Plant Questions

[bikinguy]

Hi All,

I have just placed a nice piece of root wood in my angel tank and am thinking about getting some java fern or java moss to tie onto the wood and maybe later some Anubias type plants.

In looking for plants in some places I have noticed they often keep fish in with the plants and I dont want to risk contaminating my tank. Even with tanks with no fish cannot be certain they did not have fish in them earlier.

Where do you shop for your plants and what process do you put them through to assure no disease comes along for the ride ?

[Mzungu]

Interesting question!

I usually get my plants from fellow hobbyists, or collect them locally if they're for my native tank. The only time I really worry about bringing something bad in with the plants is when I collect them locally.

I've done both bleach dips (1-2 minutes in a 20:1 water and bleach solution) and potassium permanganate dips to get rid of any nasties that may hitchhike on plants. Usually, though, you're safe because not many things will survive without a fish host for long periods of time.

If you're worried about snails, though, that's a different story. Add plants, and no matter how diligently you clean them, a snail will probably pop up in your tank. )

[bikinguy]

Plants

thanks..the chemical you talked about was the one i was trying to remember.

Good start to Sunday morning as I just cracked a super cheap 125 on water fill test.
The bottom was flush with garage floor seemed level..no biggie.

O well as least I have a couple of panes of .50 inch glass to make a couple of plywood tanks if I so choose.

[mark razmandi]

i have personally never done anything for my plants before i put them in my planted tanks.....infact, most stores i buy from tho just have plants in their tanks....