Anyone use aquarium water for orchids?

[Fishkeeper]

I've been raising fairy shrimp lately. They live in distilled water that has a small amount of minerals added back in, and, being animals, they add a small amount of waste to the water. I've been using that water intermittently for my orchids, I figure it's probably a good light fertilizer. Anyone else do something like this, and if so, does it do anything noticeable?
If you have aquariums and don't put the water on your houseplants, you should, they like it and you gotta use that water for something.

[cgrace]

WC water is supposed to be great for plants. I use mine in my houseplants. My friend soaks her phals in her water change water from her super dirty (but primo fancy) goldfish and she says they perk up considerably. I think of WC water as free orchid fertilizer.

That said, there are many variables to consider and not all water coming out for a water change will be the same. The loose concept and my lay-woman understanding makes think that hypothesizing that a lot of plants could benefit from it wouldn't be all that far off. </pseudo-armchair-science>

[estación seca]

A lot of us use our aquarium water for orchids. I'm not aware of any problems with this.

[Optimist]

I did when I first started. I then rationalized that it was the de-chlorinator that made it better. Now I just mix de-chlorinator in the water that I have the fertilizer in. Chlorine/chloramine in water is unnatural. My orchid roots have been great since I stopped subjecting them to the chlorine in regular city water.

[Manu]

Originally Posted by Optimist

I did when I first started. I then rationalized that it was the de-chlorinator that made it better. Now I just mix de-chlorinator in the water that I have the fertilizer in. Chlorine/chloramine in water is unnatural. My orchid roots have been great since I stopped subjecting them to the chlorine in regular city water.

Why not just let it evaporate? I fill up a few gallons of water and let them open for a few days. Chroline fully evaporates.within a few hours, chloramine takes longer but at 1-2ppm it should be gone after 2 days or so (correct me if I'm wrong!)

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by Manu

Why not just let it evaporate? I fill up a few gallons of water and let them open for a few days. Chroline fully evaporates.within a few hours, chloramine takes longer but at 1-2ppm it should be gone after 2 days or so (correct me if I'm wrong!)

You're wrong. Chloramine is stable and doesn't evaporate. It needs to be either chemically neutralized or filtered out.

[Manu]

The internet seems to think otherwise and everyhing I've read states that it does breakdown and evaporate after some time, it just seems hard to find an exact figure as to how long it takes...

I personally used to use RO water, but have been back on tap water for the past year with no adverse effects. Plants are all striving. I still use RO for my 2 Dracula's as they are very sensitive and like pure water. All others get tap water that I let sit in open jugs of water for a few days.

I guess maybe for aquariums this is really important, but I don't see this being an issue with most orchids.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Most city water reports list the chloramine status of their water. You can decide if it is an issue based on the reports, which are usually available online at the utility website, or available upon request. Chlorine itself is a plant micronutrient Efficient Fertilizer Use Guide Micronutrients | Mosaic Crop Nutrition

Fish tank water should be fine as long as nothing harmful has been added to the water. I don't keep fish now, but when I had an aquarium, I would add some sea salt to the tap water I had available (recommended by a book that I had at the time). That slightly salty water of mine would probably not be good for orchids.

[Ray]

Chloramine is quite stable in solution, and does not evaporate from the water as chlorine does. That is specifically why it is preferred for water treatment.

[SaraJean]

Originally Posted by Manu

I guess maybe for aquariums this is really important, but I don't see this being an issue with most orchids.

I think it just depends on where you live. I contacted my sewage an water board about the choramine in our water supply and while I don’t recall the exact number off of the top of my head, it’s high. Very high. That is because of our water source (the very bottom of the very dirty Mississippi River) and our near constant high temperatures is a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. Other areas may not have this issue, you lucky dogs... They also stated that it is a stable chemical that does not break down, unlike chlorine. Every one of my orchids that I had at the time when I was using tap had burned roots. Switching to r/o water for my sensitive ones and using a neutralizer for the rest that get tap has helped immensely