Banana peels in your sump?

[FatPleco]

This video has a well-known hobbyist throw a banana peel in his sump, presumably as a fertilizer. Is this a secret booster for planted tanks or is it just trolling ?

 

[Art]

It is trolling.

 

[Koan]

Is this a secret booster

Just curious, what would you be trying to boost? The pesticides in the skin mean biofilm is unlikely unless it's an organic banana

If you're trying to jump start your biofilm, vodka dosing in a dark start is a more easily controlled carbon source

Tin Foil Hat Thread 'Vodka dosing a planted tank - carbon dosing for the planted aquarium'

Oct 29, 2024

I am happy to post the first Tin Foil Hat (meaning uncommon and unsubstantiated theory) thread.

Dosing a carbon source to an aquarium is a long-standing technique used in the reefing hobby to lower NO3 and PO4 through bacterial means. Vodka is a pure carbon source in addition to being a pretty good drink and is often used. Essentially, the theory is that bacterial populations in our aquariums are limited by the easy availability of organic carbon (not the type you are bubbling into it). By increasing the availability of organic carbon, you increase the bacterial...

• Art
• Replies: 20
• Forum: Planted Aquarium Discussion

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[*Ci*]

Bananas are a good source of dietary potassium, so maybe the thinking is that it’s a “natural” source of that macro?
It reminds me of people who put barley straw in their ponds because as it breaks down it creates minuscule amounts of hydrogen peroxide and supposedly prevents algae.
However, the negative effects of having a huge lump of rotting straw in the water far outweigh any perceived benefit! Just dose some HP!