Sterilizing Plants With Bleach

[Katty]

I'm expecting to get some plants in the mail in 2-3 days. I've already introduced some nuisance bugs and algae into my tank through some plants from the local store, after just rinsing the snails and eggs off of them with water (I have no snails, at least ). I don't want any more funny bugs and algae though. I asked the business I'm ordering the new plants from, and they said there may be some hitchhikers, and recommended a potassium permanganate soak if I was worried about it.

I've checked/called all of the local hardware stores, and all of them don't carry the pp. Is there anywhere else I can check? I've been thinking I could use bleach. Has anyone used bleach before? Did the plants come out okay?

The plants I'm getting are Cryptocoryne Crispatula, Ludwigia Natans (Ludwigia Repens), Rotala Indica (Rotala Rotundifolia), and Sagittaria Subulata (Dwarf). Could these stand up to a bleach dip of 1 part bleach to 20 parts water? How long should I leave them for? Or should I really hunt for the potassium permanganate? I didn't spend a bunch of money on plants to kill them before they're even in the tank .

 

[ian]

If you want pemangenate, you can get it from a phamacy. We use it at work to draw puss out of boils!

I normally soak for an hour in normal water, then in they go, with minimal pest snails.

 

[BackToTheFishes]

I just give them a quick salt water bath then rinse in tank water,always worked for me and no messing with chemicals