Fish tank water is great for . . . .

[lauraf]

These are quite random questions - please feel free to tell me to repost in another thread, but it seems most of the sub-threads get no traffic and I would very much like some responses.
Question #1) since my aquarium water is filled with stuff to aid the growth of the submerged plants, plus all the fertilizing fish waste, would the water I take out during a tank change also be beneficial for houseplants/outdoor plants?
Question #2) spending a couple of weeks at home during the Vancouver Olympics lent me to fuss more with my tank, plus I had no nail polish on. My nails have grown much stronger during this period - has anyone else noticed that fish tank water (maybe it's the calcium or other minerals) actually makes your nails stronger???
Any other suggestions of what fish tank water should be used for?

 

[OrangeCones]

I've always used old fishtank water to water houseplants and outdoor plants. Its a good source of dissolved organics that help plants grow.

I've never noticed my nails growing better with fishtank work, but mine grow pretty fast already.

 

[phin]

I tried watering my Money Tree with fishtank water for a few weeks. It began to wilt and loose leaves when I did this so I stopped. Now I dump it outside and there is some pretty good moss growth where I dump the water. This summer I'm going to dump the water in my veggie garden and see if it doesn't kill my maters.

 

[BristlenosePleco]

Thats cool I never thought to do that. I might just give it a try!

 

[littletankbigworld]

The only thing I have ever noticed with my water is that it makes my skin itch. I haven’t noticed any change in my fingernails.

 

[bassbonediva]

I water my roses with my fish tank water. They aren't absolutely flourishing, by any means, but the fact that I live in the desert, have VERY clay-ey soil, and have the biggest brown thumb ever (except where aquarium plants are concerned...I can grow those like weeds!), the mere fact that my roses are still alive and have new growth on them already is heartening. I was watering my mini rose inside with fish tank water and it was flourishing, but then my house heater broke and the rose doesn't like the cold. It's not completely dead, though.

As far as my nails go, I work with horses, so my nails are short regardless. I have found that they don't break as easily when I let them get a little longer, though, so maybe that has to do with the fish tank water. I don't know.

 

[Newman]

lol nails are made of keratin , and calcium/other tank water minerals have little to do with your nails at all

What I think is happening is that using your hands more in the manual labor (and perhaps physically using your nails in some way) causes nail tissue to grow and replace itself more rapidly, possibly making them tougher. maybe a similar concept as callused skin

 

[lauraf]

lol nails are made of keratin , and calcium/other tank water minerals have little to do with your nails at all

What I think is happening is that using your hands more in the manual labor (and perhaps physically using your nails in some way) causes nail tissue to grow and replace itself more rapidly, possibly making them tougher. maybe a similar concept as callused skin

Hey Newman:
That is a very sensible concept. However, I don't think it's true for my situation, and I'm not going to bore you all with the story of my easy-flaking nails I'm thinking that having no manual labour (as in sorting paper at the office and scrubbing dishes at home) as well as having no nail polish on (which is shocking to me - I thought polish was helping to protect my weak nails) for a couple of weeks might be more the answer.
But I was quite curious about whether the water minerality could be an explanation - plus, my girlfriend is totally into the commerical messages about 'naturally infused minerals' et.al.
Anyhoo, my nails aside: I would like to hear more about people's experience with watering their indoor/outdoor plants with tank water. I did it several times last summer and actually noticed that some of my plants looked sadder because of it. Perhaps I was overwatering? Is there something in the tank water that is damaging to regular plants if given undiluted?

 

[lauraf]

Psst, Paige - if you work with horses you must love Mane 'N Tail - the hair conditioner that we use - and there is that nail strengthener for horses' hooves that is marketed for people as well - do you recall its brand name?
And yes, Newman, they are both keratin-based
Cheers.

 

[Newman]

lol .