If you are setting up your first fish tank, before introducing the fish, you may want to put in some attractive aquarium foliage. It can be confusing to decide which of the aquarium plants to add to your tank. It all depends on the fish you will add. Another concern is how do I sterilize aquarium plants?
The answer is, it will depend on the fish and whether or not you want them to be able to nibble the foliage for a snack. Some fish will nibble on certain kinds and leave others alone to grow. There is one more thing you should consider before adding them to the substrate. That is, you should take the precaution of sterilizing them first. The reason is, some will introduce bacteria and pest snails into the tank.
It is well worth the extra time and effort to avoid losing plant life and fish too. As you prepare to disinfect make certain to test the mixture by dipping one small leaf from each plant. A dip that is too strong will kill the foliage.
Chlorine bleach in the properly diluted strength will kill the algae without harming the foliage. Use regular household bleach that is diluted and place in a clean bucket. Have another bucket ready containing rinse water ready to use.
The second bucket should be filled with dechlor in three times the normal strength. Dip large-leaf plants in the bleach for three minutes. Next, dip into the dechlor bucket and then rinse under running tap water. If you detect any smell of chlorine after you finish, repeat the same process again.
Smaller plants having delicate leaves will be dipped in the bleach bucket for only two minutes. When doing a new underwater garden for a new aquarium, add extra dechlor to the rinse water. Finally, add some dechlor to the tank as an extra precaution. Other solutions that may be used are potassium permanganate or alum dip. Snail eggs and microscopic bugs can be killed by the alum dip.
The answer is, it will depend on the fish and whether or not you want them to be able to nibble the foliage for a snack. Some fish will nibble on certain kinds and leave others alone to grow. There is one more thing you should consider before adding them to the substrate. That is, you should take the precaution of sterilizing them first. The reason is, some will introduce bacteria and pest snails into the tank.
It is well worth the extra time and effort to avoid losing plant life and fish too. As you prepare to disinfect make certain to test the mixture by dipping one small leaf from each plant. A dip that is too strong will kill the foliage.
Chlorine bleach in the properly diluted strength will kill the algae without harming the foliage. Use regular household bleach that is diluted and place in a clean bucket. Have another bucket ready containing rinse water ready to use.
The second bucket should be filled with dechlor in three times the normal strength. Dip large-leaf plants in the bleach for three minutes. Next, dip into the dechlor bucket and then rinse under running tap water. If you detect any smell of chlorine after you finish, repeat the same process again.
Smaller plants having delicate leaves will be dipped in the bleach bucket for only two minutes. When doing a new underwater garden for a new aquarium, add extra dechlor to the rinse water. Finally, add some dechlor to the tank as an extra precaution. Other solutions that may be used are potassium permanganate or alum dip. Snail eggs and microscopic bugs can be killed by the alum dip.
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