help

[EJ Willits]

does anyone know if its ok to use tetra aquasafe when setting up a new system to condition water? Is there anything that will stick around and get in your plants thats bad for you?

[Sylvia Bernstein]

Hi EJ.  Someone told me early on to avoid any kind of aquarium water conditioners unless it is an absolute emergency because they are not good for the plants and they will buildup in your system.  Mainly these are for neutralizing chlorine...is that why you would be using it?  If you just let your system run for a day or so before starting cycling the chlorine will just off-gas on it's own.

[EJ Willits]

Thx Sylvia, could you give me your opinion on my situation? These are the details. Two months ago I set up a new system, 160 gal. FT and six 25 gal GB's. I added my tilapia and 100 gal. of the water they were in into my new FT. Then I put in 60 gal. of tap water and four tablespoons of tetra aqua safe to remove the chlorine. Then the system cycled for a month before I added plants. Then a month after THAT (which is now) I have a bunch of very healthy happy looking plants of various kinds. But as i was about to harvest my first batch of salad greens (lettuce, arugala, mustard) I started wondering about that aqua safe and if anything could have stuck around long enough (2 months) to get into my plants. I only used it that one time and things look good, do you think i have anything to worry about? I would hate to have to pull all my plants and start with new water, but I certainly dont want anything bad for me in my plants about to start eating. Any advice is apriciated