Terracotta Pots

when ever i put anything into the tank, i run it under hot hot water for a few minutes, then i do a water change in the tank, and let the new item sit in the old water for a few hours, or even a day. this has always worked for me.

Terra cotta pots are inert, and very safe for the aquarium. Rinsing any dust off is all that is needed, though caz's method allows the item to pick up a bit of bacteria before being introduced.

Always purchase new pots though--used pots may contain traces of fertilizers or toxins (ie, bug sprays!) that would adversely affect your tank/fish.

All a flowerpot is, is baked clay ("baked earth" lioterally). Because terracotta is porous, a used one might have pesticides or fertilizers that could leach out. But you know that.

Soak the pot overnight, cover it with inch-long snippings of Java Moss, set it in a bowl with a glass bowl over it and a little water. Put it in a window for a few weeks until the moss takes....

a Chia Pot!