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Best Carbon Filter

Last Updated: October 10, 2023
Roy Stevens
Product Review by Roy Stevens

What is the best carbon filter?

If you’ve clicked on this article you’ve probably been asking yourself that very same question, or even,  is it even necessary to incorporate a carbon filter into my grow room?

Well, the chances are you want to keep your grow room discreet, as well as odorless, which in turn will not only keep YOU happy, but most importantly your NEIGHBOURS happy, and hopefully unaware…

Maybe your grow operation requires a 4-6-inch carbon filter? What about an Aluminum or steel frame? What about the flange, mesh, or CFM!

As you probably already aware, these features and more all play a big role in the performance of your carbon filter. Regardless of if you use it in a grow tent or full grow room.

So If you’re looking to learn a bit more about carbon air filters or maybe searching for the best carbon filter for your grow room, then keep on reading.

Our Reviews
1

AC Infinity Carbon Filter

Here we have affordable, yet premium carbon filter for grow rooms & tents by AC Infinity. Designed to eliminate odors and chemicals for grow tent setups and larger grow rooms.

The AC Infinity carbon filter features premium-grade Australian charcoal with a higher absorption and longer life rating.

Build quality wise the AC Infinity contains heavy-duty stainless steel flanges, aluminum meshing, and clothed pre-filter.

This really is an excellent carbon filter from AC Infinity and offers indoor cannabis cultivators an alternative to what’s already out there.

The 6-inch model enables maximum airflow passthrough for both intake and exhaust configurations and has a duct Opening of 6”, is 16″ in length with a thickness of 60mm as well as featuring Australian RC412 at 1200+ IAV.

Pros

  • Quality build
  • Australian RC412 at 1200+ IAV
  • Premium-grade charcoal
  • 6 inch air carbon filter
  • Competitively priced
  • Well-known brand
  • Highly rated

Cons

  • Short product life with some models
  • AC Infinity do not presently sell replacement pre-filters
2

Terrabloom Carbon Filter

First on our list is an impressive 6 inch carbon filter that, made by the company Terrabloom.

Whether a beginner or experienced grower, at some point along the way you’ll eventually hear the name Terrabloom.

They’re a well known trusted brand, and to be honest you can’t really go wrong when choosing a carbon filter made by Terrabloom.

In the 6″ premium carbon filter model you’ve got exceptional build quality and excellent materials used throughout. With the added bonus of a 90-day warranty if anything goes wrong or is not up to standard.

Terrabloom only uses top grade RC-48 charcoal carbon throughout all their carbon filters, which is usually sourced from Western Australia.

The bed in this particular Terrabloom carbon filter is an impressive 46mm thick, added to this it’s been machine packed with extremely small granules.

That adds a massive 15% more carbon than what is normally seen in most carbon beds of economy grade filters currently on the market today.

As well as the above, this filter is rated up to 550 CFM, 1.8″ (46mm) RC-4/8 virgin carbon bed. Which is effective for up to 24 months of continuous use.

This particular Terrabloom filter has a 6″ duct opening and is 24″ length, it also includes 2 machine-washable pre-filters in black & white. All in all, it’s a top-quality 6″ carbon filter.

Pros

  • Quality brand & build
  • Top rated
  • 90-day warranty with the big online retailers
  • Carbon filter odor control when combined with a grow tent inline fan
  • Only top grade carbon used
  • Good price

Cons

  • Connecting the filter can be troublesome
3

Phresh Carbon Filter

Phresh are a popular brand, that amongst other growing tools, manufacture high-quality carbon filters. Phresh Carbon Filters are competitively priced, last twice as long, are half the weight, and have the largest selection of filters to choose from.

Purchasing a Phresh carbon filter will ensure the atmosphere of your grow room or tent is thoroughly cleansed and free from foreign particles, dust, odors, and organic compounds. The carbon filters that are manufactured by Phresh are professional-grade systems that are used in research labs, indoor gardening, plant breeding, tissue culture, backyard & commercial gardening.

Phresh carbon filters are the only filters to use Pro -4/8 Premium Grade Carbon rather than 4/12, which performs better odor elimination and air scrubbing. The Premium Grade Carbon also increases the life cycle to an impressive 24 months!

All Phresh products are machine-packed, which is perfect for carbon filters because it positively affects their density. The top and the bottom of the Phresh filters are made from aluminum which provides a lightweight construction. Thanks to its composition, this carbon filter has been tested and proven to eliminate 99.9% of pollen, mold, bugs, and dust! Additionally, the entire body is coated in an open-air custom mesh that provides the best filtration and maximum airflow.

The inside of the Phresh Carbon Air Filter contains RC-48 Australian activated carbon which is highly absorbent thanks to its porous surface. Phresh’s partnership with Australia’s best carbon grading lab allows for independent batch testing for every filter, offering the consumer complete peace of mind!

To ensure the best filtration, all Phresh Carbon Air Filters have a high-quality pre-filter and the internal base is cone-shaped for better airflow.

The Phresh Carbon Air Filter maintains an airflow of 90% at all times by means of patent pleating. If you’re environmentally conscious, you’ll be pleased to hear that all Phresh carbon filters are comprised of 90% recycled materials.

All Phresh carbon filter models are packed and sealed tightly to provide “ultimate freshness” to ensure that they have the longest life spans possible.

This is amongst the best on the market. Not only does Phresh offer a lighter build than their competitors, but their lower weight allows them to mount onto smaller grow tents.

Pros

  • Certified virgin carbon bed inside
  • Top rated
  • Well known brand
  • Sealed & boxed directly after being manufactured
  • Custom mesh 51% open air
  • Competitively priced

Cons

  • Some units not as advertized
  • Short lifespan
  • Damaged items upon opening
  • Odors still noticeable
4

CarboAir Carbon Filter

A relatively unknown in the USA, the CarboAir carbon filter is one of the most respected and trusted brands by UK growers. Hand made in Europe, CarboAir has a fairly large catalog of filters, ranging in size from 100mm x 300mm up to 350mm x 1000m. The CarboAir is one of the most effective filters for clearing organic compounds (nasty smells) that your cannabis plants produce.

With years of experience producing high-quality, cost-effective carbon filters, CarboAir is a safe bet for any cultivator requiring complete discreetness.

Featuring a deep 50mm bed of virgin activated carbon, and delivering a fantastic airflow rate, whilst at the same time reducing pressure on the fan. The CarboAir sits among the top carbon filters for growers.

The CarboAir carbon filter has been designed in conjunction with Systemair so ensures maximum efficiency.

Why Are CarboAir Carbon Filters Different From Other Filters?

The pre-filter in the CarboAir range is noticeably thicker than most other brands, which is ideal for catching unwanted particles whilst increasing the lifespan of the unit.

Ease of sustainability is another strong point for the CarboAir, completely machine washable, the filter outlasts many other branded filters on the market

The mesh housing features much smaller holes than its many competitors. The benefit of having a design like this is the Carboair has much better airflow and there is no need for a fabric mesh material.

CarboAir uses a granular based, activated virgin carbon compared to the heavier and pelletized carbon used by competitors. The granules in CarboAir carbon filter are slightly larger and much coarser, this is all without compromising on the removal of VOC’s and achieving better airflow overall.

Featuring a unique flange that ensures the bed is always stable and no air passes through the filter without hitting the carbon. A ring of material is compressed against the flange and the carbon bed, eliminating the worry of smells from escaping whilst attaining an airtight seal.

CarboAir 50 Filters feature a huge 50mm bed that allows for a much greater contact time with the carbon and removes nasty smells more efficiently.

All in all, you can’t go far wrong when choosing a CarboAir carbon filter for your grow room.

Pros

  • Top Rated
  • Great Build Quality
  • Multiple Sizes
  • Discreet Packaging
  • Great for the More Secretive Grower

Cons

  • A Relatively Unknown to Many USA Cultivators
5

IPOWER Carbon Filter

Ipower is one of the leading manufacturers of grow equipment, supplying gardeners worldwide for over a decade! From hobbyists to commercial applications, Ipower offers a broad spectrum of garden tools and equipment in hydroponics, irrigation, climate control, and structures to help your garden thrive.

The IPOWER Carbon Filter carbon filter is perfect for eliminating the odor coming from your precious plants. Those dank buds won’t know what to do with all the fresh air. This Ipower carbon filter is also known to have a 53% open area.

This is important because it increases the airflow rate and delivers faster odor elimination. We know that you will really enjoy the extra thick premium carbon filter on this model.

This new and improved Ipower specialized carbon filter features a top-quality 1050 + IAV Australia Virgin Charcoal with absorbent effectiveness and has exceptional odor control and an impressive lifespan thanks to its durable prefilter that prevents blockages. The aluminum construction weighs 50% less than most of its competitors and is easy to set up!

It’s worth noting that the Ipower 4-Inch Air Carbon Filter comes with a prefilter that must be stretched so that dust particles don’t block off the airflow.

Overall, whether you’re a regular gardener or simply a hobbyist, the exceptional Ipower brand offers a wide variety of tools to suit the requirements of your urban garden.

Pros

  • Top rated
  • Well known brand
  • Weighs 50% less with its aluminum construction
  • Good price

Cons

  • Carbon filter odor control not the best
  • Short lifespan
6

Mountain Air Carbon Filter

MountainAir filters are a firm favorite for many UK cultivators and are designed to be long-lasting.

MountainAir’s large-sized units cost less per square inch than smaller ones do while providing an even greater air filtration that saves money on both power costs and time.

These economical and all-around effective cleaners last longer than most of the competition due to increased efficiency in filtering out Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

Mountain Air carbon filters are known for their superior carbon compaction and non-uniform design that allows the maximum tortuosity of airflow through the filter medium. This ensures uniform absorption throughout its entire lifespan, as well as a longer life span because it’s made with durable materials.

Why choose MountainAir?

Supplied with 2 sleeve filters which are hand and machine washable. superior carbon compaction means a longer life and more effective odor removal – not to mention better air quality for your plants.

Pros

  • Highly Rated
  • Well Known UK Brand
  • Good Price

Cons

  • Make Sure to Purchase Only Genuine Mountain Air From Trusted Sellers
7

Red Scorpion Carbon Filter

Red Scorpion filters are another UK favorite, made from the highest quality virgin mined carbon producing a premium product.

The Australian RC412 Carbon is machine-packed to ensure stable and high-quality construction.

This activated carbon has the ability to clean and deodorize air that passes through it, thus working at eliminating particles and odors in your grow room!

Red Scorpion carbon filters are made with an aluminum top and bottom for lightness. The 38mm filter bed features a large exterior mesh that helps to increase the amount of vent holes per square inch, therefore achieving increased airflow.

Pros

  • UK Favorite
  • Highly Rated
  • Multiple Sizes

Cons

  • Not Widely Available in Other Countries
8

Rhino Pro Carbon Filter

The Rhino Pro carbon filter is one of the best in its class for UK growers. Made from premium Australian-mined carbon, it’s tightly packed and sealed into an airflow cylinder with a vortex cone base for maximum transference.

The Rhino filter is smaller and lighter than many other filters on the market, but it still provides excellent filtration for your grow room. It also lasts longer because of its high-porosity carbon.

With a replaceable sleeve that can be replaced when needed to lengthen the lifespan even more! A lifespan much longer than many others out there today who only have an effective life span ranging from 9 months – 18 months max; on average the Rhino Pro carbon filter lasts 2-years.

Pros

  • Well Known UK Brand
  • Highly Rated
  • Multiple Sizes

Cons

  • None
9

VIVOSUN Carbon Filter

The Vivosun Carbon Filter provides high-quality ventilation as the air-borne pathogens are kept out of the grow room, promoting the healthiest environment for your plants.

Similar to other models, the Vivosun 6″ Carbon filter also comes with a pre-filter unit. This pre-filter unit will make sure that the air passing through the filter gets thoroughly cleaned.

The carbon charcoal used in this filter is commonly used in most filters. A unique attribute of this device is that the company Vivosun claims that its device will filter 100% of airflow.

Having a reversible flange means that there are two ways you can use this carbon filter. We also like this 6″ inch carbon filter because it provides great value for the cost and a long two-year lifespan.

Keep in mind, this Vivosun carbon filter requires regular cleaning. Stay up to date with the maintenance to keep your filter in top shape.

The Filter is made of imported Virgin Australian activated charcoal that delivers 100% filtered airflow. The activated charcoal allows each magnetically charged molecule to attract passing molecules, whether they’re impurities or odors.

The 1050+ RC 48 carbon captures three times more air contaminants than average due to the optimal surface area per carbon particle.

This Carbon Filter is incredibly good at protecting the rest of the home from chemical irritants and pungent indoor grow operations. The Carbon Filter’s body is made from galvanized steel and high-quality charcoal, therefore it will work effectively as an exhaust carbon filter or an intake filter.

Also included in the package is a changeable velcro pre-filter and carbon filter belts. This carbon filter also includes a pre-filter wrapped around the unit that ensures the air passing through the unit is properly cleaned. This helps to prolong the usability of the charcoal inside the unit. Additionally, the pre-filter helps to prolong the usable life of the carbon charcoal inside the unit.

The reversible filter flange and base work together to provide a longer lifespan and the inner and outer mesh provides a 53% open area for increased airflow.

Overall, the build quality of this filter is very high and Vivosun includes all the straps that are required to mount the filter, as well as the convenient pre-filter.

With regards to the smell, it’s hard to beat this! If you’re worried about the smell, you should absolutely opt for this 6-inch carbon filter to make sure the aromatic smells from your grow don’t bother anybody!

Pros

  • Australian 1050+ RC 48 activated charcoal
  • Another well known top brand
  • Good price which includes some extras
  • Reversible flange for extended product life
  • Highly rated

Cons

  • Gets clogged in a short time frame
  • Cheap pre-filter
  • Smells can sometimes be noticeable
  • Buyers have reported damaged filters upon delivery

What is Carbon Filtering?

Carbon filtering is a method of filtering which is used to remove contaminants and impurities from the air, using a chemical adsorption process. A bed of carbon is used within the carbon filter to achieve the required results.

A single particle or granule of carbon provides a big enough surface area or pore structure to expose the contaminants to the active sites. Just one gram of activated carbon is thought to have a surface area in excess of 3,000 m2 (32,000 sq ft).

Air carbon filter odor control is known to work via a process called adsorption, whereby contaminants and pollutants in the air are captured and treated inside the pore structure of the carbon substrate.

Activated charcoal carbon filters are extremely effective at removing particles, odors, and such from the air, so are ideal for most indoor grow rooms or grow tents.

Carbon Filters Buyers Guide

Pre-filters – Always look for a carbon filter that comes equipped with pre-filters that will help keep your carbon filter in optimal condition and improve your chosen inline-fan or other air filtration equipment you use within your grow room.

Carbon Quality & Thickness – The thickness of carbon is an important factor in controlling odor because it determines how well the activated charcoal can absorb impurities.

The more expensive options quite often come with a thicker bed of carbon, by nature, this will be better at removing unwanted odors and impurities from your air and therefore have greater effectiveness than less pricey alternatives that have thinner carbon beds.

The higher price tag for those models means you get what you pay for: effective filtration to keep your grow room in top condition!

Build Quality & Durability – Carbon filters that are made from quality durable materials will undoubtedly last longer and deliver better performance. They will also require less maintenance than cheaper, lower-quality counterparts because they don’t need to be replaced or maintained as often (although regular cleaning and upkeep of equipment is always a good idea).

Recap

There you have it, a comprehensive guide to some of the best carbon filters for grow rooms on the market today! Hopefully, this article has helped you choose the best carbon filter for your situation.

But if you’re still unsure, why not click back to our homepage, and have a look through some of our helpful info guides to get a better understanding of what’s needed to maintain a grow operation and achieve the best results.

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