can u guys think of a way to reactivate old used carbon or think of another use for expiered carbon in the aquarium or around the house?
can old carbon be reactivated
- Thread starter big train
- Start date
uhhh compost?
once the pore structures of the carbon are filled
thats about it for the life of the carbon
once the pore structures of the carbon are filled
thats about it for the life of the carbon
Over the summer I toured the Jack Daniels distillery. They dry their carbon and sell it as charcoal. Though I am not so sure about BBQing with fish flavored charcoal.
It doesnt compost very well but does help improve the drainage of garden soil. If you have a heavy clay, soil then you could toss it in your compost heap and then dig it in with the rest of the material that does break down. It will provide a good locus for soil bacteria that will do the same kind of nitrate cycle work that they do in your aquarium, only now to the benefit of your garden plants.
To answer the original question, carbon can be reactivated depending on the substance it was in contact with. Often it involves drying and baking but in aquarium it gets plugged and coated with solid materials (bacteria colonies, poo, etc.). Baking will not be sufficient nor cost effective in aquarium use. I had thought of this for ammonia absorber, but still that is also cheap and would not be cost effective.
