Fish cleaning table?

[frazwood]

I was thinking of making myself a fish cleaning table for my basement. It would basically be a countertop and a sink... nothing too fancy.

I was thinking of plumbing a powerful garbagedisposer to the sink so that I could grind up fish entrails, bones, heads, etc. and send them down the sewer.

Has anyone ever tried this? How big/powerful of a garbage disposer would I need?

[BobT]

I like the idea of the disposal but if you have a garden it would make an excellent fertilizer.

[Swimbait2009]

You have to grind up the carcasses for the fertilizer right? Could just plumb a disposal to drain into a bucket or something portable. You probably already have a water tap down there somewhere that you could run a hose from to the table. This way you wouldn't have to worry about any permit issues I wouldn't think since it's not technically a permanent piece of the house...more like a homemade tool. I too would be curious as to the power of the disposal needed to do this.......spring project?

[eyemaster]

The garbage disposal is NOT a good idea. I did this once and plugged up the drain...I wouldn't do it again.

[Swimbait2009]

Which part of the drain did you plug up? Were you trying to send it to the sewer, or just into a bucket for fertilizer?

[LightningBG]

I've never ground up the fish for fertilizer. In fact I've used plenty of whole fish before. Bury them down in the soil when planting the seeds. Keep them and entrails, etc in the freezer until time to plant.

Not saying this is the best way, but its worked for me.

if your going to grind them up and put them in a bucket, why use a disposal? What about a blender or food processor, then you dont have to strain out all the water.

[deerminator]

Blender. Ok, who's thinking Bass-o-matic here?!?!?!? : )

[frazwood]

Blender. Ok, who's thinking Bass-o-matic here?!?!?!? : )

That's precisely what I'm thinking.

[frazwood]

The garbage disposal is NOT a good idea. I did this once and plugged up the drain...I wouldn't do it again.

I'm thinking that a bigger disposer would not clog.

[backlash 1]

First of all a garbage disposer is never a "good" idea. Most people do not run enough water to keep the drain open, and they will not call for service until the drain is TOTALLY plugged tight.

If you insist on a disposer, plumb it to the sewer. A half or 3/4hp is plenty, fish bones are not that hard.

DON"T just run it into a bucket! Without the capability of being able to flush the disposer with water, you are going to have one HELLACIOUS stink going on. I'm starting to gag just thinking about it.

[Juneau4]

Sounds like a lot of work to me when you can just dig a hole and bury them or put them in the garbage.

[Surface Tension]

I believe the object was to make clean up and the whole task easier. While fish are a good fertilizer the last thing I want to do after cleaning fish when I get home is run out to the garden and bury the guts. If your that ambitious I applaud you for being consciousnesses enough to use all of the fish you take home.

I put the carcass in a plastic bag and freeze it or toss it in the garbage if the garbageman is coming in the next day or so.

A couple years ago I thought I'd make a fish emulsion for the garden. It stunk so bad my sister in law would have killed me as my garden is at my brothers house just down the road.

So I'm back to throwing the guts out again.

A disposal for this purpose might work but since it takes water for it to work right, down the drain seems like the best solution.

[Redlantern]

Anytime I can talk someone out of using a disposal I feel good. They are one of the most useless devices ever invented. Great way to get rid of extra money if you have too much laying around. They get plugged, people lose things in them, they cost to install, they are somewhat of a danger for people with little kids, they send stuff to the sewer that could just as easily be sent to the compost heap. Nope, can't say enough bad things about them.

[frazwood]

Anytime I can talk someone out of using a disposal I feel good. They are one of the most useless devices ever invented. Great way to get rid of extra money if you have too much laying around. They get plugged, people lose things in them, they cost to install, they are somewhat of a danger for people with little kids, they send stuff to the sewer that could just as easily be sent to the compost heap. Nope, can't say enough bad things about them.

I am thinking that if I get a big enough disposer, then it will not clog. My question is how big?

As far as cost of installation, I can do it myself... ergo, it's free. Also, I can fixed clog disposers and I know how to operate one correctly...

As far as compost vs. sewer, the compost will stink. I happen to be a wastewater treatment engineer, so I know that the sewer can handle it.

[frazwood]

I believe the object was to make clean up and the whole task easier. While fish are a good fertilizer the last thing I want to do after cleaning fish when I get home is run out to the garden and bury the guts. If your that ambitious I applaud you for being consciousnesses enough to use all of the fish you take home.

I put the carcass in a plastic bag and freeze it or toss it in the garbage if the garbageman is coming in the next day or so.

A couple years ago I thought I'd make a fish emulsion for the garden. It stunk so bad my sister in law would have killed me as my garden is at my brothers house just down the road.

So I'm back to throwing the guts out again.

A disposal for this purpose might work but since it takes water for it to work right, down the drain seems like the best solution.

I'm currently freezing the fish remnants and then throwing in the trash. Since this stuff is biodegradable, I don't like that approach.

Simply put, I'm not allowed to bury it... my wife would kill me if she had to smell that stuff all the time.

[Rip_Some_Lip]

I work for the city of Fairmont and the city built a fish cleaning shack with a big grinder. It did not take long to plug up the 8" sewer main. We replaced the old clay sewer with a new 8" pvc sewer and it didnt help. They have a timed water flush that runs 3-5 minutes after each use and it still didnt work. Now the sewer crew has to go and power flush the sewer twice a month and that seems to help. I would not use a garbage disposal unless you want to spend a lot of money jetter cleaning your sewer service on a regular basis and also smelling it from your drains. Just my 2 cents.

[Redlantern]

Fraz, I don't think the disposal clogging is going to be your problem since you say you know how to unclog them. It's the scales going through your plumbing that's going to be the problem. They'll build up in time if you clean enough fish. But, hey, suit yourself. Half horse will be big enough for your needs.

[frazwood]

Fraz, I don't think the disposal clogging is going to be your problem since you say you know how to unclog them. It's the scales going through your plumbing that's going to be the problem. They'll build up in time if you clean enough fish. But, hey, suit yourself. Half horse will be big enough for your needs.

Thanks Eric. This is a good argument against.

I think I'll work on the Mrs. regarding using them as fertilizer. I doubt I'll win... I bought an "organic fertilizer" a few years ago (i.e., the package said that it was ground-up rough-fish) and I still hear about it from her.

[frazwood]

I work for the city of Fairmont and the city built a fish cleaning shack with a big grinder. It did not take long to plug up the 8" sewer main. We replaced the old clay sewer with a new 8" pvc sewer and it didnt help. They have a timed water flush that runs 3-5 minutes after each use and it still didnt work. Now the sewer crew has to go and power flush the sewer twice a month and that seems to help. I would not use a garbage disposal unless you want to spend a lot of money jetter cleaning your sewer service on a regular basis and also smelling it from your drains. Just my 2 cents.

Thanks!

The engineer in me says that y'all need more than an 8" sewer main for this. Of course, I'll have smaller than an 8" drain at my house... so... I think it's time to give up on my dream of a fish cleaning table.

[DTro]

Why does it matter where it decomposes? The sewer, the garden, or the landfill?

Line a 5 gallon bucket with a paper grocery bag, and toss it in the trash (freeze before hand if need be). Then not only are you recycling the bag, it will eventually make great black dirt at the landfill.

[frazwood]

Why does it matter where it decomposes? The sewer, the garden, or the landfill?

Line a 5 gallon bucket with a paper grocery bag, and toss it in the trash (freeze before hand if need be). Then not only are you recycling the bag, it will eventually make great black dirt at the landfill.

It matters to me (i.e., where my trash goes matters to me... I'm not saying anything about anyone else) because I want to limit the amount of trash that I send to a landfill.

I'd rather it go to a sewer or to my garden -- my wife won't allow the garden... but it looks like it's going to continue going to the landfill.

[hydro]

Don't waste your time and money on a garbage disposal grinder. Here is why:

It will grind things up fairly well BUT it wil NOT chop up the skins, and that's what will plug up both your drains and the disposer itself. You will find yourself digging it out constantly to clear it up. I learned this the hard way after I put a 1/2 HP disposal into the sink of our resort's fish cleaning house. Ground up everything but the skins, and didn't even make a dent in the leathery stuff. After cleaning it out constantly I removed the unit and went back to the bucket/plastic bag/store in the freezer til trash day routine.

[Itsa Pole Bender]

My grandpa's garden has been the envy of the family for as long as I can remember (at least 25 years) and that has been because he always burries the fish carcases in it. Mixes in some water and heads out to the garden. He has also used them for ever in his roses, which also has worked great. Now that i have a house and this will be my first real garden........ guess where my carcasses are going!

[LightningBG]

It matters to me (i.e., where my trash goes matters to me... I'm not saying anything about anyone else) because I want to limit the amount of trash that I send to a landfill.

I'd rather it go to a sewer or to my garden -- my wife won't allow the garden... but it looks like it's going to continue going to the landfill.

I know this post is a little stale...but

Putting organic matter into a landfill is not going to hurt it one bit. Its all the plastic and metal that's going to fill up a landfill and take 10000 years to break down.

[frazwood]

Originally Posted By: frazwood

It matters to me (i.e., where my trash goes matters to me... I'm not saying anything about anyone else) because I want to limit the amount of trash that I send to a landfill.

I'd rather it go to a sewer or to my garden -- my wife won't allow the garden... but it looks like it's going to continue going to the landfill.

I know this post is a little stale...but

Putting organic matter into a landfill is not going to hurt it one bit. Its all the plastic and metal that's going to fill up a landfill and take 10000 years to break down.

I'll politely disagree. As I said, this matters to me. You can do what you want.