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So my 10 gal broke this weekend (long story...) but I had a very heavly planted tank. I was able to use some of the plants in my 20 gal but I will be giving the rest to a friend who need the plants. They all have very good roots and leaves (generally low to mod light) but they have some algae on them. They had beard algae and some green algae on them so I have washed them and taken the worse leaves off. So my question is how long should I quarantine them? Is there a good way to make sure the algae doesnt come back?

smapty,

Depending on the plants, there are a few options:

1) a 19 parts water to 1 part bleach bath for about 2 min should kill off the algae, but this would only work on plants that are not sensitive. It for sure is not recommended on crypts.

2) keep the plants in a darkened container, best would be with water flow, for a few days. The blackout should kill the algae as well.

3) Dip them in Flourish Excel, but I have heard that some plants react badly to this (Anubias was the case that I heard of). Also, the algae will die off over time then and is not instantly killed completely.

That is all I know, hope this helps,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

So...
1) Tried beach one time...killed plants...
2) I like this one. I will try it. I have most of them sitting in a 2 gal tank with a bio-wheel. So blackout it is...
3) Kind of expensive. But interesting...

I wouldn't use the Excel dip for Anacharis (Elodia sp.) or any species of Vallisneria. They are both terribly sensitive to Excel and will melt away. I know, I've almost killed both with just moderate doses of Excel to a tank.....much less a full soak.

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

The black out did terrible things to my crypts, but other plants unphased.

Melissa is right, I totally forgot about the effects of Excel on Egeria (Najas and Densa).

Also, pookiekiller12 - would you mind to explain the "terrible things" that the blackout did to your crypts (my fantasy is running wild, ). Are you sure that your crypts had been truely settled and were healthy before you started the blackout? I am not questioning the correctness of your obseration, I would like to know it for my own reference. Thanks in advance,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Egeria/Elodea....two names for Anacharis. Geez, who can keep up? It will also happen to any type of Vallisneria. I found that out on plantgeek.com after I had almost killed all the new Vals in my 55.

Excel is not the most harmless of substances.

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Ok...so let me give a rundown on what I have:
Java Fern(s)
Anubias Nana
Sagittaria subulata
Wisteria
Amazon Sword

I'm sure all of those would survive a fairly strong dose of Excel.

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

But supposedly not in an Excel bath. Someone I know had a pretty bad experience with Nana while doing this.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Just after the dark period, my crypts melted. They were not new plants. It was

Yikes....Nana + Excel bath = no good. Good to know. My Nana never seemed sensitive to a regular dose in the tank. Anacharis and Vallisneria....not so much.

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."