Reminder, keep up on maintenance!

[H2OPlayar]

Side bar…
The gunk in these could be great plant fertilizer
I would be very interested in know the N, P, K

That's why everyone should keep a freshwater tank too!

 

[Kensington Reefer]

That's why everyone should keep a freshwater tank too!

I got that covered, and a turtle in a 300 gallon Rubbermaid

 

[ReyDeFarts]

IIRC
Fertilizers are “salts”
That said it would be diluted with H2O

I guess we have different tastes in ferts... yes, there are some fertilizer brands with a concentration of salts that are bound up with other compounds. Some break down quickly and some break down slowly. Sodium chloride in high concentrations kills plant life or stunts growth. Not all salts are the same was my understanding.

 

[Kensington Reefer]

I guess we have different tastes in ferts... yes, there are some fertilizer brands with a concentration of salts that are bound up with other compounds. Some break down quickly and some break down slowly. Sodium chloride in high concentrations kills plant life or stunts growth. Not all salts are the same was my understanding.

Agreed
Hence my element concentration analysis question

 

[richiev]

Maybe the important part is differentiating a chemistry definition of a salt (things that change bonds in water) with common definitions of salt (NaCl aka table salt).

My understanding is fertilizers don't contain the latter, and it kills plants, while saltwater definitely does contain NaCl. However it's been... a very long time since I took Chem classes.

Here's Chatgpt's response:

---

Yes, fertilizers often contain salts, but they generally do not include sodium chloride (NaCl) because high sodium levels can be harmful to plants by affecting soil structure and water uptake.

Salts in Fertilizers
Many fertilizers are made up of ionic compounds (salts) that dissolve in water, releasing essential nutrients for plant growth. Common fertilizer salts include:

1. Potassium Nitrate (KNO₃) – Provides potassium (K) and nitrogen (N).
2. Ammonium Nitrate (NH₄NO₃) – Supplies nitrogen (N).
3. Ammonium Sulfate ((NH₄)₂SO₄) – Another nitrogen source.
4. Calcium Phosphate (Ca(H₂PO₄)₂) – A phosphorus source.
5. Potassium Chloride (KCl) – Common potassium (K) fertilizer.
6. Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO₄) – Provides magnesium (Mg).

Why Not NaCl?
Sodium chloride is not a fertilizer because:
Sodium (Na⁺) is not an essential plant nutrient for most plants.
High sodium levels can lead to soil salinity, making it harder for plants to absorb water.

Excess chloride (Cl⁻) can be toxic to some plants.

However, some salt-tolerant plants (halophytes) can tolerate higher sodium levels, and in rare cases, sodium-based fertilizers may be used in specific soil conditions.

Would you like help finding fertilizers suited to a particular type of plant or soil?

 

[tribbitt]

Side bar…
The gunk in these could be great plant fertilizer
I would be very interested in know the N, P, K

IIRC
Fertilizers are “salts”
That said it would be diluted with H2O

Fertilizers contain “salts”. However, I can't imagine adding extra sodium chloride can do much good for the plants - especially if you skim wet

Ron Shimek did an ICP of skimmate in 2002, and he noted that "The sodium concentration in skimmate [...] is effectively the same as in the tank water, while in skimmer sludge [...], it appears substantially lower than in tank water". But even in the skimmer sludge, sodium concentration is around 1/2 of the concentration in skimmate and tank water.

That seems like a lot of salt to give a plant, especially if you do it regularly

 

[Kensington Reefer]

Fertilizers contain “salts”. However, I can't imagine adding extra sodium chloride can do much good for the plants - especially if you skim wet

Ron Shimek did an ICP of skimmate in 2002, and he noted that "The sodium concentration in skimmate [...] is effectively the same as in the tank water, while in skimmer sludge [...], it appears substantially lower than in tank water". But even in the skimmer sludge, sodium concentration is around 1/2 of the concentration in skimmate and tank water.

That seems like a lot of salt to give a plant, especially if you do it regularly

Well done
Thank you Young Master Reefer

 

[robert4025]

A Reef Octo skimmer with built-in float switch in the cup would’ve prevented the cup from overflowing. Just saying’…

 

[Kensington Reefer]

A Reef Octo skimmer with built-in float switch in the cup would’ve prevented the cup from overflowing. Just saying’…

Yes
But then we wouldn’t have had the skimmate fertilizer investigation

 

[Kensington Reefer]

Maybe the important part is differentiating a chemistry definition of a salt (things that change bonds in water) with common definitions of salt (NaCl aka table salt).

My understanding is fertilizers don't contain the latter, and it kills plants, while saltwater definitely does contain NaCl. However it's been... a very long time since I took Chem classes.

Here's Chatgpt's response:

Yes, fertilizers often contain salts, but they generally do not include sodium chloride (NaCl) because high sodium levels can be harmful to plants by affecting soil structure and water uptake.

Salts in Fertilizers

Many fertilizers are made up of ionic compounds (salts) that dissolve in water, releasing essential nutrients for plant growth. Common fertilizer salts include:

1. Potassium Nitrate (KNO₃) – Provides potassium (K) and nitrogen (N).


2. Ammonium Nitrate (NH₄NO₃) – Supplies nitrogen (N).


3. Ammonium Sulfate ((NH₄)₂SO₄) – Another nitrogen source.


4. Calcium Phosphate (Ca(H₂PO₄)₂) – A phosphorus source.


5. Potassium Chloride (KCl) – Common potassium (K) fertilizer.


6. Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO₄) – Provides magnesium (Mg).



Why Not NaCl?

Sodium chloride is not a fertilizer because:

Sodium (Na⁺) is not an essential plant nutrient for most plants.

High sodium levels can lead to soil salinity, making it harder for plants to absorb water.

Excess chloride (Cl⁻) can be toxic to some plants.



However, some salt-tolerant plants (halophytes) can tolerate higher sodium levels, and in rare cases, sodium-based fertilizers may be used in specific soil conditions.

Would you like help finding fertilizers suited
to a particular type of plant or soil?

I’m no chemist!
Thanks for your info

 

[Kensington Reefer]

Is that a chocolate covered donut?

 

[dangalang]

Is that a chocolate covered donut?

Chocolate old fashioned, my favorite.

 

[tribbitt]

Bake and leave in office break room

 

[gmdcdvm]

This is why I like this site. We start off on a maintenance topic, transition to fertilizer, and end up on donuts!
G

 

[Kensington Reefer]

This is why I like this site. We start off on a maintenance topic, transition to fertilizer, and end up on donuts!
G

It ALL brown in the end

 

[PjFish]

Fertilizers contain “salts”. However, I can't imagine adding extra sodium chloride can do much good for the plants - especially if you skim wet

Ron Shimek did an ICP of skimmate in 2002, and he noted that "The sodium concentration in skimmate [...] is effectively the same as in the tank water, while in skimmer sludge [...], it appears substantially lower than in tank water". But even in the skimmer sludge, sodium concentration is around 1/2 of the concentration in skimmate and tank water.

That seems like a lot of salt to give a plant, especially if you do it regularly

Haven’t you ever tested skimmate with refractometer ? Not sure if I’d float my hydrometer lol

 

[tribbitt]

Haven’t you ever tested skimmate with refractometer ? Not sure if I’d float my hydrometer lol

Gross. But I can do it today

 

[JVU]

Haven’t you ever tested skimmate with refractometer ? Not sure if I’d float my hydrometer lol

If you’re serious, that won’t tell you the salt concentration

 

[H2OPlayar]

If you’re serious, that won’t tell you the salt concentration

I assume the best way would be to dilute with a known quantity until the water is "clear" then test and do the math on what the true concentration is.

Or just throw it out

 

[iani]

You should looking to skimmate locker/collector. I can go weeks without emptying it.

I've cleaned my skimmer cup once in the last 2 years haha. I have a 5 gallon locker and a skimmer neck cleaner.