Water from Aquarium Water Changes and Gardening

Vreejack · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 6

On May 20, 6:28 pm, "Alan Holmes" wrote:
> "Rich" wrote in message
>
> @bt.com...
>
> > Hi,
>
> > I change 20% of the water in my 180L Tropical Freshwater Aquarium every
> > week.
>
> Why, it is not neccesary!
>
> I'm sure this year we're gonna get a hose pipe ban, and mindful of the
>
> > high Nitrate and Phosphate content of my aquarium water, I've been using
> > the old water for my garden, particularly tomatoes and strawberries.
>
> Why waste good water which will do more good being left in the tank?
>
>
>
> > I was covinced this was a great idea until somkeone told me aquarium water
> > usually carries salmonella.
>
> > Is this true, and if so is it safe to recycle my water in this way ?

Salmonella can be in the tank but it rarely shows its presence. It is
not pathological to fish, but they will release it into the water if
they are carrying it and are stressed. Testing a tank will often show
detectable levels of Salmonella, but actual cases of it being
transferred to humans are rare and usually associated with a wave of
outbreaks linked to one contamination source.

Someone recommended that you should change your water 1/3 every two
weeks but I cannot see what effect this would have on Salmonella.
Then again, I have a heavily planted tank so I have low nitrates and
phosphorous. Changing the water just reduces my CO2. I add tap water
to counter evaporation and maintain carbonates. And I wash my hands
after playing in the tank and don't dunk sandwiches in it.

As for getting it from your garden, it's possible but not as likely as
E. coli. One survey showed that 1/3 of all commercial animal-derived
fertilizers contained Salmonella and yet cases of it from garden
veggies are relatively unknown. E. coli on the other hand usually
comes from one sick animal contaminating a field. E.coli is a serious
issue for gardens but I cannot even find any warnings for Salmonella
in gardens.

Archived from group: rec>aquaria>freshwater>misc

funfly3 · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 4

Rich wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I change 20% of the water in my 180L Tropical Freshwater Aquarium every
> week. I'm sure this year we're gonna get a hose pipe ban, and mindful of the
> high Nitrate and Phosphate content of my aquarium water, I've been using the
> old water for my garden, particularly tomatoes and strawberries.
>
> I was covinced this was a great idea until somkeone told me aquarium water
> usually carries salmonella.
>
> Is this true, and if so is it safe to recycle my water in this way ?
>
> --
> http://www.richdavies.com
> http://www.richdavies.com/tropicalfish.htm
> http://www.richdavies.com/profit-protection-recruitment.htm
>
>
oh er I have been sticking mine on strawberries and the rhubarb I have
not died as of yet?

funfly3 · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 4

David (Normandy) wrote:
> "funfly3" wrote in message %3i.5748
>> oh er I have been sticking mine on strawberries and the rhubarb I have not
>> died as of yet?
>
> We put custard on ours Smile

>
> David.
>
>
now there's a thought rhubarb & custard yummmmm mine needs a little more
growing time for a water change

Rich · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 14

Hi,

I change 20% of the water in my 180L Tropical Freshwater Aquarium every
week. I'm sure this year we're gonna get a hose pipe ban, and mindful of the
high Nitrate and Phosphate content of my aquarium water, I've been using the
old water for my garden, particularly tomatoes and strawberries.

I was covinced this was a great idea until somkeone told me aquarium water
usually carries salmonella.

Is this true, and if so is it safe to recycle my water in this way ?

--
http://www.richdavies.com
http://www.richdavies.com/tropicalfish.htm
http://www.richdavies.com/profit-protection-recruitment.htm

"David \ · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

"funfly3" wrote in message %3i.5748
> oh er I have been sticking mine on strawberries and the rhubarb I have not
> died as of yet?

We put custard on ours Smile

David.

Alan Holmes · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 2

"Rich" wrote in message @bt.com...
> Hi,
>
> I change 20% of the water in my 180L Tropical Freshwater Aquarium every
> week.

Why, it is not neccesary!

I'm sure this year we're gonna get a hose pipe ban, and mindful of the
> high Nitrate and Phosphate content of my aquarium water, I've been using
> the old water for my garden, particularly tomatoes and strawberries.

Why waste good water which will do more good being left in the tank?

>
> I was covinced this was a great idea until somkeone told me aquarium water
> usually carries salmonella.
>
> Is this true, and if so is it safe to recycle my water in this way ?

Bob Hobden · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

"Rich" wrote
> I change 20% of the water in my 180L Tropical Freshwater Aquarium every
> week. I'm sure this year we're gonna get a hose pipe ban, and mindful of
> the high Nitrate and Phosphate content of my aquarium water, I've been
> using the old water for my garden, particularly tomatoes and strawberries.
>
> I was covinced this was a great idea until somkeone told me aquarium water
> usually carries salmonella.
>
> Is this true, and if so is it safe to recycle my water in this way ?
>
> --
> http://www.richdavies.com
> http://www.richdavies.com/tropicalfish.htm
> http://www.richdavies.com/profit-protection-recruitment.htm

I doubt it as I'm still alive and I've swallowed enough water over the years
siphoning out tropical fish tanks. Might be true if you kept terrapins as
they are serious carriers of salmonella.

--
Regards
Bob H
17mls W. of London.UK

Me · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

On Sun, 20 May 2007 22:28:20 GMT, Alan Holmes wrote:

> "Rich" wrote in message
> @bt.com...
>> Hi,
>>
>> I change 20% of the water in my 180L Tropical Freshwater Aquarium every
>> week.
>
> Why, it is not neccesary!
> Why waste good water which will do more good being left in the tank?

If you check Alan Holmes posting history on Google, you'll see that he's a
fuckwit troll who's best ignored.

Charles · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 64

On Sun, 20 May 2007 18:38:04 +0100, "Rich" wrote:

>Hi,
>
>I change 20% of the water in my 180L Tropical Freshwater Aquarium every
>week. I'm sure this year we're gonna get a hose pipe ban, and mindful of the
>high Nitrate and Phosphate content of my aquarium water, I've been using the
>old water for my garden, particularly tomatoes and strawberries.
>
>I was covinced this was a great idea until somkeone told me aquarium water
>usually carries salmonella.
>
>Is this true, and if so is it safe to recycle my water in this way ?

It's safe. the amount of nitrate and phosphate is trivial compared to
what's used as liquid fertilizer. It's a good reuse of water, though.
There are probably some bacteria in the water, but without bacteria we
wouldn't be able to live.

Tynk · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 200

On May 20, 5:28ï¿½pm, "Alan Holmes" wrote:
> "Rich" wrote in message
>
> @bt.com...
>
> > Hi,
>
> > I change 20% of the water in my 180L Tropical Freshwater Aquarium every
> > week.
>
> Why, it is not neccesary!
>
> I'm sure this year we're gonna get a hose pipe ban, and mindful of the
>
> > high Nitrate and Phosphate content of my aquarium water, I've been using
> > the old water for my garden, particularly tomatoes and strawberries.
>
> Why waste good water which will do more good being left in the tank?
>
>
>
>
>
> > I was covinced this was a great idea until somkeone told me aquarium water
> > usually carries salmonella.
>
> > Is this true, and if so is it safe to recycle my water in this way ?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

How ridiculous.
Unless a tank is packed with live plants, water changes are a MUST!

Les Hemmings · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 3

Alan Holmes wrote:
> "Rich" wrote in message
> @bt.com...
>> Hi,
>>
>> I change 20% of the water in my 180L Tropical Freshwater Aquarium
>> every week.
>
> Why, it is not neccesary!
>

I've bred Kribensis, kept a "general tank" and also kept some very fussy
Discus. A regular water change of 10% to 20% depending on pollutant levels
is normal practice. The idea of the perfectly balanced tank needing only top
ups to replace water lost from evaporation is a myth.

Salts, calcium carbonate, "messenger" hormones controlling growth rates from
the fish and many other pollutants would increase over time without water
changes using water treated to strip out chlorine and heavy metals.

It is down to the hardiness of the common goldfish that gives rise to all
those "stick the fish in a bowl of tap water while you scrub out the tank
once a year" and the practices of lots or careless fishkeepers who stress
their fish (giving rise to disease, it's not normal for fish to regularly
die as many seems ready to accept) that give rise to the "I never did water
changes" stories too.

You are really a "water keeper", keeping the system within certain limits of
hardness and nitrate load to match the water from the part of the world your
preferred fish hail from.

Also, the water coming out of the tank is nutrient rich and is great for
houseplants and food crops. I always used it. Plus, as someone else has
said, swallowed quite a bit too.

More here http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/wchanges.htm

Les

> I'm sure this year we're gonna get a hose pipe ban, and mindful of the
>> high Nitrate and Phosphate content of my aquarium water, I've been
>> using the old water for my garden, particularly tomatoes and
>> strawberries.
>
> Why waste good water which will do more good being left in the tank?
>
>>
>> I was covinced this was a great idea until somkeone told me aquarium
>> water usually carries salmonella.
>>
>> Is this true, and if so is it safe to recycle my water in this way ?

--
Remove Frontal Lobes to reply direct.

"These people believe the souls of fried space aliens inhabit their
bodies and hold soup cans to get rid of them. I should care what they
think?"...Valerie Emmanuel

Les Hemmings a.a #2251 SA

carlrs · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 18

On May 21, 8:09 am, Tynk wrote:
> On May 20, 5:28?pm, "Alan Holmes" wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > "Rich" wrote in message
>
> >@bt.com...
>
> > > Hi,
>
> > > I change 20% of the water in my 180L Tropical Freshwater Aquarium every
> > > week.
>
> > Why, it is not neccesary!
>
> > ?I'm sure this year we're gonna get a hose pipe ban, and mindful of the
>
> > > high Nitrate and Phosphate content of my aquarium water, I've been using
> > > the old water for my garden, particularly tomatoes and strawberries.
>
> > Why waste good water which will do more good being left in the tank?
>
> > > I was covinced this was a great idea until somkeone told me aquarium water
> > > usually carries salmonella.
>
> > > Is this true, and if so is it safe to recycle my water in this way ?- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> How ridiculous.
> Unless a tank is packed with live plants, water changes are a MUST!- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I agree with Tynk,

Even in tanks with a lot of live plants I perform at least some water
changes if only for the reason of adding more minerals and
electrolytes.
Water changes are a must and I have been watering my vegetables and my
clients vegetables for 25 + years without a problem.

Carl

Alan Holmes · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 2

"Les Hemmings" wrote in message @mid.individual.net...
> Alan Holmes wrote:
>> "Rich" wrote in message
>> @bt.com...
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I change 20% of the water in my 180L Tropical Freshwater Aquarium
>>> every week.
>>
>> Why, it is not neccesary!
>>
>
> I've bred Kribensis, kept a "general tank" and also kept some very fussy
> Discus. A regular water change of 10% to 20% depending on pollutant levels
> is normal practice. The idea of the perfectly balanced tank needing only
> top ups to replace water lost from evaporation is a myth.

As I've said before, I kept tropical fish for many years, breeding them for
sale to the local tropical fish shop, and I never, ever changed the water.

If your tank had a proper number of plants in it the water will stay
healthy.

Alan

Vreejack · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 6

On May 21, 7:50 am, "Alan Holmes" wrote:
> "Les Hemmings" wrote in message
>
> @mid.individual.net...
>
> > Alan Holmes wrote:
> >> "Rich" wrote in message
> >>@bt.com...
> >>> Hi,
>
> >>> I change 20% of the water in my 180L Tropical Freshwater Aquarium
> >>> every week.
>
> >> Why, it is not neccesary!
>
> > I've bred Kribensis, kept a "general tank" and also kept some very fussy
> > Discus. A regular water change of 10% to 20% depending on pollutant levels
> > is normal practice. The idea of the perfectly balanced tank needing only
> > top ups to replace water lost from evaporation is a myth.
>
> As I've said before, I kept tropical fish for many years, breeding them for
> sale to the local tropical fish shop, and I never, ever changed the water.
>
> If your tank had a proper number of plants in it the water will stay
> healthy.
>
Plants will remove a lot of metabolic wastes and heavy metals, but
I've found that a natural substrate with a lot of clay and humus works
even better. Sand and gravel do not provide enough of a reaction
surface to bind soluble nutrients, but clay has a surface area four
orders of magnitude higher than sand and is naturally negatively
charged and so in an aerobic environment (the top millimeters of soil
or anywhere near a plant root) it binds the Fe+++ and Cu++, reducing
metal toxicity and still making nutrients available for plant roots.
These soils will also pull HPO4- and HPO4-- as the phosphates are
bound to the iron and iron oxides. Humic substances in such soils
also bind readily to Fe++, Cu++ and Zn++, making them much more
available for plants than metal oxide precipitates. You don't get
much of this with gravel, and if you run a UGF you raise your soil
redox too high, making plant roots almost useless.

On the other hand you face a different problem when you do not change
the water. Lots of plants release toxins (allochemicals) into the
environment which kill other plant species which might compete for
resources. I recently added some plants to my tank and one of them is
killing my parrot feather. Who'd have thought something could kill
parrot feather? Yet every day another stalk dissolves into a black
thread. Some of my Phyllanthus fluitans are also dissolving (but
others are very strong). Most of my plants are growing so well that
you can see by the change in leaf size where in their growth history I
planted them, but some plants refuse to play nicely together.

Pondmeister · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 23

If it smells like a douche rinse its probably gonna be worse than
samonella could dream of! IIRC Tynk, Gill and Jan and KAthy30 bottle
their douche water and sell it as Bacteria Starter for ponds and
aquariums...

-------
I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!