Yo, what’s good? My name is Dan and I’m here to teach you how to keep your cannabis grow room on the low-low. You know what I’m talking about – nosey neighbors, landlords or even family members who might not be all about that herb life. Well, fear not my fellow cultivators, because I’m about to drop some knowledge on how you can use carbon filters to eliminate those pungent aromas and keep your grow private.
Alright, let’s start with the basics. Carbon filters are a piece of equipment that are crucial for any indoor cultivation set up. They’re used in air conditioning and furnaces to capture contaminants while allowing clean air to pass through. But for us growers, the contaminants we’re focused on are those aromatic terpenes. Don’t get me wrong, we love the smell of our buds, but it can be a dead giveaway for what’s going on behind closed doors. That’s where carbon filters come in – they feature layers of activated carbon that capture and remove those stinky terps from the air.
So, how do these filters work? It’s all about adsorption – the adhesion of molecules to a surface. The activated carbon has a greatly enhanced surface area, which allows it to capture airborne terpenes while letting other molecules pass through. To make sure all those terpenes pass through the filter, growers need to create a vacuum in the grow space with an exhaust fan that matches the requirements of the carbon filter being used. This will force all of the terpene-rich air through the filter, preventing any from leaking out of your grow tent. By attaching ducting to the external outlet of the exhaust fan, growers can direct odorless air out of the nearest window or ventilation shaft.
Now you might be wondering where to put your carbon filter in your grow room. Typically, carbon filters are suspended just below the ceiling of a grow tent. You’ll want to connect your filter to an exhaust fan that features a compatible CFM (cubic feet per minute) and duct diameter. Once they’re firmly secured together using airstrip or duct tape, hang the setup from the roof bars of your grow tent as high up as possible so that it’s sucking air directly from above your plants. Connect ducting to the outlet of the exhaust fan and secure with duct tape, then feed the opposite end of the ducting through a designated hole on the side of your grow tent so that it can direct air outside.
So that’s how you use a carbon filter in your grow room, but have you ever thought about making your own? Not only will this save you money, but it will also help you become a more independent cultivator. Here’s what you’ll need:
A roll of aluminium screen or chicken wire
PVC cleanout cap and PVC adaptor of the same diameter
Dryer vent hose
Roll of duct tape
Role of quilt batting
Laundry basket (ideally one with a lid)
Activated carbon
To make your own carbon filter at home follow these steps:
Create a tube out of your chicken wire or aluminium screen that matches the diameter of the PVC cleanout cap.
Insert cap into one end and secure it in place using duct tape.
Place tube into laundry basket with open end facing upwards.
Trim tube down so it’s same height as rim of basket.
Remove tube from basket and insert PVC adaptor into open end.
Seal PVC adaptor securely in place with duct tape.
Wrap two layers of quilt batting around tube.
Fold more batting in same manner and form a double layer around walls of laundry basket.
Place tube into center of basket with PVC adaptor facing upwards.
Add more batting to walls until a 3cm gap remains between tube and basket walls.
Fill in gap with activated carbon.
Cover top of basket with more double-layered batting and cut out a hole over PVC adaptor.
Attach one end of dryer hose to cleanout cap and attach other end to exhaust fan.
Boom! You’ve just made your own carbon filter! But wait, when should you change it? All carbon filters have a set lifespan – on average, your DIY filter should keep the air clean for around two years. However, if there’s suddenly an increase in aromatic terpenes outside of your grow tent then it’s time for a filter change. Simply remove the lid and exchange spent carbon with fresh load.
So there you have it folks – how to use and even make your own carbon filter for your cannabis grow room. Keep those smells on lock and stay stealthy! Happy growing!