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Shohin
The universe
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Activated carbon good for soil?
- Thread starter 19Mateo83
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ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
I'm trying to remember who I talked to a little while back on here after I posted about possible aquarium filter and substrate crossovers, specifically zeolite. I'm trying out zeolite in our goldfish tank now, and when it's time to change it out, I'll plant something in it. Theoretically the zeolite should release the nitrates and phosphates it's collected from the fish as nutrients for the tree.
Seems you should be able to try the same sort of thing with activated charcoal. If yours is already used to some capacity, however, no telling what's in it. You might be able to "discharge" it with a soak in distilled water, but then you'd have to have a way of recharging it with something your tree could use.
Worst case, I suppose a rinse in distilled water, then a soak in a fert solution would get you there, but then of course you're spending money to make the free thing work for you, which sort of defeats the purpose of free.
Seems you should be able to try the same sort of thing with activated charcoal. If yours is already used to some capacity, however, no telling what's in it. You might be able to "discharge" it with a soak in distilled water, but then you'd have to have a way of recharging it with something your tree could use.
Worst case, I suppose a rinse in distilled water, then a soak in a fert solution would get you there, but then of course you're spending money to make the free thing work for you, which sort of defeats the purpose of free.
19Mateo83
Masterpiece
Luckily, I have a bad ass 200gpd RO/DI unit for my reef tank…. I have an unlimited supply of 0 TDS water to rinse it in. I’m glad you mentioned flushing it. Since I know what the TDS of my water is going in I should , in theory, be able to measure the TDS going out and see if it’s actually leaching anything. I could also do the opposite with a set amount of nutrients and see how much it actually absorbs. Sounds like tomorrow will be a science day…. Gonna have to break out my bill nye bow tie for this one
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
Let us know how it goes.
any results from your experiment?Luckily, I have a bad ass 200gpd RO/DI unit for my reef tank…. I have an unlimited supply of 0 TDS water to rinse it in. I’m glad you mentioned flushing it. Since I know what the TDS of my water is going in I should , in theory, be able to measure the TDS going out and see if it’s actually leaching anything. I could also do the opposite with a set amount of nutrients and see how much it actually absorbs. Sounds like tomorrow will be a science day…. Gonna have to break out my bill nye bow tie for this one
19Mateo83
Masterpiece
Nah I ended up abandoning the activated carbon idea.
Glaucus
Omono
Biochar: a gardener’s primer.
WSU Extension Fact Sheet
Authors: Linda Chalker-Scott Washington State University
Biochar can be made from many many organic products. Likely, they will all be quite different. Like biochar from manure being different from biochar from olive kernels. Or biochar from pine bark or rice husk, etc etc.
Activated carbon is generally made hydrophobic by heating it much higher and adding an inert gas that pushes out all oxygen.
Biochar will be way less porous and have a negatively charged surface.
The main benefit of biochar is probably to improve soils in fields or gardens that you plan to use for decades. Where things like wood chunks would completely decompose after a few years, and need a new application.,
In a container, you have 100% control of what is in there anyway, so you can just throw in what you want anyway, so no real use for biochar.
WSU Extension Fact Sheet
Authors: Linda Chalker-Scott Washington State University
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www.researchgate.net
Biochar can be made from many many organic products. Likely, they will all be quite different. Like biochar from manure being different from biochar from olive kernels. Or biochar from pine bark or rice husk, etc etc.
Activated carbon is generally made hydrophobic by heating it much higher and adding an inert gas that pushes out all oxygen.
Biochar will be way less porous and have a negatively charged surface.
The main benefit of biochar is probably to improve soils in fields or gardens that you plan to use for decades. Where things like wood chunks would completely decompose after a few years, and need a new application.,
In a container, you have 100% control of what is in there anyway, so you can just throw in what you want anyway, so no real use for biochar.
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