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Easy DIY Clean Air Intake for the Greenhouse

Hi there everybody!
While I don't yet have a picture to share of this there will be a video in the next week or so, basically once I get paid, showing how I will be putting mine together.  If you already watch my YouTube channels then you will have some idea of just how simple this project will be, otherwise just trust me and know that you can probably do this yourself.
First let's just quickly talk about why you want to make one of these as much as I do, and you already do or you wouldn't be reading this would you?  When it comes to our greenhouses there's usually not a lot that we wouldn't do to keep it safe, clean and producing the best fruit and veggies you could ever hope to tease your friends and neighbours with.  A well running greenhouse is a thing of beauty!  Even a poorly managed one, take mine for example, is capable of some pretty impressive stuff.  Don't get me wrong I try to look after my greenhouse but it was built, and is still managed, on a very tight budget so it lacks in some of the more expensive details.  Such as real windows but let's carry on shall we?
Any greenhouse, no matter how it was built, does a few basic things to help improve our overall gardening experience.  Basically it's all about climate control.  Hmm, that sounds kinda familiar ... anyway, we are regulating the temperature while in total control over the soil, water and air our plants get from that point on.  Playing god if you will.  If we forget to water then those plants are basically screwed.  Forgot to make sure the plant had enough nutrients in your soil, or 'ponics, and they're headed for the compost.  See where I'm going with this?
One of the things I enjoy the most about the artificial environment created by my little greenhouse is the basic level of protection from airborne pollution.  Since I do live in the middle of town, granted it's a smaller town, there is just about as much road pollution here as you can get in town.  As a special bonus we also live directly under the 1 of 2 routes to the local airport so that's a bonus sprinkle from above isn't it?  Then, moving up a bit more, there is also all of those planes leaving the very straight clouds behind them.  You know, the ones you can watch slowly falling and spreading out as they do until they become a haze up above?
Here then is the reason why we both want to make something that can provide our personally managed environments with clean, fresh & moist air at little to no cost.  As always that will depend on what you have laying around.  I, for example, will need to wander off and buy some pipe and fittings that are the right size.  Half inch PVC pipe just isn't going to do it for this project or there would be a video by now!
It's at about this point that I want to thank all those hippies who have worked so hard to make sure the next generation had access to this kind of technology.  Basically what we are going to build a water based filter for forced air.  To use a more relaxed phrasing, we're making a bong bro!  No, really, we kind of are.  So here's the plan, do with it as you will but if it works please post a video to YouTube & share with the whole class.

Bad lighting picture from a video camera, what do you do?
Breaks the 'wall of text' somewhat though ...

Into the lid for a fresh storage tote we will use a hole saw, that's the big circle drill bit that kinda looks like a bent saw blade for those who didn't take shop class, and drill two holes that are just large enough to pass the pipe through.  If you have to push a little that's okay as it will help make for a tighter seal.  You will need to measure and cut 2 lengths of pipe to insert at these locations.  The first should reach almost to the bottom, about 1/2 inch away is good.  The second should just barely go into the lid, 1/2 an inch is more than enough here.  Be aware, as weight is added to the lid it may sag and change these distances so checking from time to time is advised.  Attach the 2 curved 90° fittings to the pipe ends that are sticking out from the top of the project tote facing in whatever direction you like.  Makes no difference yet.  Believe it or not, we're almost done!  Almost.
After finding a suitable location in the greenhouse the tote will need to be positioned so that the longer pipe is closest to the wall and the shorter piece isn't.  This is the part that sucks.  We now need to cut a hole into the side of the greenhouse that we can pass some more of our pipe through.  That fresh air has to come from somewhere!  If you can, choose a place where the air intake will usually be covered with a shadow as this will help to naturally bring the coolest air available into your building.  Now comes the hardest part of the whole project, the forced air.  Since I would wager we will all be using different fan shapes and sizes I will simply leave it at saying you need to attach the pipe to either side of your fan and seal it well.  Oh ya, and make sure that it's blowing towards the tote, not the wall!  Since I will most likely be using a computer fan I suspect this should get interesting, can't wait to edit the video and see how I pull this one off!  Anyway ... after installing the fan and sealing the greenhouse wall around the intake pipe this project is just about ready to fly!  Pro tip - keep your powercords safe and clear of water danger because getting shocked sucks.
Now you can attach the pipe in the wall to the pipe that goes almost to the bottom of the tote.  Check to make sure that it's still close to the bottom but not touching.  If you are so inclined then attach something decorative to the fitting on the short pipe to pretty it up a bit.  Otherwise just leave it open as an easy way to fill the water in the tote!  Next step, fill the tote with water.  I recommend about halfway between the 2 pipe ends for the average greenhouse.  Plug in, or turn on, the fan and you should have fresh air pumping into your greenhouse from outside!
So basically how this works is that the outdoor air, filled with who knows what, is drawn into the intake by the fan and forced through the pipe into the water.  Since it is lighter it will naturally travel upwards towards the open end that leads to the greenhouse.  As the air from outside passes through the water much of the offending pollution is removed before it ever gets close to our beloved plants.  The water can be changed when it becomes too nasty and it will also help to keep the air reasonably humid for the plants!  Want more humidity?  Try adding a bit more water!
So, there it is ... the whole plan so far!  This may, or may not, be a new idea but I say share it freely since I just stood here and typed this whole blog entry I know the work is original at least.  Assuming you find this on the talk-qua-ponics blog on blogger anyway!  Post videos of your projects and the results, I'll be getting my DIY video posted on the JT Bear YouTube channel about an hour after it's built, editing & coffee take some time you understand.
Anyway, thanks for checking out the idea & seriously please give it a try or tell me why I shouldn't!
Have a great day everybody!

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