I would caution against fish tank water because of the concentration of
chemicals likely to be in the water that might over time build up in your
soil, roots and plants.
Billy on the Florida Space Coast

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Specifically what chemicals are you talking about. From my experience, and I keep
quite a bit of fish, the only thing thats in my tanks thats isnt in the tap is
nitrates.

"Billy M. Rhodes" wrote:

I would caution against fish tank water because of the concentration of
chemicals likely to be in the water that might over time build up in your
soil, roots and plants.
Billy on the Florida Space Coast

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I used my tank water to water my bonsai trees and all my plants, I am just
careful of the ph and the salt content of the fish tank water.
I never used much salt in my tanks and i just watched the ph before i
watered with the water from the tank i was emptying.
I also rinsed out the filter medium in a bucket of water before tossing out
the filter medium. I deluted it and watered my trees with that water.
steveW

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In a message dated 2/11/2003 5:00:24 PM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:

Specifically what chemicals are you talking about. From my experience, and I
keep
quite a bit of fish, the only thing that's in my tanks that's isn't in the
tap is
nitrates.

Fish tank water contains "nitrates" that are salts. In concentrated form
these salts are not good for plant roots. I suppose it would be similar to
using too much fertilizer.
Billy on the Florida Space Coast

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In a message dated 2/11/03 6:48:07 PM, writes:


Fish tank water contains "nitrates" that are salts. In concentrated
form
these salts are not good for plant roots. I suppose it would be similar
to
using too much fertilizer.
Billy on the Florida Space Coast

Nitrates are not salts.Nitrates is the end product of nitrification.Amonia is
converted to nitrites and nitrites are converted to nitrates.It's produced by
the bacteria that lives in your tank and filter.
I have been keeping fish tanks for almost 2 decades(Reef tanks and African
Cichlids bio type tanks) and have used the water in my freshwater in my
bonsais with no bad efect at all.
My wife also uses this water in her plants all the time.

Sure,fish water is no substitute to a proper concentration plant
fertilizer,but it can be used without problems.

Regards,
Carlos Pimenta
Miami,FL

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Nitrates are not salts.Nitrates is the end product of
nitrification.Amonia is
converted to nitrites and nitrites are converted to
nitrates.It's produced by
the bacteria that lives in your tank and filter.
I have been keeping fish tanks for almost 2 decades(Reef tanks
and African
Cichlids bio type tanks) and have used the water in my
freshwater in my
bonsais with no bad efect at all.
My wife also uses this water in her plants all the time.


I certainly agree with your statement that fish tank water can be
used safely for bonsai -- many people do, but . . . Chemically
speaking, Nitrates (whatever the univalent radical NO3 combines
with) are salts/esters. If you don't have a chemistry book, look
up the word in the dictionary.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Our life is
frittered away by detail . . . . Simplify! Simplify. -- Henry
David Thoreau - Walden

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They may be salts...but I'm sure that a good deal of the nitrogen in fertilizer ends
up breaking down into nitrates, so it really cant be that bad...

Jim Lewis wrote:


Nitrates are not salts.Nitrates is the end product of
nitrification.Amonia is
converted to nitrites and nitrites are converted to
nitrates.It's produced by
the bacteria that lives in your tank and filter.
I have been keeping fish tanks for almost 2 decades(Reef tanks
and African
Cichlids bio type tanks) and have used the water in my
freshwater in my
bonsais with no bad efect at all.
My wife also uses this water in her plants all the time.


I certainly agree with your statement that fish tank water can be
used safely for bonsai -- many people do, but . . . Chemically
speaking, Nitrates (whatever the univalent radical NO3 combines
with) are salts/esters. If you don't have a chemistry book, look
up the word in the dictionary.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Our life is
frittered away by detail . . . . Simplify! Simplify. -- Henry
David Thoreau - Walden

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