Sterilizing plants in a diseased tank

[WaterBaby]

How can you sterilize plants that are in diseased tank? Or do I just have to throw them away (they're not cheap).

I have a tank that I must tear down in order to disinfect it. There are a few live plants in it that I really don't want to get rid of, but I don't know if the "baddies" in the tank will somehow get transferred to any other tank that I put the plants into (or maybe this tank when I finally get it clean).

What do you suggest??

Michele

 

[TKOS]

A mild bleach solution should do the trick. Same thing can be used to ridding new plants of algae and snail eggs. Do a forum search for bleach as I don't know the exact concentration and time for dipping. I suspect 10% bleach or less.

 

[Captain Hook]

Never done it personally, but everyone seems to recommend a solution of somewhere around 20 parts water : 1 part bleach. For example 750 mL of water and 37.5 mL of bleach.

If you go this route, don't dip them for very long. Some of the tougher plants can take a minute or two in the bleach as long as their roots aren't in it. More delicate, fine leaf plants will only be able to take 10-15 seconds at the most.

Another option is a dip in potassium permangeanate (spelling?). It's crystals that you dissolve in water. I have some on hand but have never done that either so I don't know too much about it.

 

[hike13]

Here's a link that was given to me not that long ago about getting rid of snails. It might help.

Sterilizing Plants