If you have an aquarium – don’t flush away the water when you clean! Instead, use it for your garden and plants.

As you siphon out fish waste and decaying food particles, you are also siphoning out large amounts of helpful bacteria along with all the trace nutrients all plants need to survive (Phosphorus, Nitrogen, Potassium, iron, etc.). Using this “fertilizer” water on your garden and houseplants is very beneficial, and can do wonders for your plants. Additionally, instead of flushing fish when they die, dig them into your garden soil for added fertilization.

Using fish byproducts is not a new concept, the Native Americans were adding fish to the soil when growing crops and taught us the “trick” of increased yields and food production. Today, many fish emulsion products are on the market, but if you have an aquarium, it’s the perfect, local source.

I’ve started using my dirty water from our planted aquarium in my garden, and I’m sure the plants are loving it. Plus, I’m not flushing the water down the drain anymore!

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