Re: [RML] chlorinating tanks & 'sterilizing' plants

Michael Eckardt (mike at odg.com)
Thu, 24 Jun 1999 15:58:49 -0400

> Has anyone tried a bleach rinse (where the plants survived)?
> Scott

Most plants will survive a gentle bleach treatment:
- most broad leaved stem plants (Bacopa, Hygophilia, Ludwigia, etc) will
survive a 1 minute bath in 19 parts water : 1 part bleach (laundry type).
- fine leafed stem plants (Hydrotrich, Myrophyllum, etc) will be affected
after 30 seconds
- Echinodorus species, Java fern, crypts, will survive up to 2 minutes
- Anubias can handle more than that yet.

CAVEAT: There is a large risk that your plants may be affected well below
the above given times. Therefore, DON'T bleach your prized plants! The best
strategy to get clean plants into a tank is this:
1) use emerse cuttings of stem plants
2) use plants from clean tanks only! (I know, easier said than done)