Treatment of new plants

[Nebraska_cichlids]

What's the most effective way to treat new plants before introducing them into a tank (fish parasites, disease etc.)? Thanks.

 

[fishgeek]

chlorine dip , for no longer than 2-3 minutes dependant onthe type of plant

 

[Nebraska_cichlids]

Good idea! What's the recommended concentration? I typically work with anubias, bolbitis and crypts. Thanks!

 

[fishgeek]

i was vague because all i have read suggest that 5% of household bleach is needed

though what is the standard concentraion of household bleach?
is there one?
i hvae done plants at no particularly accurate measurements of time nor concentration and have found that if you dont knock all the algae back then at least you weaken it and oto's shrimp and the like tend to eat it more readily

if you leave plants to long you will daage them aswell

have the dip ffor 3 minutes on stem plants and then rinse in water then stand in a solution of dechlor before returning to tanks

andrew

 

[aspen]

i have treated with 1/20 household bleach to water and with 1/50 solutions, and i haven't had any problems with the 1/50 treatment. a 5 min 1/50 bleach dip will kill anything afaik. with delicate pants you are taking your own risks.

i pour 3 buckets of water the same temp and use the 1st as the bleach dip, and the next 2 as rinsing tanks. you don't need to shock the plants any more than you have to by moving them into a different temp water. the 3rd bucket has de-chlor in the water.

rick

 

[lhforbes]

I think Rick gave a very good answer, and this is a good way to both sanitizie and rid plants of algae. Another way is to put your plants in a potassium permaganate dip, this is a little safer to fragile plants.