bleach dipping plants

[bigmatt76]

my plants have some blck tuffs of alge on them and i was wondering how to do a bleach dip. is it bad for the plants? do i just use straight bleach or do i use water with it?
thanks for all of your help!!!!!
matt

[Timmain42]

Bleach dips aren't great for senstive plants. Most plants can withstand a short dip, tho.
The ratio of water:bleach should be 19:1. Don't dip for more than 30-45 second to be on the safe side. I like to use NovAqua to debleach: take a 5-gallon jug, fill it up, and pour in two caps of NovAqua. Stir well, and when the plants are done with the bleach dip, drop them into the NovAqua jug for about 10 minutes.

[daveedka]

I have heard everything from 10 minutes to ten seconds. IME (very limited) 15 seconds will kill most algaes, 20 seconds will kill a lot of plants. Stem plants seem to be more sensative for me. Beyond that Timmain42 nailed the ratio's I use, I use prime at double strength for the dechlorination dip afterwards, but I imagine NovAqua is as good or maybe better.
Dave

[bigmatt76]

ok i have a fern so would that be of for a bleach dip? and i also have drift wood covered in it?????

[daveedka]

If you are talking Java fern, It would be fine. it is about the toughest aquatic plant in existance. I'd dip it 10-15 seconds and then rinse it in water with extra dechlorinator. As far as the Driftwood, most folks would say don't dip it. I have done so without issue, but wood is pourous, and therefore will absorb the bleach which makes it harder to ensure dechlorination before you return it to the tank. Good advice would be to dip your driftwood and then set it out in the sun for several hours to make sure all clorine has gassed off. You may be better off all around to just scrape down the driftwood real well and rinse it off then put it back in the tank without bleaching it at all.
Dave

[bigmatt76]

ok thanks a lot for all of your help. i am going to go do that now.

matt

[tuvok]

Another bleach-dippable plant is anubius. I left mine in a 1:20 bleach water solution for probably more than 15 seconds with no problems. In fact the anubias see to be doing better than the plants that were not dipped in bleach.