I Feel So Stupid

[shrimply]

Recently I recieved a really nice dark green clump of java moss. The only problem was it was covered in snails so I used the recomended 1ml beach to 20ml of water and soaked it for a couple of minutes I was devestasted when I poured out the solution and it was green. My moss is now light green instead of dark green. I am actually really annoyed at myself I have waited ages to get my handds on the moss and now it would appeared that I have killed it.

I have put it in the tank anyway and hope it picks up. But what went wrong?

At least all the snails are dead.

 

[Qays]

Hopefully its not dead

(rephrased)

 

[shrimply]

As it happens after this I doubt I will use bleach again but it is a tried and tested method used by many people.

 

[Rooster]

Are you SURE you got the dilution right ? ie 20:1 or thereabouts ?
If so, I wouldnt worry that much.... make sure its WELL rinsed, in old tank water or water with conditioner (to remove the chlorine - bleach is just that !) and float it in the tank, this way it will receive max light.

The green you leeched out is probably just the top layer of dead cells... if theres ANY green left, and it aint brown, im sure it will be back !

 

[shrimply]

Yeah I used 800ml of water and 40ml of bleach and it was properly mixed before it was put near the moss. I rinsed well and it hasn't got any worse since. Thanks for the reasurrance.

 

[Qays]

Ok, that really hasn't improved my mood. Maybe you should do some research before you make coments like that.

As it happens after this I doubt I will use bleach again but it is a tried and tested method used by many people.

Sorry, didnt mean offence

 

[shrimply]

Oh you don't need to apologise. Just forget that in fact I will delete it. I am far too cranky for my own good at the minute.

 

[pseud]

If you didn't make mistakes, you would never improve.

 

[Qays]

Oh you don't need to apologise. Just forget that in fact I will delete it. I am far too cranky for my own good at the minute.

) Thanks! Good luck with your moss!

 

[zig]

Yes indeed.....easy now everyone

Shrimply i have used Bleach in the past and to be honest i dont really recommend it, ive had very mixed results, some plants live and others dont make it at all, it really is a measure of last resort IMO, the only advice i can give to you and others is to use Thin Bleach as opposed to the Thick Bleach which seems to be the norm these days, Parazone do a Thin Bleach which IMO works a little better simply because its not as powerful as the thicker bleaches, if you do a nose test with both types of bleach the smell from ticker bleaches can be overpowering, presumably because its hugely concentrated.

Anyway i have used both types and had more sucess with the thinner bleach verities, nothing at all scientific about my approach whatsoever just from observation and experience.

But i still dont recommend it especially in the case of snail removal.

 

[Rooster]

"But i still dont recommend it especially in the case of snail removal."


What are the alternatives ? Im sure there are lots of folk "infected" with snails !

 

[smithrc]

aye up - sorry to hear about the moss

I got the swap yesturday morning and its now in our tank..

Let me know how you get on, if you need it, I'll send some more

(there wasnt that many snails on it was there? I only spotted a few on it and picked them off)

I'll give it a clown loach dip next time

 

[Nim]

I hope it was not Oxygen bleach? Oxygen bleach contains Hydrogen peroxide that oxidates all green stuff (Plant cells).

I have myself never really used bleach.

Nim

 

[Tolak]

If you didn't make mistakes, you would never improve.

That is one of the most intelligent things I have ever seen posted concerning aquatics. It should be a banner across the beginners section.

 

[shrimply]

aye up - sorry to hear about the moss

I got the swap yesturday morning and its now in our tank..

Let me know how you get on, if you need it, I'll send some more

(there wasnt that many snails on it was there? I only spotted a few on it and picked them off)

I'll give it a clown loach dip next time

Thanks, I think in the near future I might have to purchess some more moss of you,if that is possible.

There was quite a few young snails in it I picked of about ten and probably another ten feel out after the bleach dip. They were mostly ramshorn but also a couple of MTSs. It is quite possible they hatched in the post.

I will give it a few weeks but I don't hold up much hope it is very light green in colour and lacks the bushiness it had.

I am giving up a snail free tank from now on as it would appear impossible. Glad you recieved the plant and hope it was what you expected.