What is a carbon filter?
Carbon filters are a type of air filter that uses a mineral to catch particles. Usually, carbon filters are cylindrical because they provide the most surface area, and they are added to your tent’s ventilation system.
How do carbon filters work?
Carbon filters are essentially containers filled with activated carbon, which has a lot of small pores that, when air is forced through them, catch scent particles. The carbon is “activated” by giving it an electrical charge similar to static electricity that makes the pores “stickier,” meaning scent molecules are far more likely to be caught as they pass through. The surface area of one gram of activated carbon can reach 3000 square meters so there is a lot of surface area available to catch odor and impurities.
Carbon filters don’t require any extra equipment to set up, you just need to connect it to your ventilation system and turn your fan on. You’ll want to organize your ventilation system to pull air fromyour tent and through the carbon filter before it exits the ventilation system if your goal is to remove smells emanating from inside the tent.
Why are carbon filters useful?
In theory, carbon filters are not necessary—you can run your grow tent perfectly without ever needing to use one. But during the actual growing process, our experience has been that a lot of indoor gardeners prefer using filters because they help eliminate smells and keep some balance in your separate environments. Even if you can tolerate the smell, your neighbors or family may not.
Should I set up it inside or outside?
Like all parts of growing, when you set up your carbon filter you’ll come to another decision: should you set up the filter inside or outside of the tent? There’s no perfect place, but we recommend placing the filter at the beginning of the ductingroute to keep the entire setup inside the grow tent.
There are two main advantages to doing this, one is to prevent the odor from escaping from the grow tent to the greatest extent possible, and the second is that the smell and high-temperature air can be pulled out of the grow tent at the same time through ventilation equipment.
The alternative setup is to have the carbon filter at the end of the ducting route (usually outside of the tent), so you will be pulling air from inside the tent, through the fan, through the ducting, and then forcing it out through the filter. The downside of this setup is that you cannot “prefilter” particles out—carbon filters often come with a fabric prefilter that catches larger particles and keeps them out of your system entirely.
Regardless, if you choose to add a carbon filter to your ventilation system, you’ll notice that you’re required to create negative air pressure (so that air is being removed from the tent) because you’ll need to force the air through the filter at some point, and it does not make sense to filter fresh air into the tent (unless you are growing in some moldy environment). Keep this in mind when setting up your ventilation system, and as always, we recommend that you keep one of your ventilation ports on your tent open to help equalize pressure.
How to set up carbon filters in your grow tent?
Carbon filters are usually hung in the upper space inside the tent. Check out this mini guide to setting up yours:
- Choose an exhaust fan with compatible CFM (cubic feet per minute) and duct diameter.
- Pass the ducting through the ducting ports on the side of the tent (either side, whichever is convenient for you).
- Connect the ducting left inside the tent to the outlet of the fan, and secure it with tape.
- Connect the carbon filter to the air inlet of the fan.
- Place the full set up in the space above the tent and secure it to the tent frame with tape, string, a rope ratchet hanger, zip ties, or any way you can.
Wrap-Up
While carbon filters aren’t required for a tent, they really help with improving the general environment as you continue to grow—it may or may not be something you encounter depending on how you have your space set up but it can make a big improvement in livability.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us!
And be sure to check out our other blog posts for useful tips on becoming a great grower!
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FAQs
The answer to that question is a resounding yes! Carbon filters are the best option for keeping the smell from your growing area out of your house and away from your neighbors. More importantly, they're the best way to make sure even the freshest air is used by your plants to grow.
Is a carbon filter enough? ›
Carbon air filters can be effective at filtering VOCs from the air. These are gaseous substances that most other mechanical filters like HEPA filters, cannot touch. Some of the gases in cigarette smoke or those given off by drying paint or cleaning products can be removed from the air by a carbon filter.
When should I use my carbon filter? ›
Cooking, pets, smoke, mildew and cleaning products may not seem to be related, but they all have something in common: the ability to stink up our homes, and potentially contaminate the air we breathe. If you're struggling to get rid of strong odors, an activated carbon air filter may be the way to go.
Should I run my carbon filter 24/7? ›
Its not about completely eliminating them, but more so minimizing & masking them. You can try leaving your carbon filter running 24/7, but this can mess with the environment and suck all the moisture from the room.
Can I grow without a carbon filter? ›
In theory, carbon filters are not necessary—you can run your grow tent perfectly without ever needing to use one. But during the actual growing process, our experience has been that a lot of indoor gardeners prefer using filters because they help eliminate smells and keep some balance in your separate environments.
How long does a carbon filter last in a grow room? ›
Another frequently asked question is “how long do carbon filters last in grow tents?” The general recommendation is to replace a carbon filter after a maximum of 24 months. This is the case in perfect warm and dry conditions, while colder and more humid weather will require a new filter within 12-24 months.
What is better than a carbon filter? ›
Carbon filtration alone, however, will not remove viruses, arsenic, fluoride or dissolved solids. Reverse osmosis systems have the ability to filter out much smaller elements compared to carbon filters.
What are the cons of activated carbon filter? ›
Can't remove all contaminants: Activated carbon is highly effective at removing a set group of contaminants, but it can't be used to completely purify air and water. Some chemicals and pollutants aren't attracted to carbon media, which means other filtration techniques may be needed.
Are carbon filters worth the money? ›
Pros and Cons of a Carbon air filter
It quickly removes chemicals and smoke from the air. There are no harmful pollutants released. This product is highly recommended for those with several chemical sensitivities. It gets rid of household odors from waste, pets, cleaning products, and smoke.
Where is the best place to put a carbon filter? ›
The Most Recommended Location
We recommend installing your carbon filter at the beginning of your ducting route. That is, placing it inside of your grow tent where your ductwork begins. This is a common set up, especially among those who use metal halide or HPS grow lights with duct ports.
Hold the middle of the carbon filter up to your nose (within 1-3cm) and smell the carbon filter. If you smell a sour, acidic or chemical smell, then this means your carbon filter is saturated and should be replaced.
How to use a carbon filter in a grow tent? ›
Secure the carbon filter assembly and duct it to the vent hole of the grow tent so that the air will be pulled from the tent via the negative pressure created by the fans and then pushed through the carbon bed of the filter and out.
Do carbon filters work for grow rooms? ›
More than odor removal, a carbon filter provides benefits to your crops. Cannabis plants are sensitive and prefer warm, humid climates. Pathogens, mold, and fungi also prefer these types of climates. A carbon filter will scrub air from the outside to keep your grow room safe from damage.
What size carbon filter do I need for my grow room? ›
To calculate the required airflow, divide the volume of your grow room by the desired air exchange rate. For example, if your grow room volume is 72 cubic feet and you want a 3-minute air exchange rate, you would divide 72 by 3, giving you a required airflow of 24 cubic feet per minute.
How often should I circulate air in a grow tent? ›
Air in your grow area should be exchanged at least every 5 minutes. If you are using a grow tent that is 5' x 5' x 6' this is 150 sq/ft of air. For optimal airflow, you need a filter and fan that can move between 30 and 60 cubic feet per minute (CFM).
Is CO2 worth it in a grow room? ›
Increasing the amount of CO2 in the air for your grow space, can help cannabis plants and promote faster growth and productivity. This is in part due to photosynthesis being directly linked to the amount of CO2 available to the plant.
Should I use carbon filter in planted tank? ›
The (permanent) use of activated carbon as a filter mediumin a planted aquarium, which is fed with liquid fertilizers according to the plants' needs, doesn't make much sense. Although the activated carbon ensures clear water, it unfortunately also binds metals that are important nutrients for the plants.
Do carbon filters help plants grow? ›
Airborne pathogens and pests can have a detrimental effect on your plants, causing diseases and hindering growth. Carbon filters contribute to a healthy grow environment by minimizing the risk of such infestations, thereby promoting plant health and productivity.
Do I need a carbon block filter? ›
Overall, carbon block is a better choice in water filtration applications becauseit is highly effective in removing contaminants, its low relative cost, compact size, use of renewable resources, small form factor, and resistance to bacteria growth.
