Alum vs Bleach

Roan Art

Roan Art

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Some people use a bleach solution and others use alum.

I'm assuming alum is safer, but is it better to use on live plants than bleach?

I know that alum will rid the plants of any snails and eggs, but for parasites that may be on the plants (ie: ich), will alum kill them or no?

Roan
 
I thought alum was just for the snails/eggs.

An easier solution on plants for killing pathogens (from bleach) is potassium permanganate. Jungle Products “Clear Water” contains it. Use a 10 minute soak mixed according to directions (adjusted for smaller quantity), but make sure the water stays light pink. Sometimes you put it in and it becomes clear right away, then I add a few more drops.

Even easier, put new plants in quarantine. Things like ich can’t survive without a host.

If I know there’s snails (i.e. store tank had them), I treat with alum. Otherwise, I don’t. But I do a double whammy, I treat with the Clear Water in a basin and then quarantine in a 5 gallon. (I made a mistake once and it will never happen again.)
 
this may not be of direct help, but i have a little backround information on the use of alum

Alum was used in the early days of sewer systems to treat water. Its chemical properties remove many organics from suspension, particularly the garden variety cysts and parasites that were such a nuisance in the early days of urbanization. thats why its so effective at reducing colonies of microscopic organisms, like snail eggs.

overall, id say potassium permanganate is probably the most effective, as a plant sterilizer or net wash, but be careful to rinse. bleach is effective, and diluted properly, can even add trace amounts of chlorine ions plants need for proper glucose synthesis (not added directly to an aquarium of course).

go alum if you like old school
 
Thanks, guys!

I like the old school alum :) but I want to be sure that I'm ridding new plants of any hitch-hiking parasites like ich. Quarrantine is an option, yes, but if one doesn't have to, then I'd rather not. When I buy or order plants I usually get quite a few at once because I have a planting design I want to create. I'm impatient :)

Now, other than the brand name that kveeti mentioned, where else can I get potassium permanganate? Is it sold as thus in drugstores? If yes, where would I find it?

Roan
 
I think it's available through Science-type places. Be careful if you find it and mix it yourself. Wear rubber/vinyl gloves and old clothes. It stains.

Edit... copied from Skeptical Aquarist:
Kordon markets a 3.84% solution of potassium permanganate as "Permoxyn" if you can't get it cheaper in crystal form, either at the drugstore or among water conditioner supplies at your local HardWarehouse or wherever.
 
Last edited:
Roan Art said:
Now, other than the brand name that kveeti mentioned, where else can I get potassium permanganate? Is it sold as thus in drugstores? If yes, where would I find it?
Click to expand...
Sigma-Aldrich have all kinds of fun stuff - I'm just not sure what they allow the average human to buy. This is just one form of potassium permanganate they sell:


http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/search/ProductDetail/SIAL/399124

...they also sell MS 222 (keep the space in there; the sedative / stuff you can use to put down a fish "painlessly").

FWIW,

Liz
 
if there is a university near your home, you should be able to get lab grade chemicals from their supply store.... general university info phone number should set you up
 
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