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Can you use your spent carbon for anything?

Bennyweed1

Active member
Veteran
As the title describes, that is my question. I have a lot of spent carbon laying around from various filters that I have recharged. Can it be used for any soil purposes?
 

The Wang

Member
If I recall correctly, carbon is a vital part of composting?
Some compost experts will come in here to set me right.
 

MrFista

Active member
Veteran
Hi - put it in compost or worm castings first as it soaks up nutrients. Then put this in your grow you will be happy you did.
 
R

rick shaw

I wonder what it would smell like in a BBQ. It could give mesquite and hickory some competition.:smoke:
 

Scrogerman

Active member
Veteran
Your Question should be can you re-charge the carbon? Coco is the best re-fill option i believe.!??!(for filters) yess i said Coco.!!
 

Bennyweed1

Active member
Veteran
Your Question should be can you re-charge the carbon? Coco is the best re-fill option i believe.!??!(for filters) yess i said Coco.!!

Really? I would have never guessd that? Coco is porous? Seem like it would difficult to get in and out of the filter.
 

MrBlue2

Member
You could grow in carbon and use coco in your filter. LOL!!! not saying its not possible it just sounds funny.

I think its pretty easy to reactivate carbon. i remember doing it in 10th grade science class. You have to heat the carbon above 350 degrees. most people do it in there oven but if you have access to a kiln its probably better. im pretty sure the hotter the better (without burning it). the active carbon you buy at the store is usually steam activated at 1800 degrees. carbon looses a little bit of its activity every time it is reactivated. also if smell is an issue be aware that re activating carbon from your air filter will release all of the smell that your air filter has absorbed.
 

GrowBox420

Member
What makes it activated? Is it just ionized and it attracts the charged ions that are carrying the smell? Who said we would never use this shit lol gotta love it.
 

Dignan

The Soapmaker!
Veteran
I'm surprised this thread never went anywhere.

For what it's worth (and I suspect it ain't worth much), I just made some new soil and added about 2 gallons of spent activated charcoal to 16 gallons of soil mix.

We shall see if it helps my plants, kills my plants or does nothing at all.
 

descivii

Member
I haven't done it but have read that carbon can be washed in sulfuric acid.

I know that the acid eats organic molecules but would that include charcoal?

J.
 

wisco61

Member
I'm surprised this thread never went anywhere.

For what it's worth (and I suspect it ain't worth much), I just made some new soil and added about 2 gallons of spent activated charcoal to 16 gallons of soil mix.

We shall see if it helps my plants, kills my plants or does nothing at all.

Did you charge the carbon with any nutes? If not the carbon will compete with your plants for the available nutes in the soil, and your plants will lose.
 
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