Watering Orchids with recycled water

[Flowerchildren]

How many of you recycle your fish water? I have a Siamese fighting fish in a 3 gallon aquarium. I was advised to use bottled Spring water for him, as our well water is hard with Lime deposit. I am using bottled Spring water that I buy monthly and treat for the fish to make water replacements easier on his change outs and evaporation replacements. Now, with that water, I keep the used fish water in a couple of separate fish bowls and water my Orchids with room temperature , naturally fertilized fish water. I actually water all house plants besides those Orchids with same water and all of them really are doing quite nicely. I had stopped using ice with them for quite a while and am very pleased with my recycled water. Has anybody else with fish done this also? I would think fish water in general (depending on how many fish and how potent the water would be from many fish in an aquarium may make a difference. One small fish (like mine), seems to be ok to use in watering the Orchids and other house plants with. I am pleased with my results.

[estación seca]

Many of us do it. If the water chemistry is proper (pH, dissolved solids) it works just fine.

Are there any aquarium stores near you that sell reverse osmosis water? It is often less expensive than spring water from the grocery store. Siamese fighting fish are quite tolerant of dissolved minerals in the water. You could mix tap with reverse osmosis; just let the tap water sit out for a day or so before using, to eliminate the chlorine.

[Subrosa]

Water from an aquarium could be fine. But one thing to consider is that water doesn't improve with age like wine does. If the water is suitable for the plants before the fish lives in it, it might still be suitable afterwards. But it might not be. Evaporation and having a fish live in the water will gradually make that water less suitable.

[PaphMadMan]

Many people use aquarium water. Bear in mind the water chemistry can change, though almost certainly is still much better than your hard tap water. Watch for any recurring problem with crown rot or any other bacterial problems, and strongly suspect the aquarium water if it happens. And if you ever use a treatment to stop algae growth do not use the aquarium water on plants.

[MattWoelfsen]

Yes, using water from a small aquarium is fine. I have a similar set up. When it comes time to drain the tank to replace the water, I take that water and hydrate the orchids and other plants. My original intent was to have this small aquarium to add a little humidity to that space but the little beta fish is also very entertaining.

Healthy plants do not develop problems if you provide the right amounts of water, fresh, moving air, relative humidity, light, food, and warmth. I think the aquarium water helps with the water and food part.

[MrHappyRotter]

I do this, as well, though I'm not consistent about it.

I take into consideration the water quality before using it by checking with a TDS meter (total dissolved solids, the meter is more accurately called an EC meter) and adjusting additives accordingly, and I wouldn't use the water if there's been any kind of chemical treatment (aside from Prime/dechlorinator and/or aquarium fertilizer) in the past few months.

I collect rain water for my fish and plants, and use RO water when the rain supply runs low, so generally the tank water stays below 100 PPM on the meter and I just don't use Prime as much as I used to when I was more reliant on tap water. Although, back when I was using tap water for the fish tanks, I'd still use the old water on the orchids, but I'd dilute it with rain or RO to get that TDS down below 100 PPM which is my arbitrary pre-fertilizer limit.

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by MrHappyRotter

...I collect rain water for my fish and plants, and use RO water when the rain supply runs low, so generally the tank water stays below 100 PPM on the meter....

I find if I mix my rain or RO with a small amount of tap water the aquarium pH is a lot more stable. With only rain or RO it rapidly becomes more acidic, even though the nitrogen measurements are good. The dissolved calcium and magnesium carbonates in my water act as buffers. I calculate the TDS in my mixture as 75-100.

[Leafmite]

I currently have three betta fish and, when doing water changes, I use the water for some of my houseplants (I actually use distilled water for the fish). My Bettas have moss balls and java in their tanks and they live but they do not grow very much. The Betta water seems more of a neutral. I also have a tub pond with goldfish. That water is a positive.

[estación seca]

Double check on whether distilled water is good for fish. I think they are better off with at least some minerals in the water.

[The Peloric Orchid]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Double check on whether distilled water is good for fish. I think they are better off with at least some minerals in the water.

When I used to keep guppies, I would top the tank off with purified water but I had put in a little aquarium salt when I set the tank up. I was a terrible fish keeper but guppies are tough little fish and they didn't seem bothered by it.