View Full Version : Fish water good for plants?
mooseman
12-10-2002, 9:38 AM
OK, I swear my wife is making me post this thread.
She heard somewhere that the fish water I take out of my tank for the weekly water changes would be excellent to water her house plants with (lots of nutrients I guess) Does anyone have any idea if this is true or not. I guess it does make some sense that it could have some good fertilizer in it.
Anyway, thanks for your 2 cents worth.
Faramir
12-10-2002, 9:40 AM
I can't imagine why it would be anything but good. All that nitrate and decomposing fish 'compost'.
wetmanNY
12-10-2002, 9:54 AM
Absolutely. Pour it around the roses. Even house plants.
JamisonBWolsh
12-10-2002, 9:59 AM
Nitrates are GREAT for plants. Its a natural fertilizer. It would be better for indoor plants. If you have plants, use it. Free fertilizer!!
Anton Wernher
12-10-2002, 10:02 AM
Why would it be better for indoor plants?
JamisonBWolsh
12-10-2002, 10:08 AM
I Knew someone would catch me on that!!! I would think because the indoor plants only water source is what you give them, so they reap 100 percent of the benefits. The outdoor plants (matter where you live) have alot more access to water sources, so the benefits would not be so good.
Faramir
12-10-2002, 10:19 AM
And with outdoor plants, a lot of the nutrients you pour on them leach away, or are washed away, before the plant gets them.
OrionGirl
12-10-2002, 10:23 AM
I use all of my water from changes on my plants. All the house plants get hit, and then the newest plants outside (ie newly planted shrubs/trees) then the peonies and the roses. I can tell a huge difference on the house plants, to a lesser degree on the outside plants. At work, everyone always is 'stealing' the water from my changes--I put it in 1 gallon buckets so it's easier to water my own work plants.
Not only is it great for plants, but it means your conserving water, which is always a plus. Using tank water also reduces the amount of chlorine your plants are exposed to (for those on city water), which helps them out as well.
FishmasteR2002
12-10-2002, 10:26 AM
I figured it was good for plants but now I am definitely going to use my tank water on my garden. :)
If you use salt in your tanks, you might want to think twice about watering your plants with fish water. If enough salt builds up in the soil, then your plants will die despite all the wonderful nitrates that are being added. If you have been watering your plants with salted fish water, don't worry too much. It usually takes an enormous amount of salt to kill a plant; and that which comes from a standard salted but freshwater tank is usually pretty dilute.
Bruddah Chrispy
12-10-2002, 12:46 PM
I always fill my watering can whenever I'm doing a water change. The house plants really seem to benefit from it. (Except for that pineapple my girlfriend's daughters gave me)
I've got a planted, unsalted, aquarium FWIW.
wetmanNY
12-10-2002, 1:20 PM
Just another reason not to be putting that pinch of table salt in an aquarium, achu! The Cl ion in that salt is what affects the chloride cells in a fishes' gills, if the freshwater salting is for osmotic "stress.". But if you try to get a "salter" to switch to potassium chloride for the same effect-- well, you'll soon see that you're in the land of magic.
Any potassium from your KCl or other K-source nutrients for aquatic plants, will be more welcome than sodium in the garden too: potassium sulfate, potassium nitrate etc.
Yes, my wife is big into gardening and if I don't save the water for her the s- - t hits the fan. It's a pain because I have to siphon with a regular siphon to save the water and can't use my python.
She doesn't realize that I do an extra water change during the week with the python.........SHHHHHHHHH......DON'T TELL!!!!
Len
fishlips
12-10-2002, 5:03 PM
I always use tankage when watering my plants.
probably quite good for the plants, certainly better than clorinated fresh tap water.
wetman: you are *on* the rampage about salt tonight. :p
i personally would wonder if it caused a smell longterm though. i have always heard it was great for plants, specifically because of the nitrates, which are a fertilizer. that would lead you into a different question: if you do alot of water changes... the nitrates may not be accumulated enuf for it to really be beneficial? there was another good point about it being dechlorinated too though.........
just some idle thoughts....
Skippy
12-11-2002, 4:33 AM
I use my change water for my plants in my back yard and it has done wonders.
It also helps the always thirsty pear tree in my back yard.