Will Salt water from my tank kill my grass?

[mnestroy]

I was going to try to make my water changes easier and I was thinking about running a drain hose into my Sump Pump and in return it would eventualy pumped out onto my grass...

1. Do you think the salt water would hurt my sump pump?
2. Do you think the salt water would hurt my lawn? :)

Thanks!

[whatevva]

1. Do you think the salt water would hurt my sump pump?

It will shorten the lifespan somewhat..

2. Do you think the salt water would hurt my lawn?

Yes, the grass will die..

[Buster4900]

I pour the water from water changes on my driveway and have now weeds or grass growing in the cracks like I used to, so I think it will kill the grass.

I would think it would causen rust with your sump pump.

[tekknoschtev]

I'd avoid it if you can. I don't know how it'll affect a sump pump, but we do as Buster4900 does, and use it to rid the weeds in the cracks of the sidewalk and driveway. Occasionally when doing larger water changes the water will hit the edge of the grass and it gets a little burned, but we also try to water it down more so as to not burn the grass.

Does wonders keeping weeds out of the driveway though.

[Rijinals]

Buster4900, what a good super hint!!! You learn something new everyday!!!!!

[deansreef]

it will kill the grass for sure!!!

[marinelife]

it will kill the grass if you do it in the same spot every time, just change the spot and you will be ok

[mnestroy]

Darn, so much for the sump pump/grass method, that woulda be super easy :)

Hmm maybe I can run it to my sewage drain line.

[ek9vboi]

Oh ok, I was reading the thread and was thinking... why would it shorten the lifespan? lol... because of the overhead it has to push inorder to get the water from the sump out into the grass area.

Good idea on the killing weeds in the driveway. My parents are going to be happy about this! :)

[itstheantitang]

I read something in a hydroponics book about saltwater, here is the quote:

"So long as there is good drainage and free movement of salty water through the growing medium plants will tolerate very saline water, even sea water, for indefinite periods."

-Quote from The Beginner's Guide to Hydroponics. Book written by James Sholto Douglas (Not ME!)

My take on this is that it could be the pH of the water you are dumping on it. I dumped aragocrete cure water on the grass, and it died.

[jay24k]

Mine doesn't kill my grass at all. I only change out like 15 to 20 gallons though. Hell we had rose bushes near it and I swear the one would grow much faster.

[mnestroy]

I didn't realize this would be such a debatable question :)

[skeeter-doc]

i just dump mine out into the street and let it dry up there, and get washed away

[reefNetWork]

drain it to your gutter....if possible.

[rux]

Salt water will kill grass. It is the salt that kills the grass. Those people from southern regions who have bermuda/ Augustine lawns will experience less symptoms because these types of grasses are more tolerant to this salt water. Some golf courses in the South irrigate with salty, reclaimed water and are able to do so because of the type of grass. Those of us fom the North will most likely kill the grass with the salt water. Think of when your dog goes to the bathroom in your lawn. The spot usually dies and this is caused by the high salt content. If you are forced to dump in your yard, hose the water off of the leaf blade and it should do a lot better. The saltwater is also very bad for soil structure but I will save that debate for later.

Brandon

[jester805]

Are there any negative effects of draining saltwater to a septic tank? :cool: I have a septic and just drain my tank water down the sink when I'm doing water changes.

[Dr.Maybe]

Yes I killed mine with brackish so full salt will def. kill grass.

[ERICinFL]

Just run the hose into your toilet and use a clamp to keep it in place. As long as your toilet isn't clogged, it won't over flow.

[Brent Thomann]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7797899#post7797899 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mnestroy
I was going to try to make my water changes easier and I was thinking about running a drain hose into my Sump Pump and in return it would eventualy pumped out onto my grass...

1. Do you think the salt water would hurt my sump pump?
2. Do you think the salt water would hurt my lawn? :)

Thanks! I'm up north/east and my grass doesn't die one bit. My basement sump pumps 40gals of my tanks water directly onto it every 3 to 4 weeks, not that it would make a difference but I use reefcrystals. Heck it might even grow more in that area. hope that helps.

Oh, I have a standard sump pump too that hasen't failed me either.

I would worry about it.

[twon8]

i just send mine down the toilet, self flushing

[iamquockie]

i dumped mine in the backyard once, killed the grass. Not just grass, the vines and weeds that even hot grease did not wipe out were killed by the saltwater.

[sabodish]

i used to pump mine to my sump pump just as you want to do. i live in NC, and have fescue grass. i can tell you after 3 months of 20 gallons per month it killed a line of grass in my backyard where my sump pump discharges to...dont do it.

[jaymz101]

It really depends on the species of grass. Here in FL the nasty grass that we have is very tolerant of salt water and the soil is so loose and sandy that most of the water drains away very quickly. Try it on a small patch of your own grass and see what happens. Worst comes to worst......you lose one sq foot of grass.

[iamquockie]

i imagine that the native species of grass in FL is tolerant of saltwater. Places like tx where saltwater is 8-9 hours away probably has never tasted saltwater before. again, all on where u are at.

[Brent Thomann]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7824779#post7824779 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iamquockie
i imagine that the native species of grass in FL is tolerant of saltwater. Places like tx where saltwater is 8-9 hours away probably has never tasted saltwater before. again, all on where u are at. I'm further than that from saltwater (buffalo) and it doesn't kill mine.

[Sk8r]

When the Romans decided to make sure Carthage didn't come back and attack them a third time, they sowed the ground of that city with salt. It prevented agriculture for good and all for centuries.

[iamquockie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7824814#post7824814 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by humpn247
I'm further than that from saltwater (buffalo) and it doesn't kill mine.

I guess some grass is tougher than others. Last time I checked buffalo was only about 6 hrs from nyc?

[Shemp]

Not sure about grass, buy my gf inadvertently poured out a couple gallons of saltwater from a water change over some potted plants. They were dead 2 days later.

[mnestroy]

Heheh so I guess the verdict is.... salt water will kill most things except salt water fish :)

[Brent Thomann]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7825991#post7825991 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iamquockie
I guess some grass is tougher than others. Last time I checked buffalo was only about 6 hrs from nyc? yeah I guess, strange.

My grass has no sign of stress and is bright green.

8 to 9hrs to nyc from here. depending on traffic. family in long beach.

[reefshadow]

you can make a diy weed killer as good as the stuff you buy by mixing salt, dish soap and vinegar... reading this thread I may use some of my water change water, mix it with the above and use it in a spray bottle.

I noticed discarding out the back door onto the patio that it took awile for the salt to start killing stuff, but after dumping it a few years, nothing will grow there now, lol.

[iamquockie]

I'm going to propose a homemade weedkilling remedy to Home Depot consisting of the ingredients you stated reefshadow. We are going to hit it rich! I'm aiming for $25 in gross sales weekly!

[mnestroy]

Better mix in some gasoline just to be sure it does its job :)

[Milleme]

i send it down the potty

[xtm]

the only grass that saltwater doesn't kill is green star polyps

[reefshadow]

lol

[Josh125]

I only dumped it once, didn't do a thing. I'm less than an hour from the coast, so I'm not sure how that plays into the ocean proximity theory...ha.

[whatevva]

Think of when your dog goes to the bathroom in your lawn. The spot usually dies and this is caused by the high salt content.

This is not true. Dog urine is extremely high in nitrogen, so it's more of a fertilizer burn. If you watch the urine burned areas of the lawn , you'll see that the grass usually grows twice as high near the edges.

As far as salt water lowering the life expectancy of the sump pump? The salt will corrode the metal parts faster than plain water would, shortening the life of the pump.

[Speckled Grouper]

All I can say is that in Hurricane Wilma, we had a 4 foot storm surge that covered my entire neighboorhoood in the Florida Keys, yards and streets, thousands of cars got submerged and distroyed, not counting all the other things like yard equipment, washers, dryers, etc. All sensitive plants died, except any salt tolerant trees and shrubs like Coconut Trees, etc. We found dead barracudas in the street and after the water receeded, my yard was covered with about 2 inches of greyish silt.
Well, today, my grass is greener than ever, it's simply amazing, the sea water must have had some heavy duty fertilizer in it.

[jenajet]

I use a python siphon so it all goes down the sink. I then use a manual siphon to pump my saltwater from the mixing bucket to the tank. This is so easy and no messes! If you do use a automatic siphon you have to monitor the suction or it will suck out sand and water. I just put pressure on the tubing and I can get it to pic up detrius and leave the sand behind.

[iamquockie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7841963#post7841963 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Speckled Grouper
All I can say is that in Hurricane Wilma, we had a 4 foot storm surge that covered my entire neighboorhoood in the Florida Keys, yards and streets, thousands of cars got submerged and distroyed, not counting all the other things like yard equipment, washers, dryers, etc. All sensitive plants died, except any salt tolerant trees and shrubs like Coconut Trees, etc. We found dead barracudas in the street and after the water receeded, my yard was covered with about 2 inches of greyish silt.
Well, today, my grass is greener than ever, it's simply amazing, the sea water must have had some heavy duty fertilizer in it.

must be the dead cuda's and the silt. its stunk though huh

[lakee911]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7801616#post7801616 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rux
Think of when your dog goes to the bathroom in your lawn. The spot usually dies and this is caused by the high salt content.

Usually it's high nitrogen. Burns the grass. Some dogs are worse than others (diet?) Look around the burnt area, should be an extra green ring.