Using protein skimmer waste for a garden

[spiderman097]

I want use the skim from my protein reactor as fertalized for a garden. Good or bad idea?

 

[reeferman]

you can take it and make a manure tea.mix it in a couple of gallons of tap water.my only concern would be the salt buildup if you were using it in the same plot week after week.

 

[rodasphoto]

I would be worried about the salt in it. The concentration of salt would probably depend on the SG you keep your tank and how wet you have the skimmer set to skim. Water changes for fresh water would be great for this. But salt I am afraid will kill the plants.

 

[camellia]

rodasphoto;854126 wrote: i would be worried about the salt in it. The concentration of salt would probably depend on the sg you keep your tank and how wet you have the skimmer set to skim. Water changes for fresh water would be great for this. But salt i am afraid will kill the plants.

+1

 

[the curious]

I used to be REALLY into freshwater. I had about a dozen tanks from 10 to 75 gallons in my dining/aquarium room. I had a huge flower garden too, and all of my aquarium waste water went into it...and **** did my garden look gorgeous.

Then I started dabbling into reef tanks (best decision I've ever made). The first time I did a saltwater change I poured my waste water out on a big patch of super vibrant orange snapdragons. The next day they were brown, shriveled...dead, and I had a Homer Simpson "doh!" moment.

Moral of the story...I will never again use waste saltwater in a garden. Freshwater, however, is much appreciated by a garden.

Hope this helps

 

[reeferman]

op didnt ask about water change water being used,they asked about skimmate being used.ive never tested but im positive that the amount of salt in skimmer waste is nowhere near as high as our dt.
dilute the skimmate with several gallons of tap water and you will have manure tea.just dont use it in the same spot time after time and the salt shouldnt build up.there are lots of salts used in fertilizers but in high concentrations,salt will kill plants.fwiw,i used to a horticulturist

 

[spiderman097]

Thanks everyone, such great input!

 

[picoreefguy]

yea the ammount of salt in the skimmate would be negligable even if you did use it in the same plot over and over again. it would take a huge ammount of salt to ruin the soil and kill plants (youd basicly have to dump a 50 gal bag of salt on a garden to kill it) which can easily be done with waste water but would take years with skimmate and i would think the rain would help wash some of it away