Composting aquarium and pond plants?

[PunkRotten]

Hi,

I usually have a lot of extra pond and aquarium plant clippings that I usually throw away. Could I compost these? There is just one concern, I add chemicals to the water to remove chlorine, and I also add fertilizer to my aquariums and pond. I am growing everything organic so would adding these be a problem?

Also could I compost hair algae?

Thx

[Kisal]

I guess it would depend on what chemicals you added. I always thought the excreta from the fish and other pond and aquarium animals was sufficient fertilizer for growing water plants.

[DoubleDogFarm]

I guess it would depend on what chemicals you added. I always thought the excreta from the fish and other pond and aquarium animals was sufficient fertilizer for growing water plants.

Yep and vegetables too. Aquaponics.

Eric

[PunkRotten]

I am adding powder form of potassium nitrate, mono potassium phosphate, and a powder mix that has, potassium sulfate, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, ferric sulfate, and manganese sulfate.


In some cases fish and food wastes are enough. Like in my pond I only add a liquid fertilizer cause it is very understocked and I also have lots of fast growing plants. Some were turning yellow and showing some nutrient deficiency.

In my aquarium it's different, I have lots of plants and a lot of light on it so the plants use up a lot of the nutrients and CO2 in the tank. The liquid fertilizer I use in the pond is an aquarium fertilizer called Seachem Flourish.

And the chemical I use in both my pond and aquarium for removing chlorine is called Seachem Prime. It is a popular dechlorinater for ponds.

[rainbowgardener]

Shouldn't be a problem in your compost pile. The aquarium stuff will be only a small fraction of your compost pile and the chemicals are likely to get broken down before you use the compost.

[PunkRotten]

Thanks.

[soil]

why all the chemicals?

[toxcrusadr]

None of those are toxic at all, in fact the fish are swimming in them so they can't be. Also, they are all minerals that occur naturally in soil - all the metals, and the sulfates too, are already in your soil. I would not worry at all about adding any of that to the compost.

[PunkRotten]

Thanks guys. I am about to do some pruning so good timing. Also, some of my plants and algae are gonna have snails and maybe other little aquatic critters.