Does carbon expire?

[phreeflow]

Odd question but does activated carbon expire? I haven’t used carbon in any of my tanks for a long time...so long in fact, that I recently found tubs of Marineland carbon that has an expiry date of Feb 2010 when I was cleaning out the garage. I have a ton of this stuff. Figured I might as well use it up unless they go bad somehow. I wouldn’t think so but what do you all think? They are sealed in plastic tubs

 

[RD.]

If exposed to 02, probably yes. Either way I would toss it, unless you have a specific use for it in mind.

 

[phreeflow]

If exposed to 02, probably yes. Either way I would toss it, unless you have a specific use for it in mind.

They were in sealed tubs so they weren’t exposed O2. I have no use for carbon except to remove meds in my qt. But even then, water changes suffice. It’s just I have boxes of this stuff so I was trying to find a use. Oh well, it’s taking up room so it'll be good to get the space back

 

[skjl47]

They were in sealed tubs so they weren’t exposed O2. I have no use for carbon except to remove meds in my qt. But even then, water changes suffice. It’s just I have boxes of this stuff so I was trying to find a use. Oh well, it’s taking up room so it'll be good to get the space back

Hello; The adsorption ability of the carbon may still be effective but that will depend on how well the carbon was sealed. My guess is the carbon will not have much of that capacity remaining if any after a long time. However the carbon can have a function in a tanks as a surface for housing the beneficial bacteria (bb) we all cultivate. Back a couple of decades ago I used it in my filters as bio-media.
The carbon is porous so should work the same as other bio-media. You already have it so there is no cost. Just a thought.

 

[phreeflow]

Hello; The adsorption ability of the carbon may still be effective but that will depend on how well the carbon was sealed. My guess is the carbon will not have much of that capacity remaining if any after a long time. However the carbon can have a function in a tanks as a surface for housing the beneficial bacteria (bb) we all cultivate. Back a couple of decades ago I used it in my filters as bio-media.
The carbon is porous so should work the same as other bio-media. You already have it so there is no cost. Just a thought.

Thanks for the thought. Great idea but I have way too much media. I think I’m gonna till it into the soil around some of my plants to add some porosity to the soil