New Plant Sterilization?

[ShawnyO]

Hello All,
New to the Planted Tank thing and have been gathering some different plants from the good folks here. I think I have enough now to start putting a scape together but want to make sure the only things I introduce into that tank is the plants. What is the best way of sterilization to prevent hitchhikers algae and snails? Or does anyone have a procedure when bringing plants home that works? I have read of bleach dips/h202/excel od - and I am confused as some of the info seams contradictory. Any help/insight is as always appreciated.
~Shawn

 

[tyler79durdan]

Get some Potassium permanganate from the hot tub section of a HD or lowes, and mix some up diluted(recipes can be found by googling...

And use this as a twenty min dip for the plants, then rinse then in some established water from your tank.

-Aaron

 

[ShawnyO]

Tyler,
Thank you for the response! I will look at home depot tomorrow. Any other advice as far as procedure for what to do when bringing plants in? I am looking to perhaps learn from someones proven "routine" and adapt it to my needs - im thinking its better to be safe than sorry
~Shawn

 

[J double R]

A different solution that might not require you to go hunting at the store, is the bleach dip. a simple 20:1 bleach solution, dip for 30 seconds, double rinse in clean water with a heavy (triple or more) dose of dechlor, and you'll be good to go.

 

[odinthejd]

I agree with the 20-1 solution of water to bleach works great!

 

[tyler79durdan]

A different solution that might not require you to go hunting at the store, is the bleach dip. a simple 20:1 bleach solution, dip for 30 seconds, double rinse in clean water with a heavy (triple or more) dose of dechlor, and you'll be good to go.

I agree with the 20-1 solution of water to bleach works great!

These are alternatives, and commonly used dipping procedures...

In my experience, I tend to stay far away from bleach, as bleach is resilient and sometimes hard to tell if you got it all off...

Good luck and like I said, both are accepted methods.

P.S. when using bleach, one should be cautious of delicate roots as those are the first harmed when bleach dipping incorrectly. no more than 5-10 mins in bleach...

-Aaron