Skimmate as fertilizer
August 26, 2010 - 9:35am
Anybody out there ever thought about using the juice that your skimmers produce as a fertilizer for plants? I wonder what the N:P:K is? I empty my skimmer cups into a 30gal bin and dilute with FW.
Ideas? Thoughts? Comments?
August 26, 2010 - 9:50am
#2
the organics are probably fine. The salt isn't. Even if you dilute it, you can get an accumulation. Some plants do not tolerate salt. If you dilute the skimmate, you are also diluting the effectiveness of the organics. I think it is likely not worth the effort nor risk.
-Tony
"Are you out of your mind Tony, you know better than to mix Blood Sport and reefing."-Tuberider
"I need a Vanilla Ice to English translator 
"-Gresham
August 26, 2010 - 10:04am
#3
Can I get a frag, My number is 4 billion.
August 26, 2010 - 12:06pm
#4
Sorry don't know how the frag stuff got there 
. The skimmer juice is diluted in 30gal fw. Plants are fertilzed once/ mo and watered weekly without.
August 26, 2010 - 12:51pm
#5
You are creating a new thread as a chain.
August 26, 2010 - 1:23pm
#6
the organics are probably fine. The salt isn't. Even if you dilute it, you can get an accumulation. Some plants do not tolerate salt. If you dilute the skimmate, you are also diluting the effectiveness of the organics. I think it is likely not worth the effort nor risk.
+1 Also, keep in mind that salt will make plants grow shorter and and the fruits will be smaller. Not many plants can tolerate salt. I would monitor closely.
August 26, 2010 - 1:35pm
#7
again, I think it isn't worth the gamble or effort, especially considering how little waste there is in disposing skimmate and how cheap normal fertilizer is. It's like trying to save a buck by getting a dremel to do your own dentistry...ok not that bad, but still.
I do however, advocate using WC water from planted FW tanks to water your household plants.
-Tony
"Are you out of your mind Tony, you know better than to mix Blood Sport and reefing."-Tuberider
"I need a Vanilla Ice to English translator "-Gresham
August 27, 2010 - 4:33pm
#8
Well, if you have dental coverage and your co-pay is $10, then it's not even worth the dremel effort!
I agree with this though, just pour the skimmate into the toilet. The organics will be returned to the ocean after some processing.
V
August 27, 2010 - 5:00pm
#9
Actually next to none of the organics will be returned to the ocean unless we have heavy rains and the storm drains flood the sewer.. otherwise the organics will be removed by the sewage plant 
February 26, 2011 - 11:21am
#10
Weird... Spam?
I don't know if that stuff is good or bad for compost.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/2/aafeature
-Greg
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