Getting started with new order: what to do upon arrival

[oceanwise]

I'm getting some plants online and I'm not sure what to do once they arrive. Acclimating them to water temps is a thing, right? My tank isn't set up yet.

I've got a list of plants I'm planning to get - pearlweed, rotala indica (the rotundiifolia variety), some crypt, dwarf sag, juncus repens, and ludwigia repens.

[cichlidgirl22]

I'd say go ahead and plant them as soon as they arrive. You might want to give them a quick clean to get rid of any unwanted hitchhikers, but that's up to you.

[dungeon]

I'm curious, where did you source your plants from? Got any prized shrimp in the mix? Some plants, depending on their origin, might've been treated with pesticides that can be toxic to those little crustaceans.

If not, you're likely good to go. Just a heads up, there's always a chance you might get some hitchhiker pond snails - but let's be real, a planted tank just isn't the same without 'em.

[oceanwise]

I'm curious, where did you source your plants from? Got any prized shrimp in the mix? Some plants, depending on their origin, might've been treated with pesticides that can be toxic to those little crustaceans.

If not, you're likely good to go. Just a heads up, there's always a chance you might get some hitchhiker pond snails - but let's be real, a planted tank just isn't the same without 'em.

I'm still deciding, but I'm leaning towards aquariumplants.com. I'm thinking of getting some ghost shrimp later on, but if I do, I'll grab some cheap feeder shrimp just in case - that way it's not a huge loss if something goes wrong. Plus, my betta might just see them as a snack anyway.

[kingrise]

I'd personally recommend acclimating them to the tank's temperature first. Floating the bags for 15-20 minutes is usually how I do it.

[whetu]

Just go ahead and add them to your tank, you'll be fine.

[dungeon]

You'll likely notice them dropping some leaves and looking a bit rough initially, but don't get discouraged - they'll start taking root and perk up within a week or two.

[whetu]

My experience was a bit different, all the plants I bought two months ago didn't have any issues, they just grew on as normal.

[dungeon]

Just go ahead and add them to your tank, you'll be fine.

That's awesome, whetu. Glad to hear your plants did well, really encouraging for the rest of us.

[rockyfox]

Make sure your tank is set up before ordering, don't wanna get stuck with plants and no home for them. If you're using ammonia to cycle, wait till you're halfway through, otherwise those plants are gonna melt.