Floating plants question

[aweav]

Ok this is gonna sound a little weird. I was at a LFS and saw some floating lettuce (Pistia Stratiotes) in a tank. I was thinking about getting some but then thought well I can just get it out of my neighbors pond. I know with rocks and stuff you can boil them but obviously that won't work. Is there anyway to sanitize it so i won't throw my water into chaos?

 

[black hills tj]

hydrogen peroxide bath?

 

[zacusmaximus]

bleach dip

 

[aweav]

so i would just like dip them in bleach for a few seconds and then rinse and ready to go?

 

[newfound77951]

I think you use diluted bleach, maybe a 5% solution, although someone will probably chime in. Full strength will kill the plant!

 

[Purrbox]

Please check out this link for more detailed info on performing plant dips.

 

[Sicklid]

I would not dip the roots whatever you do... you can also use potassium permagranite solution.

 

[aweav]

Well I did what you guys said, but within a day my fish ate all the roots off the plants anyway so I guess I will have to abandon this idea. Thx

 

[Purrbox]

What fish are you dealing with?

Could be that the roots were damaged despite the care you took and therefore became a meal, or you could just have plant eating fish.

 

[aweav]

well a handful of tetras, some barbs and a Silver dollar and A redhook met. A couple other misc fish. I watched a couple of them pick at it but not devouring them. I'm thinking the silver dollar is the culprit here.

 

[Purrbox]

Silver Dollars are known plant eaters and the likely culprits. Not sure if any of the others would have helped.