I was thinking about getting a few live plants from the lake just to add some color to my aquarium. Is this safe to do, or could they affect my water and hurt my fish? Please let me know, thanks! 
Using live plants from the lake?
- Thread starter Mtnbike719
- Start date
it depends on the quality / level of pollution in the lake you plan to take them from, maybe take a water sample and test it.
Also, even if the plant you get looks healthy, clean it thoroughly, take out anything rotting/decaying on it, and I'd recommend giving it a bleach cleaning. I've never bleach cleaned before so I'm not sure how that works, google it lol.
Otherwise i'm pretty sure it would be safe. It would also be best to try to I.D. the species you're getting just to be on the safe side + i dont know if it's illegal but I don't see why it would be, just dont steal anything super endangered......like..... a redwood or something ;p heheh.
Also, even if the plant you get looks healthy, clean it thoroughly, take out anything rotting/decaying on it, and I'd recommend giving it a bleach cleaning. I've never bleach cleaned before so I'm not sure how that works, google it lol.
Otherwise i'm pretty sure it would be safe. It would also be best to try to I.D. the species you're getting just to be on the safe side + i dont know if it's illegal but I don't see why it would be, just dont steal anything super endangered......like..... a redwood or something ;p heheh.
Okay, thanks, I will look that up. I am just going to get some milfoil (an invasive plant in our lakes that are trying to be killed off, so I don't think anyone will care) just to add some live plants to my aquarium and make it look better.
Just make sure you wash the plants off, if the water is evidently polluted.
Otherwise, depending on what fish you have, throw it in, and your fish will have LOTS of fun looking for snacks (all the microorganisms, etc) - really fun to watch, as long as you are aware of what IS found in plants (snails, etc etc)
Otherwise, depending on what fish you have, throw it in, and your fish will have LOTS of fun looking for snacks (all the microorganisms, etc) - really fun to watch, as long as you are aware of what IS found in plants (snails, etc etc)
i personally wouldnt do it. you dont know whats in that water. if you do i would put the plant in a qt tank in hope to rid anything harmful.
bleach lclean it like someone said before
20:1 water to bleach solution
soak for three minute the wash it off reall well in dechlorinator.
20:1 water to bleach solution
soak for three minute the wash it off reall well in dechlorinator.
The only thing I am worry about if you're using it from a lake in TN is that it will die off in the fall/winter.