Don't Make this Activated Charcoal Mistake

Activated charcoal/activated carbon

Activated charcoal or activated carbon is one of the most recommended elements of a successful terrarium.  The substance is said to help keep a terrarium "sweet" by filtering out toxins or other bad stuff from the terrarium ecosystem.  Some terrarium enthusiasts consider charcoal/carbon unnecessary but I say - why not.  It is cheap and easy to find at any aquarium supply location.

Activated charcoal or activated carbon is typically covered with fine, black dust.  If you don't find a way to remove some of this dust, you'll risk coating the entire interior surface of your terrarium vessel with this difficult-to-remove substance.  You'll be in even worse shape if the interior of the terrarium vessel is damp.

The solution is to try to shake off some of the dust by pouring the activated charcoal directly onto a paper towel before pouring it in your terrarium.  This traps some of the charcoal dust on the towel and not in your terrarium.

This charcoal left fairly little residual dust, but better safe than sorry!