Carbon Filters

Everything about activated carbon filters in the grow area - the best activated carbon filters for your grow box

Activated carbon filters are essential for indoor growing to prevent odors and scents from flowering plants in your home. As a small plant develops into a mature plant, depending on the species, intense odors can occur. High-quality grow activated carbon filters can reliably filter these out of the exhaust air of your grow box. The activated carbon in the AKF has the finest pores, which allows organic molecules to be filtered out of the air. Thus, only clean indoor air flows from the exhaust system into your home. Scents and odors are permanently bound within the activated carbon in the grow AKF. We compare the best manufacturers and give you helpful tips to ensure your activated carbon filter absorbs odor 100%.

How do activated carbon filters work in the grow box?

Unsaturated activated carbon is a very fine-pored carbon that can adsorb organic substances by trapping odor molecules in its pores. To completely neutralize odors with an activated carbon filter, the air saturated with aromas must pass entirely through the grow AKF. To ensure that all exhaust air is filtered during indoor growing, planning and correct installation of an exhaust system with a grow AKF is mandatory.

Installation of the activated carbon filter in the grow box for odor filtering

Grow box activated carbon filters are usually installed inside the grow box before the fan at the top. When purchasing the right activated carbon filter, make sure that the flange diameter of the fan matches the flange of the grow activated carbon filter. Once the exhaust fan is turned on, a negative pressure is created within the exhaust system, and air is extracted from the grow box. The exhaust air flows through the perforated plate and through the tightly filled activated carbon bed. When particles come into contact with the surface of the fine-pored activated carbon (and they do with sufficient performance), they are bound in the activated carbon bed. Saturated activated carbon can no longer absorb any further substances and should be replaced.

Which activated carbon filter size fits my grow box?

The larger the activated carbon filter, the more volume of air it can filter. Before purchasing, you should compare how many cubic meters of air your fan can transport per hour (m³/h). For the activated carbon filter to reliably bind all odors, the filter performance must be at least equal to the performance of the exhaust fan in the grow box. Regarding the filling of the activated carbon bed: the more varied the pore size and the larger the inner surface, the better odorants of any kind can be bound in the activated carbon. The filter performance of the activated carbon filter also depends on how densely activated carbon pellets are packed inside the activated carbon bed.

Installing Activated Carbon Filter and Exhaust - How to Install Your Activated Carbon Filter in the Grow Box

Usually, grow activated carbon filters are installed as the first element in the ventilation system inside the grow box, right in front of the fan. When buying an activated carbon filter, you should therefore make sure that the connection diameter of the fan matches the connection diameter of the AKF Grow. For various reasons, however, an installation outside the grow box behind the fan can also be useful. This can be the case if, for example, there are space problems in the grow box (the grow LED lamp still needs to be hung higher) or the activated carbon in the filter is overloaded due to high humidity inside the box. With a suitable exhaust hose, you can essentially determine the position of the activated carbon filter and connect the individual elements of the exhaust system.

The Best Activated Carbon Filters for Grow Projects - AKF Grow Comparison

In our broadly diversified online grow shop, we offer mini activated carbon filters for small grow boxes as well as those for large indoor farms. Our Drehandel team has years of experience and selects only proven equipment for the grow shop that delivers on its promises. We present the best activated carbon filters for Groxbox projects in a brief comparison:

Rhino Pro Activated Carbon Filters for Grow Box Exhaust Systems

Activated carbon filters from our top brand Rhino Pro have been optimized for use in the grow area and are characterized by their extremely high filtering performance. Thanks to the machine-packed activated carbon bed, the filter systems can reliably remove odors from up to 4250 m³/h. The inner and outer perforated sheets of the grow activated carbon filters are 51% air permeable, and a conically shaped base plate ensures even airflow. If you want to take off professionally after your first grow attempts and raise high-yielding plants, an activated carbon filter from the Pro series is the right choice.

Special features at a glance:

• High filter performance through machine-packed RC-412 activated carbon granules
• Even airflow through conical base plates and open perforated sheets
• Thick 50 mm activated carbon bed

Industry Line Prima Klima Activated Carbon Filters for Large Indoor Grow Projects

With activated carbon filters from the Prima Klima Industry series, you can keep the exhaust air of indoor greenhouses and closed grow rooms odor-free permanently. In the 40 mm deep activated carbon bed made of high-quality virgin activated carbon, odor molecules remain completely trapped thanks to the optimal contact time, even under heavy load. Professional growers with several plants can also get large cultivation systems odor-free with Prima Klima activated carbon filters.

Special features at a glance:

• Replaceable pre-filter fleece is standard for all activated carbon filters from the Industry Line
• The long-lasting filters provide enough filter performance to be installed in high-performance ventilation systems
• Saturated activated carbon can be easily replaced

Can-Filters Lite and Can-Filters Original Activated Carbon Filter Series

International manufacturer Can-Filters has been equipping indoor grow beginners and professionals for over 30 years. Gaseous contaminants of all kinds can be filtered from the air with the market leader's Grow activated carbon filter systems. With a 2.5-inch thick activated carbon bed (approximately 6.35 cm), the Can-Filters Original series tops other filter systems of comparable size. Activated carbon filters for exhaust air from the Can-Filters Lite series are characterized by their relatively low total weight, comparable performance, and excellent price-performance ratio. Growbox activated carbon filters from the Lite series are filled with 100% activated carbon granulate from Australian coal, which is characterized by its open pore structure and good adsorption performance.

Key features at a glance:

• Manufacturer from Vancouver/Washington with 30 years of experience in the grow and industrial sector
• Original series with 63.5 mm thick activated carbon bed
• Lite series with low overall weight and natural carbon granulate for optimal odor binding

Frequently asked questions about activated carbon filters in the grow box

Which activated carbon filter is suitable for my fan?

How large the fan and activated carbon filter for your grow box should be depends on the volume of the box and the question of how often the air inside should be exchanged. This depends on the heat development and thus significantly on the type of lighting. An LED grow lamp generates significantly less heat than a sodium vapor lamp. As a rule of thumb, the total air in the plant space should be exchanged 100 to 120 times per hour. For a 100x100x200cm grow box with LED lighting, the fan should have a minimum output of 220 m³/h and the activated carbon filter should have the same flange diameter and be designed for the corresponding air flow.

How can I reliably avoid odors with an activated carbon filter?

The door of a grow box with an activated carbon filter should only be opened for gardening and should always remain locked so that no odors can escape through air slots. The air intake openings should also only be opened so far that there is always a certain negative pressure in the grow box. In case the filter performance is no longer sufficient or decreases due to lush flowering or saturation of the activated carbon, you should always have a spare activated carbon filter on hand. In theory, it is also conceivable to install two activated carbon filters in front of and behind the fan. However, keep in mind that the airflow generated by the air resistance of the second activated carbon filter will be reduced to a certain extent.

What care do activated carbon filters need in the grow area?

By treating them gently and taking proper care, you can significantly extend the lifespan of grow activated carbon filters. The more contaminants the activated carbon filter filters in the grow box, the faster the activated carbon loses its filter performance, and the filter must be replaced. Smoke, fragrances, food odors, and other air contaminants saturate activated carbon as well as plant aromas. When purchasing, pay attention to an integrated dust protection and choose a model with a thick activated carbon bed to extend the life. In addition, regular cleaning of the pre-filter fleece is recommended. High humidity also significantly reduces the life of the activated carbon filter in the grow room and should be avoided. Make sure that no water splashes reach the activated carbon during installation and use of the filter.

How can I dispose of activated carbon filters?

Molecules that get stuck in the activated carbon do not come out again. Activated carbon filters with saturated filling, therefore, become unusable. You can dispose of simple grow activated carbon filters in the residual waste.