Brita water filters = cheap carbon filters?

svchop889

Well-Known Member
this is something I am curious about those brita replacement cartridges that you can buy for 20$ at wall mart. Well there made from activated charcoal. What i was wondering is if anyone thinks it would be worth the time to make something that would push air through 4 of them and weather or not they would be capable of hiding the smell of one plant in a Rubbermaid. They would be easy to replace and fairly cheap
 

DND

Well-Known Member
really no one thinks this is a good idea or wants to see it done?
I would get creative, buy some activated charcoal and create a DIY filter. Look around the DIY section for ideas or Google them for a basic design. By the time you spend $80 on those 4 filters you could probably make 3-4 times as many.
 

svchop889

Well-Known Member
14oz of activated charcoal is 8$ then add the cost of the other materials and your time if that's worth anything to you and I think the brita filters end up being cheaper.
 

retardigraded

Active Member
You need way more charcoal that's in those itty bitty filters to make a decent carbon scrubber. There's a DIY carbon scrubber (in the DIY section) you can make from pencil holders and such that'll cost around $30 and work much better for you.
 

svchop889

Well-Known Member
Im only growing one small plant and I would be using all four at the same time. still would only cost 20$ theres at least 6oz in each one 4x 6=24oz i think that's enough for one plant
 

retardigraded

Active Member
Oh you've got one plant? Hmm...maybe that'll be alright.

Are you planning on making four little scrubbers or hooking them all together?
 

svchop889

Well-Known Member
I was planning on something with PVC in a square with tubes going up like an upside down table. then attach the filters to those tubes have the fan be in the center, I'm not sure whether i should push or pull the air through them though i know a picture would be better but I havent made it yet
 

svchop889

Well-Known Member
if I pull air through i was thinking i could also cover the fan with a screen and make a container with lots of holes in it that could hold some ona for when things get really stinky. im only 20 days along in veg and i can already smell the fucker outside of my Rubbermaid container
 

retardigraded

Active Member
The instructions that came with my carbon filter said it was better to pull the air than push it. It's hard for me to visualize the filter you described. Just remember that the air will flow through the path of least resistance--that, is it will flow around rather than through your carbon filters (and even make little air tunnels through your individual bits of carbon if it's not packed right) whenever possible. So if your pvc square thingy has any air space or leaks it will greatly reduce effectiveness. You're putting the brita filters inside the pvc square, right? If so, you could try "great stuff" expanding insulating foam (like $6) and cut off the chunks that expand around the holes in your brita filters.

Definitely buy that ona in case the smell gets too potent. I'm 100% for having spare chemical odor control. I even tell all my friends who smoke to keep some ozium on hand just in case of an emergency. $9 could save your life someday!
 

svchop889

Well-Known Member
I planed on using that blue pvc glue and make everything airtight i'll try to make an illustration and post it up tomorrow until i can get an actual picture up
 
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