I Know! Those plants are going to make your tank look the Bomb!
But WAIT! They may kill your tank! Yes, plants can carry disease, algae and snails.
Not that snails are bad for your tank. If you have fish that like them then by all means they won't grow rampant.
DISINFECTING YOUR PLANTS:
1. Postassium Permangenate- This is effective mainly against harmfull bateria and pathogens. In diluted form it is Jungle Brand Clear Water. This is a ten minute soak.
2. Alum- This is very effective against snails and their eggs. This requires a 2-3 day soak. One tablespoon per gallon of (h2o) water.
3. Household Bleach- This is effective for pathogens, algae, and snails. But this method can harm your plants if you aren't careful. Make sure you do not allow contact with the roots, rhizome, or bulbs with the bleach. The solution is 1 part bleach to 19 parts water. Make sure you rinse with water very well, and also with a de- clorinator.
Most plants can handle a 2-3 minute wash in this solution. The exceptions would be: Najas, Java moss, and Ceratophyllum (hornwort).
4. Quarantine Tank- Though I don't think many of us would see this as an option. It is one method. This gives a few weeks to monitor your plants. It does have the advantage of using it for a possible hospital tank also. The plants will still need to be cleaned. But it does let you identify a possible problem, especially with the snails.
*NOTE: Make sure you rinse your plants well before adding to your tank. Also, remember to pull any yellowed or dead leaves off. I hope this has helped you out!
Very nice article. I think next time I try taking some plants from my dam I will use a few of these methods. :)
jdizine, one thing to add that I learned today is that Hornwort does not hold up well to the bleach. I had read where some plants are more sensitive to bleach than others, but I could not recall reading which plants. I had never purchased Hornwort before today and did my usual light bleach solution for a few minutes. When I came back, half of the Hornwort was brown instead of green and all the little "fronds" that turned brown came off. I Googled plants sensitive to bleach and it turns out fine leaved and stemmed plants are the ones that cannot tolerate the light bleach solution. If you've ever seen or had Hornwort that was not healthy, you know what a mess it can be with all the little things floating around.