|
02/15/2015, 01:40 PM | #1 |
Reef Rookie
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Memphis
Posts: 625
|
Protein skimmer waste
We compost for backyard garden and wondering if dumping this waste in the compost bin would be ok. Seems legit. Anyone else do this?
Edit to say. DOCs are obviously good for plants right? You see plush growth along streams and rivers and this is why, I premise. Obviously in addition to the water. Last edited by DaveRaz; 02/15/2015 at 01:49 PM. |
02/15/2015, 05:06 PM | #2 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: clearwater fl
Posts: 1,151
|
I'm sure it would have a high salt content I'm not sure if it would hurt plants you use the compost on
|
02/15/2015, 08:08 PM | #3 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Pa
Posts: 754
|
The salt is not good for most plants. I would not use it for that.
__________________
Pat Current Tank Info: 225 Coast To Coast SPS reef. T5 lighting |
02/15/2015, 08:19 PM | #4 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: St.Louis
Posts: 5,052
|
Ive used it for fertilizer in my plants for years with no ill effects. Well,just the outside plants as the smell in the house should be considered an ill effect. At least it is in the wife's eyes!
The salt content can be high in it but if you dilute it with water when feeding plants or your dumping it in a compost pile the salt content is negligible.
__________________
Dave. "I have learned all kinds of things from my many mistakes. The one thing I never learn is to stop making them." --Nicomo Cosca. Current Tank Info: 225 mixed w/ 225 sump 550 lbs live rock,3x MarinePure ceramic blocks,Skimz SM201,Geo 618 CR,Vectra L1,DOS automatic water changes,3x 250w MH w/ 4x actinic T5,All ran by Apex thru Fusion.--57 community tank w/ OR T-247,120 nem tank. |
02/15/2015, 09:08 PM | #5 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Pa
Posts: 754
|
I know several people that use it to kill weeds and grass in there patio and drive ways. So I would not use it to feed plants. IMO
Many plants can not tolerate any salt in the soil or water.
__________________
Pat Current Tank Info: 225 Coast To Coast SPS reef. T5 lighting |
02/15/2015, 10:07 PM | #6 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 121
|
I dump all my waste water on the lawn. Was wondering if it would kill it. Hasn't done any harm at all.
|
02/15/2015, 10:41 PM | #7 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Banning, CA
Posts: 543
|
I use the skimmate on the lawn, plants, and flowers with no ill-effects either. Been doing it for a couple years now.
__________________
57 Gallon reef tank Current Tank Info: None |
02/16/2015, 04:00 AM | #8 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: St.Louis
Posts: 5,052
|
Quote:
Skimmate wont kill grass or weeds. Ive been dumping it into my plants for years and nothing has EVER died.
__________________
Dave. "I have learned all kinds of things from my many mistakes. The one thing I never learn is to stop making them." --Nicomo Cosca. Current Tank Info: 225 mixed w/ 225 sump 550 lbs live rock,3x MarinePure ceramic blocks,Skimz SM201,Geo 618 CR,Vectra L1,DOS automatic water changes,3x 250w MH w/ 4x actinic T5,All ran by Apex thru Fusion.--57 community tank w/ OR T-247,120 nem tank. |
|
02/16/2015, 08:42 AM | #9 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Pa
Posts: 754
|
I guess it has to do with the type of plant, but I know many plants can not take any salt in there water. Do as you please and if you see no negative results keep on.
__________________
Pat Current Tank Info: 225 Coast To Coast SPS reef. T5 lighting |
02/18/2015, 02:00 PM | #10 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Aurora, CO.
Posts: 60
|
plants do well with small amounts of salt. I was thinking of this same thing only to use on my hydroponic garden. I was going to wash it with fresh water and let the plankton settle and pour out the water, this should get most of the salt out.
__________________
May your passion and reason be the sail and rudder of your sea fairing soul. Current Tank Info: 180 gal Reef 3x 250w HQI's w/T5's, Phosban reactor, Protein skimmer, UV. sterilizer, Trickle Filter |
02/18/2015, 02:21 PM | #11 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: St.Louis
Posts: 5,052
|
What I usually do is pour my skimmer cup into a 5g bucket and then fill up the bucket with 3 or so gallons of water and then water my pants with that. I've never had any problems with plants having negative effects.
__________________
Dave. "I have learned all kinds of things from my many mistakes. The one thing I never learn is to stop making them." --Nicomo Cosca. Current Tank Info: 225 mixed w/ 225 sump 550 lbs live rock,3x MarinePure ceramic blocks,Skimz SM201,Geo 618 CR,Vectra L1,DOS automatic water changes,3x 250w MH w/ 4x actinic T5,All ran by Apex thru Fusion.--57 community tank w/ OR T-247,120 nem tank. |
02/18/2015, 02:29 PM | #12 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Aurora, CO.
Posts: 60
|
Quote:
__________________
May your passion and reason be the sail and rudder of your sea fairing soul. Current Tank Info: 180 gal Reef 3x 250w HQI's w/T5's, Phosban reactor, Protein skimmer, UV. sterilizer, Trickle Filter |
|
02/19/2015, 07:00 PM | #13 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 64
|
i've put it in the same spot in the grass and don't notice anything dieing etc...
|
02/27/2015, 03:11 PM | #14 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Great Falls, MT
Posts: 1,404
|
Quote:
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07227.html You are likely within salt tolerance for the type of lawn you have, but eventually your grass wont be so green, then it will barely green up.. then it will just be dead. It can take awhile. I wouldn't use it in composte. given enough salt build up you'll start having problems... now, it is a small fraction of your composte, so it's possible it wont be a problem. I just see no reason to risk it. I actually ran into nitrate build up from emptying high nitrate water onto my lawn and fertilizing too much...a good lawn is difficult to maintain, especially once you screw it up.
__________________
300 gallon 8ft long, 2x xf250 gyre, reef octopus 250-int - work in progress Aquarist since 1986 |
|
02/27/2015, 05:20 PM | #15 |
Registered Member.
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Toronto
Posts: 98
|
maybe your plants have become salt tolerant after years of getting skimate dumped on them !
|
Thread Tools | |
|
|