Regular Member GoldenSpoiledRotten Posted July 24, 2013 Regular Member Share Posted July 24, 2013 So my mom got some water lettuces from her friend Tabby's pond. They're infested with little pond snails. Is there a way for me to sterilize them? Does bleaching work, or would I have to go get some PP or something else? Salt water, maybe? I'm sure there are more threads about this, but I thought I'd make one that was tagged for future use. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Phillyn17 Posted July 24, 2013 Regular Member Share Posted July 24, 2013 (edited) I would try one of these two options for sterilising plants: Give the plants a bath in 1 part bleach to 20 parts water for two minutes (I used this to remove some pesky algae from some of my plants...it worked great). Follow this up with a bath in dechlorinated water for at least 5-10 minutes. Another option is to give the plants a 20-25 minute bath in Potassium Permanganate solution. You can make the solution yourself (for a 3% solution...mix 1 oz per 1 gallon of water.) This will take care just about everything evil that could be on your plants. Edited July 24, 2013 by Phillyn17 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member GoldenSpoiledRotten Posted July 24, 2013 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 24, 2013 The problem I am having is that I am unsure if these plants are bleach tolerant. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Moucho+Moncho Posted July 24, 2013 Regular Member Share Posted July 24, 2013 I don't sterilize mine. I just give them a good wash. I've bleached and PP but they died. Others may have had better luck but I didn't. Pond snail will not harm your fish md they will probably end up as a snack. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member ashlee18 Posted July 24, 2013 Regular Member Share Posted July 24, 2013 Water lettuce might perish due to bleach. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member GoldenSpoiledRotten Posted July 24, 2013 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 24, 2013 (edited) I know they won't harm the fish, but I'm worried they will infest my tank. Water lettuce might perish due to bleach. Hmm... Lori, do you think they'd handle a salt water bath? Edited July 24, 2013 by ChelseaM 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Moucho+Moncho Posted July 24, 2013 Regular Member Share Posted July 24, 2013 Try and rinse most of them off and then crush them as you see them. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member GoldenSpoiledRotten Posted July 24, 2013 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 24, 2013 I think killing them all at once might be better, but thank you for the thought. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Moucho+Moncho Posted July 24, 2013 Regular Member Share Posted July 24, 2013 Well if you want to do that dip the roots in salt. Use 1/3 salt to water 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member soupmonster Posted July 24, 2013 Regular Member Share Posted July 24, 2013 (edited) Hi Chelsea, I've treated my water lettuce with bleach and PP in the past. The edges turn yellow with bleach and the PP may cause little holes. However, this is MINOR damage and it grows crazy fast to replace those leaves. (I throw out about 5-10 water lettuces each week so my other plants get light) I recommend using bleach solution for snails, as it melts their bodies on contact and they have no way to defend against it. However, you need to TRIM OFF all but 1 inch of the roots because after any form of disinfection, they will ALL shed off and get stuck to your filter intake. See all those water lettuce roots in my profile pic? Yeah, you don't want all that in your filter tubes. Edited July 24, 2013 by soupmonster 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member GoldenSpoiledRotten Posted July 24, 2013 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 24, 2013 Thank you very much. Yes, that sounds like a very good plan. It's a shame they have to lose their extensive root systems, but I think with some TLC they may grow back, judging yours! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member soupmonster Posted July 24, 2013 Regular Member Share Posted July 24, 2013 No problem. I prefer others to learn from my mistakes. Yes, they will all grow back, as long as they have light. No need for ferts or anything. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member GoldenSpoiledRotten Posted July 24, 2013 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 24, 2013 Just gave them a bleach bath. Left them in for an extra minute or two to make sure the snails were all gone. I can remove what's left when I clip the roots after their lovely prime soak in the sunlight. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member anogoodrabblerouser Posted July 24, 2013 Regular Member Share Posted July 24, 2013 Looking forward to seeing them in the tank! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Phillyn17 Posted July 24, 2013 Regular Member Share Posted July 24, 2013 Just gave them a bleach bath. Left them in for an extra minute or two to make sure the snails were all gone. I can remove what's left when I clip the roots after their lovely prime soak in the sunlight. Did you rinse them in fresh dechlorinated water following the soak in the bleach bath? May be a good idea.... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member GoldenSpoiledRotten Posted July 24, 2013 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 24, 2013 Just gave them a bleach bath. Left them in for an extra minute or two to make sure the snails were all gone. I can remove what's left when I clip the roots after their lovely prime soak in the sunlight. Did you rinse them in fresh dechlorinated water following the soak in the bleach bath? May be a good idea.... I soaked in 3x primed water and rinsed them under the (well water) tap after. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member soupmonster Posted July 24, 2013 Regular Member Share Posted July 24, 2013 Sounds like you're doing great 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member GoldenSpoiledRotten Posted July 25, 2013 Author Regular Member Share Posted July 25, 2013 Thanks. I just didn't think I could just QT them like last time, because of the snails. Last time I just did 100% wcs every two days for a week or two. I know that several floating pond plants are so delicate compared to submerged plants. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member dnalex Posted July 25, 2013 Regular Member Share Posted July 25, 2013 Good luck, Chelsea! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Daniel Posted July 25, 2013 Regular Member Share Posted July 25, 2013 How did they withstand the bleach dip, Chelsea? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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