Dipping your newly acquired plants to prevent unwanted hitchhikers - still a thing?

[Art]

It is a fact (I think) that we do not know exactly how or why algae grows in our aquariums. We can be reasonably sure that algae spores do make their way into our aquariums and can sprout when conditions are favorable for them. Therefore, it seems reasonable to think that preventing algae spores from getting into your aquarium in the first place would be a good practice.

We also know that snails and other fungi, microorganisms, etc. can all make their way as hitchhikers on plants you purchase from a fellow hobbyist or shop. In fact, it's common to say that when you put your buddy's plant into your aquarium, you know how everything they had in their aquarium in yours.

If the above sounds reasonable to you, why isn't dipping plants prior to putting them in your aquarium more talked about??

It used to be a thing and people had all sorts of concoctions for dipping. Now, I hardly ever hear of anyone doing it.

Have we gotten to the point where it doesn't matter what hitchhikes in, we will deal with it in post?

Any thoughts??

 

[DutchMuch]

I never have dipped. I don’t have algae problems when my setups reach their equilibrium and mature usually, and if I do, it’s my fault as I’ve measured something incorrectly.

Algae is an important indicator as much as it is a burden to be seen.

 

[techman81]

I was going to try reverse respiration with my last plant transfer between tanks but got lazy and just did a good rinse and inspection. I think @Jeff Miotke mentioned using it though.

 

[gnatster]

I've only used tissue culture since I started again.

 

[Kwyet]

I don’t care about snails, and if I see algae on a newly arrived plant I’ll just cut it off before putting the plant in the tank. I do rinse and try to make sure there isn’t any duckweed in it.

 

[Jeff Miotke]

I was going to try reverse respiration with my last pkant transfer between tanks but got lazy and just did a good rinse and inspection. I think @Jeff Miotke mentioned using it though.

yea I mentioned that is a thing but I haven’t done it because I use tissue culture mostly. Was hoping someone with experience could chime in.

I suspect those that care are doing TC mostly and those that aren’t worried about it would not bother.

most algaes arent much of an issue but there are some that are a nightmare because they thrive under the same good conditions as plants.

 

[Koan]

I loathe snails.

(Mystery snails excepted, which unfortunately I have yet to successfully keep alive in my low KH water with CO2 )

I dipped all my plants religiously for a very long time, using this recipe



based on this experiment



It was a spectacular and complete success.

Just as long as you remember to do it, don't get too busy, or too excited and drop a big batch of plants directly in the farm tank right after work without thinking..

Then it's all for nought

Fortunately Stevie the Betta thinks they are a fun tasty treat. Not enough to keep the population down but enough to keep him entertained. When he moves out of the farm tank, my plan is to move in a school of zebra loaches

And my new favorite nanofish, these micro loaches



also think snails are deleeeecious: I anticipate taking great satisfaction in watching them hunt any hitchhikers from the farm tank

 

[Phish Tank]

I never dipped, but now I'm changing my tune.

I recently found planaria in a tank, and once I eradicate it with a few rounds of panacur, I am planning to use the same Alum dip @Koan mentioned in all future plant additions to the tank.

 

[Rob23]

I've used a 5% bleach dip in the past, and recently used the reverse respiration method on some M. pteropus and B. japonica. The java fern displayed no negative effects due to the reverse respiration. The Blyxa seemed to have a few leaves melt, but that could have been due to transportation shock; it recovered very quickly. That said, I don't think I would use the reverse respiration method again as I find either a bleach or alum dip to be quicker and as effective.

 

[BenB]

People used to do (working from memory here) a 10% potassium permanganate dip for snails also.
If you're interested, Google it first and don't rely on my memory.

 

[Pepere]

I was going to try reverse respiration with my last plant transfer between tanks but got lazy and just did a good rinse and inspection. I think @Jeff Miotke mentioned using it though

yea I mentioned that is a thing but I haven’t done it because I use tissue culture mostly. Was hoping someone with experience could chime in.

Definitely make sure you use room temp seltzer water and not refrigerated.

And some plants definitely do not do well with it at all.

I have had horwort disintegrate from reverse respiration as well as Scarlet temple.

I really never noticed a substantial benefit with algae.

Dialing in nutrients and light, growing healthy new growth discarding infested old growth has worked better for me.

 

[mrmoss]

yea I mentioned that is a thing but I haven’t done it because I use tissue culture mostly. Was hoping someone with experience could chime in.

I suspect those that care are doing TC mostly and those that aren’t worried about it would not bother.

most algaes arent much of an issue but there are some that are a nightmare because they thrive under the same good conditions as plants.

It works on the most sensitive plants. I did it on syngonanthus bahia and that plant after had thrived in my tank. One of the couple of times I have tried it.

For those that dont know u get seltzer(carbonated water) and submerge the plant in it for I forget 8 hrs? 14 hrs? I just left it till the next day but the carbonation runs out way sooner. And it aphyxiates any live organism and algae. Works really well. But I dont do it I dont bother to take the time. I dont care if I get algae introduce the spores or snails and some other pests. I care about scuds and planaria and most of all f*** gibba. Gibba seems to be spreading in the us and I despise it. Ive stopped buying plants in usa afraid of it.