Using fish water for your garden
- Thread starter ElectricJackDempsey
- Start date
I think the regular water changes are necessary for keeping a fish tank healthy. In the sense that Fish feces, uneaten food and deteriorating plant matter all build up in the tank, which makes the water dirty and is potentially toxic to the fish if left for too long.I think instead of using the same water I would say use the clean water to gardening.
hamishmarshal;4202143; said:
hamishmarshal: Lets examine what you said for a moment.
hamishmarshal;4202143; said:
This is very true and a definite practice we all strive to do with our fish tanks. It is a good habbit to have for healthy and happy fish.
hamishmarshal;4202143; said:
With this sentence of yours in mind and what you stated, let us take into account what plant fertilizer is.
It's either a chemical synthetic (meaning it is something that is definitely a man made chemical fertilizer for plants) or something that is organic (meaning something made by nature itself used to fertilize all types of plants).
With aquarium tanks with real live aquatic plants rooted in the substrate of tanks, where do you think they derive their minerals, vitamins, and nutrients to be able to grow underwater for a planted fish tank? They get it from decaying matter composed of uneaten fish food, waste from the fish, plus the nitrites that biological bacteria use and convert into nitrates. Thus not all of the nitrites or nitrates will be used by the plants in the tank, but some, maybe the majority are used. The rest of it either gets used as "NATURAL/ORGANIC" fertilizer for house plants and gardens, when weekly water changes are done.
Actually, water taken from freshwater fish tanks when doing water changes is more beneficial for trees, plants and gardens, as it is made from nature. But if you use say Miracle Grow, which is a synthetic, man made crystalized fertilizer and you disolve it in clear water, then used on trees, plants and vegetables of all kinds, the soil for these plants eventually become vitamin, mineral and nutrient deficient. These three elements will eventually be leached from the soil.
Whereas if you use natural fertilizers (i.e. dirty fish tank water from freshwater tanks, compost tea, rabbit manuer tea, steer manuer tea, and maneur tea made from other hoofed farm livestock), it's all natural and it does not deplete the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients from soil. It actually provides and adds additional vitamins, minerals, and nutrients which plants need and thrive on in order to grow and remain healthy. And at the same time does not make the soil deficient of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients which helps keep plant roots protected from disease, bacterial and air-born infestations, insect disease and root rot.
So, if you use the dirty freshwater fish tank water from your weekly water changes, you would greatly be doing a tremendously good thing for trees, house plants and/or garden vegetables.
If you just use synthetic fertilizers and fresh clear water all of the time the soil for these plants eventually become vitamin, mineral and nutrient deficient. Their growth will be stunted, your plants will become weak and limp and eventually could wilt and die off.
I hope this helps you understand things better, and as to why many of us use our dirty fish tank water from our freshwater fish tanks to help our plants, gardens and trees grow to become healthier and stronger. One thing I did forget to mention also, is that using dirty fish water as natural or organic fertilizer, causes the fruits and vegetables grow larger and most times the flavor, quantity and quality of the harvest will be greater in the long run.
Let us hope this may be bennificial information to everyone as well as yourself.
Best Regards,
David K. Bradley
I was thinking the same thing, David. XD
Natural fertilizer you buy in stores generally contains the same components as your dirty fish water. Animal droppings, compost (decaying organic matter), and plant material make up the majority of it all.
As for me, I don't really have any houseplants or a lawn... so I water the weeds growing up behind the concrete slab that is my backyard. The weeds definitely enjoy it.
Natural fertilizer you buy in stores generally contains the same components as your dirty fish water. Animal droppings, compost (decaying organic matter), and plant material make up the majority of it all.
As for me, I don't really have any houseplants or a lawn... so I water the weeds growing up behind the concrete slab that is my backyard. The weeds definitely enjoy it.
everytime i do water change, all the fish water goes to my grass and plants... its centrum vitamins for them . grass and plants are greener and healthier. so i believe its really good for them...
