Treating New Plants Before Adding To Aquarium

I've read so much about snails hitchhiking on new plants. I've ordered some plants for the first time and want to treat them before adding to my aquarium. What is a safe and effective method?

 

You can quarantine plants for a month or so. You can give them a salt dip or a dip with copper in it, though I’m not sure if certain plants may be copper sensitive. If you rinse the plants very thoroughly most snails should be out, but it’s always possible some will be there, thus the dips are quite effective

 

I've read so much about snails hitchhiking on new plants. I've ordered some plants for the first time and want to treat them before adding to my aquarium. What is a safe and effective method?

The salt method is effective and not harsh on your plants and kills usually all of the snails and eggs. There are step by step instructions which are easy to follow and you won't have a problem.

 

Is it better than bleach and water?

 

Is it better than bleach and water?

In my opinion yes, bleach and water might damage some of your more delicate plants. If you want to use the bleach method, it's 19 part water :1 part bleach.

 

I want to do what's most effective without damaging my plants.

 

I want to do what's most effective without damaging my plants.

Then the salt bath is your solution.

 

Thx.

 

Gastropex added to water, soak plants according to instructions on bottle for a couple weeks before planting in aquarium should get rid of snails that have hitchhiked on new plants

I did the salt bath for two weeks and still got snail explosions

No damage to any plants

 

You kept the plants in the salt bath for 2 weeks?

 

Gastropex added to water, soak plants according to instructions on bottle for a couple weeks before planting in aquarium should get rid of snails that have hitchhiked on new plants

I did the salt bath for two weeks and still got snail explosions

No damage to any plants

Are you sure they didn't come from the fish?

 

Yep....tub of cold water, 4 litres of water, 4 teaspoons of salt for 2 weeks

Failed abysmally

Bought Gastropex dosed the aquarium, took 2 lots of 3 day doses 7 days apart and finally got the snails under control.....but you can use Gastropex in a pre aquarium treatment bath instead

The snail explosions came before the fish, so had to have arrived on the plants

My second aquarium coming next week will have all artificial plants cos not having hundreds of snails again....it was a complete nightmare

 

You can use Potassium Permanganate for dipping your plants. It can also be used to kill the snails in your tank. However you need read up on PP very carefully beforehand as it can do significant damage to / kill your fish if overdosed. Here is a good thread:

https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/using-potassium-permanganate.397208/

I just did my first time PP treatment on my tank last weekend and I don't seem to have any living snails left except those hiding in the substrate but I expect to get them all eventually as my intention is to use it before every WC in a preventive manner (diseases prevention) at a level of 2 ppm.

 

I knew I had a photo somewhere of how the plants spent 2 weeks in a large tub (actually a plastic breadbin that worked out well for the task) 4 litre tub, filled with cold tap water with just salt in it. left the tub in the kitchen by a window so that plants got their dose of sunshine etc

 

You can do an alum dip for a few days. I have never tried it myself, but others have claimed success.

 

Sure appreciate the tips.

 

Is it better than bleach and water?

Snails are honestly part of the hobby and something most people learn to live with. They're almost inevitable.

I have treated some of my plants with a water/bleach mix. About 1 part bleach to 20 parts water. Then I rinse really well with water. I heard it helps with algae. I don't think this can kill snails though. Not much can.... Snails are tough. I've even boiled all of my substrate and deep cleaned everything when I had a really bad snail problem. They came back....

I ended up getting a puffer it cleaned me out in 2 days. Now I have to breed snails in a separate tank.

 

I have treated some of my plants with a water/bleach mix.

Isn't this the same as dipping in tap water since it's chlorinated and kills all the bacteria and potentially all living creatures?
I've bought some plants online and wondering how long plants could be kept in the tap water.

 

Plants can be kept in tap water indefinitely....just as cut flowers are. As long as you make sure they get sunlight they are fine in tap water, mine gre roots and several saplings too whilst I had them in the tub of water for two weeks

 

Isn't this the same as dipping in tap water since it's chlorinated and kills all the bacteria and potentially all living creatures?
I've bought some plants online and wondering how long plants could be kept in the tap water.

IMO snails can probably survive tap water. The main reason it kills fish is due to the chlorine burning their gills, and snails are very tough little creatures

 

ystrout...
But I don't want it to be part of the hobby. I like my one little nerite with my betta in my 5 gal tank. I don't want any more snails or the poop that goes along with them. LOL Now I feel like it's hopeless to be successful eliminating snails. What is a puffer?

ehjj,
I got a chuckle out of your response. I assume it was said in jest.

 

ystrout...
But I don't want it to be part of the hobby. I like my one little nerite with my betta in my 5 gal tank. I don't want any more snails or the poop that goes along with them. LOL Now I feel like it's hopeless to be successful eliminating snails. What is a puffer?

A puffer with a betta in a 5 gallon would not work, but an assasin snail would work. Assasin snails are freshwater carnivorous snails that feed upon other snails. Your nerite snail has a trapdoor which should protect him from predation

 

Now that sounds like a viable solution if bleach or salt solutions aren't successful.
What do you think the percentage of plants purchased have snails or eggs?

 

Now that sounds like a viable solution if bleach or salt solutions aren't successful.
What do you think the percentage of plants purchased have snails or eggs?

Every batch of plants I’ve bought so far had some, except the 1-2 grow, which are grown in a pesticide free, snail free lab environment. They’re more expensive, 13$ a piece, but you can make 12-15 little plants out of one pot. They are very small though.

What I now do is have my net ready at all times and when I see a snail, I grab it with the net, then quicky crush it so it doesn’t suffer and put it back in the tank for fish to eat. I hate them, but like others said, they can’t be avoided.

The best thing is having a loach. If I can find one specie that won’t eat my nerite snail, I’m getting one.

 

I ordered my plants from AquaLeaf Aquatics. Anyone heard of it or anything about it? Found it on Amazon.

 

Yep....tub of cold water, 4 litres of water, 4 teaspoons of salt for 2 weeks

Failed abysmally

Bought Gastropex dosed the aquarium, took 2 lots of 3 day doses 7 days apart and finally got the snails under control.....but you can use Gastropex in a pre aquarium treatment bath instead

The snail explosions came before the fish, so had to have arrived on the plants

My second aquarium coming next week will have all artificial plants cos not having hundreds of snails again....it was a complete nightmare

If you want plants but not snails get tissue culture plants. I have a heavily planted tank all from tissue culture but one and zero snails except the nerite snails I put in there.

 

I love having snails in my tank they clean up in places that fish and other things can't get into to me if you got snails and some algae you have a healthy ecosystem

 

How big is your tank and how many snails?
I have a 5 gal. and one nerite with my betta. I read that too many add to the bio load...super duper poopers.