Removing snails from plant trimmings

sdbrewer · 11-12-2012, 10:13 AM

I'm setting up a new tank and would like to transfer some plants from another aquarium that has a snail problem. I don't want any of these critters making it to the new tank. Is there anyway I can ensure the clippings won't carry any snails into the new tank? Maybe some kind of dip or solution I can wash them in to guarantee there aren't any snails or eggs left in them? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

mistahoo · 11-12-2012, 10:37 AM

Bleach solution 1:20 (bleach:water). Dip the plant. It would be good to have another container with water and prime so you can rinse off the plant in.

byork · 11-12-2012, 11:58 AM

I am scared of bleach... Had a bad experience but I have heard it works well for others. I have heard of people using alum. I haven't tried that. When I had a snail problem in one of my tanks. I broke it down and washed all the plants, boiled whatever I could and replaced what I couldn't. I bought 6 large assassin sails and put a brown knife in for about 2 months. Haven't had a problem since. That's been at least a year ago.

NeonRob · 11-12-2012, 12:31 PM

I just started using Alum powder, because I read about it on this site. Go to the spice isle of your local grocery store to find it. Use 1 Tbsp per gallon of water. I tested this on pond, ramshorms, & MTS and they all died in 2-3 hours. Soak plants for 2 days to kill the snail eggs. Worked well on the Crypt wendtii & Hydrocotyle 'japan' I tried. The plants seem unharmed.

sdbrewer · 11-12-2012, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeonRob

I just started using Alum powder, because I read about it on this site. Go to the spice isle of your local grocery store to find it. Use 1 Tbsp per gallon of water. I tested this on pond, ramshorms, & MTS and they all died in 2-3 hours. Soak plants for 2 days to kill the snail eggs. Worked well on the Crypt wendtii & Hydrocotyle 'japan' I tried. The plants seem unharmed.

So you were able to soak the plants for 2 days without any ill effects?

el Caspar · 11-12-2012, 10:39 PM

alum is supposed to work really well, I don't know about a 2 day soak though lol....

babydragons · 11-13-2012, 05:31 AM

I used alum on my plants. Killed everything including a baby shrimplet even tho I shook the plants. I ended up with just one snail left over from the plants. My boyfriend ended up with none. Just use 3 tablespoons per gallon. Soak for 2 to 3 hours and all snails plus eggs will be gone. Way better than bleach. I tried that and a week later I had no plants left.

NeonRob · 11-13-2012, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdbrewer

So you were able to soak the plants for 2 days without any ill effects?

Correct, for the only 2 plants that I stated that I tried. No ill effects. No snails either. I can't speak for delicate plants.

NeonRob · 11-13-2012, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by el Caspar

alum is supposed to work really well, I don't know about a 2 day soak though lol....

While you're sitting there being skeptical, I'm reaping the rewards. Enjoy your snails!

MSG · 11-13-2012, 01:25 PM

NeonR..... Thanks for mentioning the alum! Never would have considered using it, but I'll give it a test run next time if I can find some in the spice section. I know there's trace amounts of alum in my baking powder.

Personally, I don't mind snails since my fish like to HUNT them.

I use potassium permanganate for oxidizing/cleaning plants of other destructive critters. I have several lbs of (KMnO4) now.

NeonRob · 11-13-2012, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSG

NeonR..... Thanks for mentioning the alum! Never would have considered using it, but I'll give it a test run next time if I can find some in the spice section. I know there's trace amounts of alum in my baking powder.

Personally, I don't mind snails since my fish like to HUNT them.

I use potassium permanganate for oxidizing/cleaning plants of other destructive critters. I have several lbs of (KMnO4) now.

Not a problem. I just started using it so I wanted to share my experience with others hoping somebody else might be able to benefit from it as well. There are trace amounts of alum in baking powder, but probably not enough to be effective for this application.

You are lucky to have fish that hunt for snails. I am anti-snails with my tanks with fish that don't eat them. I love plants, so they'll probably never go away, but I can finally start setting up new snail-free tanks this way.

I've always been interested in potassium permanganate, but just never got around to ordering any up. It was so much easier to just go to the grocery store and pay $2 for a small container of Alum.

**acitydweller** · 11-13-2012, 02:56 PM

hydrogen peroxide can be used for a dip as well.

sdbrewer · 11-14-2012, 12:31 AM

Is it possible to dose Alum directly into a tank for a couple of days to exterminate an entire population, and then doing heavy water changes to remove it? Any knowledge on other inverts such as shrimp?

11-12-2012, 10:13 AM	#1
sdbrewer Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11/100%) Join Date: May 2012 Location: San Diego Posts: 185	Removing snails from plant trimmings I'm setting up a new tank and would like to transfer some plants from another aquarium that has a snail problem. I don't want any of these critters making it to the new tank. Is there anyway I can ensure the clippings won't carry any snails into the new tank? Maybe some kind of dip or solution I can wash them in to guarantee there aren't any snails or eggs left in them? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

11-12-2012, 10:39 PM	#6
el Caspar Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 45	alum is supposed to work really well, I don't know about a 2 day soak though lol.... __________________ Steward of the Tank

11-13-2012, 02:56 PM	#12
acitydweller ओं मणिपद्मे हूं (View User Tanks) PTrader: (126/100%) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: New York, NY Posts: 6,079	hydrogen peroxide can be used for a dip as well. __________________ Namaste ओं मणिपद्मे हूं My life extends far beyond the limitations of me Keeper of the LIST

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11-12-2012, 10:37 AM	#2
mistahoo Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Houston,Tx Posts: 685	Bleach solution 1:20 (bleach:water). Dip the plant. It would be good to have another container with water and prime so you can rinse off the plant in.

11-12-2012, 11:58 AM	#3
byork Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 44	I am scared of bleach... Had a bad experience but I have heard it works well for others. I have heard of people using alum. I haven't tried that. When I had a snail problem in one of my tanks. I broke it down and washed all the plants, boiled whatever I could and replaced what I couldn't. I bought 6 large assassin sails and put a brown knife in for about 2 months. Haven't had a problem since. That's been at least a year ago.

11-12-2012, 12:31 PM	#4
NeonRob Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 46	I just started using Alum powder, because I read about it on this site. Go to the spice isle of your local grocery store to find it. Use 1 Tbsp per gallon of water. I tested this on pond, ramshorms, & MTS and they all died in 2-3 hours. Soak plants for 2 days to kill the snail eggs. Worked well on the Crypt wendtii & Hydrocotyle 'japan' I tried. The plants seem unharmed.

11-13-2012, 05:31 AM	#7
babydragons Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Hobokenish, New Jersey Posts: 458	I used alum on my plants. Killed everything including a baby shrimplet even tho I shook the plants. I ended up with just one snail left over from the plants. My boyfriend ended up with none. Just use 3 tablespoons per gallon. Soak for 2 to 3 hours and all snails plus eggs will be gone. Way better than bleach. I tried that and a week later I had no plants left.

11-13-2012, 01:25 PM	#10
MSG Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: East Coast Posts: 270	NeonR..... Thanks for mentioning the alum! Never would have considered using it, but I'll give it a test run next time if I can find some in the spice section. I know there's trace amounts of alum in my baking powder. Personally, I don't mind snails since my fish like to HUNT them. I use potassium permanganate for oxidizing/cleaning plants of other destructive critters. I have several lbs of (KMnO4) now.

11-14-2012, 12:31 AM	#13
sdbrewer Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11/100%) Join Date: May 2012 Location: San Diego Posts: 185	Is it possible to dose Alum directly into a tank for a couple of days to exterminate an entire population, and then doing heavy water changes to remove it? Any knowledge on other inverts such as shrimp?