Odor Control - Which Way to Go?

[bigsby]

So I'm gearing up for my first indoor grow. I've got my lumber and drywall and as soon as I knock out a couple more projects around the house I'm clear to build. My grow room will be 5'W x 6'L x 7'H (210 csf) although my actual grow area will be smaller with 6 - 8 plants in a scrog setup. I've been busy accumulating knowledge and have found these boards to be full of wizards and grow-geeks, all very willing to help.

In my situation, odor is the number one concern. It is a basement grow in a house that I own. Everything very secure but I have venting issues. There is no way to vent externally so I will be scrubbing and venting into an adjacent room. In-laws, cleaning lady, and guests are my biggest concern. This needs to be bullet proof and I don't mind spending a little dosh to get it right.

After reading through the tutorials and other stickies here, I was set to go with a 6" inline fan coupled with a carbon scrubber plus an ozonator for redundancy. However, I am wondering if I should just pop for an inline ozone generator. The carbon filter is going to set me back ~$100 to start and then $100 / year for replacements. The 1000 csf ozonator is ~$200 to start. I can get a 6" inline ozone light for $350 which needs replacement bulbs every 2 years at $120. So the inline ozone solution is a bit more to start but less to run year over year. Like I said, cost isn't the determining factor.

My question is, which solution will provide the most reliable, fail proof odor control? Are they similar? Does anyone have experience with the inline ozone controllers? Would someone using a carbon scrubber please comment on their effectiveness? General feedback much appreciated.

bigsby Reviewed by bigsby on 04-14-2010. Odor Control - Which Way to Go? So I'm gearing up for my first indoor grow. I've got my lumber and drywall and as soon as I knock out a couple more projects around the house I'm clear to build. My grow room will be 5'W x 6'L x 7'H (210 csf) although my actual grow area will be smaller with 6 - 8 plants in a scrog setup. I've been busy accumulating knowledge and have found these boards to be full of wizards and grow-geeks, all very willing to help. In my situation, odor is the number one concern. It is a basement grow in a Rating: 5

[mrbigair600]

Odor is always of concern, you dont want the wrong person sticking their nose where it doesn belong! I too am doing a basement grow in my house. My grow room is about the same size, maybe 250csf however just a tad bit bigger. I have a pleated 12x12x12 filter intake from the basement to the outside going to a 450cfm blower fan, ducted. My light hood is one 1000watt vented 8" on both sides with an inline centrifugal fan 800cfm, exhausting to the rest of the basement(my growroom is a plastic tent style). I currrently have 22 flowering beauties at four weeks, smell barely creeps into the basement, none whatsoever in the upstairs house. Its not bammer either this is quality stuff, ranging from White Widow to Blueberry x Cheese. The only odor control I am using is Ona Gel in small dishes around the room. It has a nice aroma and actually works really good when around the ventelation. My airflow is so efficient and high that the smell barely catches wind. Now if I had odor issues I would stick a 8" charcoal K&N style exhaust filter on my hood. Simple is better sometimes, get your ventelation dialed and make sure your room has a good seal.

[Bongojaz]

After reading through the tutorials and other stickies here, I was set to go with a 6" inline fan coupled with a carbon scrubber plus an ozonator for redundancy. However, I am wondering if I should just pop for an inline ozone generator. The carbon filter is going to set me back ~$100 to start and then $100 / year for replacements. The 1000 csf ozonator is ~$200 to start. I can get a 6" inline ozone light for $350 which needs replacement bulbs every 2 years at $120. So the inline ozone solution is a bit more to start but less to run year over year. Like I said, cost isn't the determining factor.
My question is, which solution will provide the most reliable, fail proof odor control? Are they similar? Does anyone have experience with the inline ozone controllers? Would someone using a carbon scrubber please comment on their effectiveness? General feedback much appreciated.

i've never seen a carbon filter that was worth beans that sold for $100.00. hell, a decent 6" fan costs near $250.00-300.00. there's a difference between a carbon filter and a scrubber. usually, a filter is something that is exhausted out of the grow area. a scrubber cleans the air and is exhausted back into the grow area. that's what i like to do. as for an ozone generator, you don't want it exhausting into an area where anyone is going to be breathing. i've never gone the ozone route, but you can't go wrong with carbon filtering.

[bigsby]

Thanks for the input. A few questions below:

I have a pleated 12x12x12 filter intake from the basement to the outside going to a 450cfm blower fan, ducted. My light hood is one 1000watt vented 8" on both sides with an inline centrifugal fan 800cfm, exhausting to the rest of the basement(my growroom is a plastic tent style). [SNIPPET] Now if I had odor issues I would stick a 8" charcoal K&N style exhaust filter on my hood. Simple is better sometimes, get your ventelation dialed and make sure your room has a good seal.

It sounds like most of your exhaust exits the house. That's a pretty big fan you are using. I was planning something considerably smaller. I do not have heat issues. Due to utilities obstructions and a 100 yo poured concrete foundation, I am unable to vent externally. The room will be plenty tight. I'm building from scratch - drywall on wood frame. I'll compound and finish all joints and holes. My original plan was to use a 6" inline fan with a charcoal filter. From your experience, will this do the trick?

i've never seen a carbon filter that was worth beans that sold for $100.00. hell, a decent 6" fan costs near $250.00-300.00. there's a difference between a carbon filter and a scrubber. usually, a filter is something that is exhausted out of the grow area. a scrubber cleans the air and is exhausted back into the grow area. that's what i like to do. as for an ozone generator, you don't want it exhausting into an area where anyone is going to be breathing. i've never gone the ozone route, but you can't go wrong with carbon filtering.

I was concerned about the ozone into the room due to health concerns. Thanks for confirming. Perhaps I wasn't clear. $100 was the cost of the filter only. Not the fan. My preference is to filter out of the room as I will not have any outside air source. Therefore the passive intake will be the only source of "fresh" ish air. As stated, this is not a cost issue for me. Any recommendations on what constitutes a good filter?

[Bongojaz]

even a good filter, a really good filter, costs a few hundred dollars.

[Deejay2163]

I use an Ona dispenser that releases a spray of ona every so often and it completely kills all odors.I was skeptical till I tried it but it works great and it's easy and inexpensive to buy and maintain.

[bigsby]

even a good filter, a really good filter, costs a few hundred dollars.

Really? I have found a few in the $100 - $200 range. I have a 6" inline and although it is rated at 410 cfm, I will use it with a speed controller. Given my small space and very minimal ducting with only the filter to account for, it will never get over 210 cfm and even that is unlikely.

The Phresh Filters are a bit pricy. See:
Carbon Filters - - Phresh Filter 6"x16": 400 CFM

But most can type filters are in the $75 - $125 See:

Hydroempire

High Tech Garden Supply

I'll pop on one of the can filter-33s or something similar but would like to know if one of the more basic type of carbon filters will do the job such as the one from from HydroEmpire listed above.

Just looking for a little confirmation.

[Bongojaz]

i gotta admit bigs, those are some good prices. i bought mine about 3 years ago on e-bay for around $250, it's a mountainair. i have a six inch vortex on top of it, and use them as a scrubber. i use it sparingly in flower only. it doesn't have many hours on it, and seems to still clean very well. it's also re-fillable. but, i hear it's damn near impossible to get the carbon packed well enough for it to really last.

[bigsby]

Wow - those MountainAir filters are pricey. Best I can find is $190 for the 6" variety. I'll spring for one of the higher end units if that is what it takes to get the job done. It's rated for 3 years of use so it should keep me going a good while as I wouldn't use it full time.

I'd love to save a few bucks if I can. Anyone using a cheaper option please chime in!

[EvilCartman]

Wow - those MountainAir filters are pricey. Best I can find is $190 for the 6" variety. I'll spring for one of the higher end units if that is what it takes to get the job done. It's rated for 3 years of use so it should keep me going a good while as I wouldn't use it full time.

I'd love to save a few bucks if I can. Anyone using a cheaper option please chime in!

Depends how handy you are, making one to filter a space that size would cost less than $50. Replacing the activated carbon when it loses effectiveness, less than $20. :thumbsup:

If you go with a store bought unit, refillable or with replaceable cartridges is the way to go. You pay more up front, but come out way ahead in the long run. They aren't hard to re-pack.

One thing you do *not* want to use is a fabric-type (Odor Sok), I found that out the hard way. Worked great,..but not for very long. :wtf: Worst $70 I ever spent.