Staralising Nets?

[Talz]

I was just wondering... is it really that important to steralise your nets after use? If you think it is... whats the easiest way?

 

[Dorkhedeos]

nope, never do it. i think its a waste of time, but i dont use my net often, probably once a year to take out a dead fish or something.

 

[Phantom Thief]

If you have multiple tanks and you have a tank that has some kind of affliction, then as a precaution you might want to sterilise it. But i personally don't, have not found it necessary.

P.T.

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

i dont bother with mine either but i do rinse the breeder trap when that comes out

 

[andywg]

I tend to leave the net to dry out under the lights as many common pathogens (such as the Ich parastie) cannot survive dehydration.

 

[aberdeen aquarist]

I tend to leave the net to dry out under the lights as many common pathogens (such as the Ich parasite) cannot survive dehydration.

Exactly what I do, plus I only use one certain net for fishing out the very rare dead fish!!

 

[4ftguppy]

If you keep or breed a lot of a similar type of fish in multiple tanks you will eventually come across an illness that is contageous and lethal. Especially if you buy new stock regularly.

I have had the occasional outbreak of things, and now each tank has its own net. In the past I used to sterilise them, but there are problems

hot water - boiling water kills a lot of things - leave them in as long as possible

bleach - killis everything, but rots the net material. Don't use

salty water - a strong (saturated) salt solution soak for a few days will kill most nasties

chemicals like myxazin - may work for specific ailments, but I avoid chemicals whereever possible. You have to throw out the waste water - and we are polluting it enough all ready

drying - as pointed out drying can kill most aquatic pathogens.

Depending on how bad the net is / how contageous the illness I use a mix of the above - or simply chuck out the net and get a new one

 

[Die_Grinder]

lol i dont even own a net anything needs to come out i use my hand. never need to move fish because i know if they will go with what i got when i buy them.

only time i use a net is at work

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I only bother when I have to use a net in a "sick" tank. I have sponged intakes on almost all my filters and as part of ly maint routine they are rinsed weekly. To avoid the gunk on the sponge from going back into the water when I remove them, I use a brine shrimp net or larhger fine mesh net when removing the sponges/intakes. That means nets are always being used in multiple tanks.

When I use a net in a sick tank, as well as syphons etc, I bleach everything afterwards. I don't use a real strong solution (15% bleach max) and I dip the nets for a few minutes. I have not had problems with them disolving because I am carefull not to over soak them. If you do, they will start to come apart.

 

[Talz]

If you boiled it wouldent that just melt the plastic?

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

my nets made out of metal and you only boil the net anyway

 

[jayjay]

i boil my nets and leave them to dry afterwards.