Can you safely get plants from rivers and lakes and put them in and aquarium? and if so how do you prep them for a tank.
Plants?
- Thread starter T-Hbrand
- Start date
You certainly can.
Hitchhikers are an issue, especially if you have fry or small fish- predators such as dragonfly larvae and water tigers can easily ride in unseen, as well as harmless but potentially annoying stowaways such as snails. Rinse plants thoroughly and visually inspect them for predators. Then put them in a quarantine tank and inspect the water periodically for critters. Marginal plants like Saggitaria and Echinodorus species can even be potted and kept out of water for a while; this should rid you of most hitchhikers.
If they're going in a tank with bigger fish only, no need to worry. Your fish will happily gobble down most hitchhikers.
Also be aware that many plants will 'melt' when transplanted. Just pull away the dead foliage periodically; the plant should put out new growth shortly.
Hitchhikers are an issue, especially if you have fry or small fish- predators such as dragonfly larvae and water tigers can easily ride in unseen, as well as harmless but potentially annoying stowaways such as snails. Rinse plants thoroughly and visually inspect them for predators. Then put them in a quarantine tank and inspect the water periodically for critters. Marginal plants like Saggitaria and Echinodorus species can even be potted and kept out of water for a while; this should rid you of most hitchhikers.
If they're going in a tank with bigger fish only, no need to worry. Your fish will happily gobble down most hitchhikers.
Also be aware that many plants will 'melt' when transplanted. Just pull away the dead foliage periodically; the plant should put out new growth shortly.
I wouldn't, but if i did, i would set up a QT tank and set them up in there for a month or two,then add barbs to check the water. That's just what i would do.
I agree. Your better off getting plants from hobbiests or stores. But if you do it, then rinse them and QT them.
Personally, I trust wild-collected plants over storebought. At least you can see the conditions they're growing in (and even look up EPA data on the water body). With storebought plants you have no idea. Now a trusted hobbyist who you know keeps clean tanks- that's best.
The reason I want to collect my own plants is that the only pet store were I live sell all there plants for like 14 dollers and they all look like crap.
haynchinook334;2492149; said:
why do people value the lives of their fish more than small fish? It shows the interest in the hobby does not lie in true husbandry.
Do either a potassium permanganate dip, or an alum bath.
Potassium Permanganate: This is the best way. You can get it at Lowes, HD, or any random hardware store. It's an extremely strong oxidizer that's used to regenerate iron filters. It's also a BA anti-parasitic for fish. Add enough to water to turn it pink and dip the plants for about 15min (please where gloves, this stuff does not like your skin... it will stain). Remove plants and place in freshwater with a bunch of dechlor (hydrogen peroxide will work in a pinch).
Alum: Aluminum sulfate (the stuff grandma used to keep her home made pickles crunchy) is in the spice aisle. A tablespoon per gallon is enough. A few hours will do the trick for parasites, but it will take a couple of days if you want to kill all the invertabrates that can hitch rides.
I use potassium permanganate myself, never had a problem from plants.
Not satisfying and that's so unfortunate. Just quarantine the plants like Noto suggested. You don't want unwanted pests ruining your main tanks.T-Hbrand;2493219; said: