Cleaning plants to introduce to an established Tank

**Cermet** · 05-09-2010, 11:53 AM

When plants are obtained from a store, what is the best solution to clean these new plants for an exstablished aquarium? A special solution and how long do you soak them?

**Algenco** · 05-09-2010, 12:50 PM

There are 3 preparations that can be used.

Good: Bleach soak, 1 part bleach/ 19 parts water, soak plants for 5 min, rough on plants

Better: Potassium permanganate: use enough to turn the water dark pink. a 1 hr soak will disenfect and kill snails, snail eggs will require 24 hrs.

Best: Alum, 1 tbsp per gal, soak overnight

**Lady Hobbs** · 05-09-2010, 01:25 PM

Good post, Algenco. I use the alum most of the time. No fuss and no mess.

**Cermet** · 05-09-2010, 02:02 PM

Thank you very much for the details - my nitrates (all I needed now) have increased in my wellwater (up to 10 ppm Nitrate) thanks to heavy spring rains and I need to add more plants to help remove these from my tank. With my measures to keep ammonia levels down by large water changes, this development was a very unnice suprise.

**Dacotah7** · 05-10-2010, 04:08 AM

Originally Posted by Algenco

There are 3 preparations that can be used.

Good: Bleach soak, 1 part bleach/ 19 parts water, soak plants for 5 min, rough on plants

Better: Potassium permanganate: use enough to turn the water dark pink. a 1 hr soak will disenfect and kill snails, snail eggs will require 24 hrs.

Best: Alum, 1 tbsp per gal, soak overnight

Where does one buy Potassium Permanganate?

Alum? Are we pickling the plants! lol. Interesting. Kills the snails and eggs and other gunk & junk? Any effect on the plants?