fish water - Orchid Board

Yukonphal · #1 08-30-2011, 12:16 AM

has anyone ever tried and/or had results from using the fish tank water change water to water their orchids?after all ..... fish poo in it

peeper · #2 08-30-2011, 12:27 AM

Yes, I have, and as a matter of fact, so long as it's from a cycled tank it works rather well. It is already dechlorinated, and there are great nutrients, nitrates, nitrItes, and it's all organic. The levels are low enough that I have been able to use it at almost every watering with a good flushing once a month. I water all of my plants with fish tank water on water change day once a week. The plants/'chids seem to love it!

When I was using plain RO and watering normally, and fertilizing every 3rd watering I couldn't get one or 10 of them to bloom and when I started doing the fish water thing, I have some that are in almost continuous bloom!

Fish water bloomers:

Those just started blooming and throwing spikes all over!

Good Luck!

RJSquirrel · #3 08-30-2011, 12:34 AM

I don't think fish emulsion has a lot of fishy pooh in it though. You need to liquefy the fish also

using a blender on puree'

but sure the water is clean enough for fish and seems to work for chids too...

nice zygo and miltassia there peeperzz

peeper · #4 08-30-2011, 12:39 AM

Well, no it doesn't have poo in it, but it does have the Nitrates in the water that help a little. It isn't a Replacement for fertilization, but it is a suppliment. I think it helps anyway, and I don't even have to throw my fish in a blender!!! HAHA!!

Merlyn · #5 08-30-2011, 12:55 AM

Actually the word fertilizer is misleading and is too often thought of as food and feeding, thinking which can easily lead one astray ! I've done that ! I'm trying to re-educate my thinking and replace the word fertilizer (and thoughts of fertilizing/feeding) with supplement, which is really all it is. The plants feed themselves whether or not we SUPPLEMENT them, using chlorophyll and sunshine/light !

peeper · #6 08-30-2011, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJSquirrel

nice zygo and miltassia there peeperzz

Thank you! I was having an issue with the name of the first one, It had a tag when I bought it and it has since been misplaced. I know that the second one is a Z. Kiwi Dusk, the third is a Mtssa. Dark Star, but that first one... i'm a little baffled. I also haven't looked that hard! Any Ideas? I know that it HAD a name, it wasn't a NoID when I bought it!

Discuss... (J/K)

Yukonphal · #7 08-30-2011, 01:16 AM

hey peeper...who knew poo could look so awesome....thanks for the reply

Fernando · #8 08-30-2011, 06:19 AM

As I have very little water of good quality, all rain water and some destilled water too goes via aquarium to my orchids. As long as the water quality for the aquarium is good - fish do not tolerate high N in water!! - you can use it. I don't think it acts like fertilizer - every third watering I add a weak bit of fertilizer for the plants. But they do like the warm water in winter!

Fer

fishmommy · #9 08-30-2011, 09:23 AM

I use it on my houseplants and they like it a lot.
My orchids get R/O water though, since my fish water has minerals in it.

Leafmite · #10 08-30-2011, 10:54 AM

I had a six x eight ft ornamental goldfish pond for twelve + years and the garden plants I watered with pond water always did much better than those not watered with pond water. Now my 'pond' is a half-whiskey barrel liner and the water added is either rain or dehumidifyer water and I use this for my houseplants now. My houseplants bloom and grow better than they've ever done. I am proud of my five little goldfish but perhaps the fertilizer tablet for the lilies and the decaying matter help, too. I add fertilizer to the water three out of four waterings and use straight dehumidifyer water now and then to flush.
Leafmite