks like it only cost you $37. I would like to modify this further and put some kind of reducer on the top of the bucket, down to 6" ducting. That way you could easily use it as a vent fan/scrubber. Could prolly do that with the extra $13.
 

potpimp

Sector 5 Moderator
I'm confused. The thread title says $50, but it looks like it only cost you $37. I would like to modify this further and put some kind of reducer on the top of the bucket, down to 6" ducting. That way you could easily use it as a vent fan/scrubber. Could prolly do that with the extra $13.
Actually, you are right about the math and you can probably get things cheaper in the lower 48 than here in Alaska. There are many ways to make one of these to fit your particular fan size; but I would not put a reducer on it because it would add a lot of extra stress to your fan. I have a 6" inline fan (in storage in Cali) that I paid nearly $150 for and it's super loud.
 

potpimp

Sector 5 Moderator
After being in my grow tent for 3 days, I can safely say this thing is working great. It has totally removed the smell in the room and even when I open the door there is no odor. I have more activated charcoal left so I'm going to make myself a DIY "Smoke Buddy".
 
Great job with the filter looks awesome. I won't be making one as I don't currently need another carbon filter, but the theory is sound and should work. I will figure out how to +rep and pass the love. Great job helping the community. Keep it up.!!
 

bigv1976

Well-Known Member
WTF??? Somebody puts a damn thread on here about his f'ing booger collection and gets more views and replies than something worthwhile. Sheesh, you are some sick mofos! :)
I am not sure why you would want to spend $50 on a diy filter when you can buy the real thing for the same money.
 

supchaka

Well-Known Member
My only question is what you're smelling? If those pictured plants are all you have going they shouldn't smell at all yet.
 
I am not sure why you would want to spend $50 on a diy filter when you can buy the real thing for the same money.
You can always go out and buy one for 50$ or so but.. in the long run this idea cost u less as most filters ARE NOT REFILLABLE ( although they can be easily with the right tools.). The price of activated carbon is 10 - 12 $ around my parts for a gallon jug or more. Also just a thought but adding mixed potpourri or moth balls to the carbon would add to the scrubbers effectiveness.

Great luck growing all , stay safe, peace
 

bigv1976

Well-Known Member
You can always go out and buy one for 50$ or so but.. in the long run this idea cost u less as most filters ARE NOT REFILLABLE ( although they can be easily with the right tools.). The price of activated carbon is 10 - 12 $ around my parts for a gallon jug or more. Also just a thought but adding mixed potpourri or moth balls to the carbon would add to the scrubbers effectiveness.

Great luck growing all , stay safe, peace
Ok I guess I can see that point.
 

alley.walker

Active Member
Dude, that's friggen genius if you ask me! I need to do this... I have one 4" inline but I'm looking to do several auto flowers aside from the main bitch. This would be perfect! Thanks for the great job and detail you put in to this bro.
 

potpimp

Sector 5 Moderator
I am not sure why you would want to spend $50 on a diy filter when you can buy the real thing for the same money.
Actually it was only $36 total, but where can you buy one for $50?
My only question is what you're smelling? If those pictured plants are all you have going they shouldn't smell at all yet.
LOL, you would just have to be here; these stanky little gals are reeking. I left the tent door open today so they could be a lot cooler and I could smell them as soon as I opened the front door to the house!

Dude, that's friggen genius if you ask me! I need to do this... I have one 4" inline but I'm looking to do several auto flowers aside from the main bitch. This would be perfect! Thanks for the great job and detail you put in to this bro.
Thanks Alley, my pleasure!!
 

bigtony

Member
hey thats a good setup but i was wondering you must have already figured out the diameter of fan to do that with . Because any fan won't fit in a bucket i see it fits in the bucket just perfectly . Care to say what size fan to use cause it seems very simple to make just incase someone don't have a clue ?
 

potpimp

Sector 5 Moderator
Hey Tony, welcome to RIU!! I'm not sure what size it is; I just know that most, if not all 5 gal buckets are the same size and this brand / model fits perfectly. I would call around to see if your stores have it. I got mine at Fred Meyers because Wal-Marx didn't have any fans at all except for the big box fans.
 

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maineyankee

Active Member
Thanks so very much PotPimp for the DIY Idea ... I know that some ppl say that you could just go out and purchase one for the same amount of coinage ... But ... Some of us on here like to be McGuyvers and build our own ( I know that is 25% of the fun of growing !) ... Again, Thanks for the knowledge base and best of luck with your grow(s) :-) +rep'd also :-)

Peace and Love
The MaineYankee
 
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