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A quarantine disaster: how to cope with isolation
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2022 2:46 am
by luxion
I'm stumped - what went wrong here? I picked up some hygrophila, Java fern, blyxa, tiger lotus, and Christmas moss. I sterilized them in bleach and then transferred them to a small glass quarantine container with RO water, adding liquid fertilizer and CO2. I placed it by the window for some natural light. I've been doing full water changes daily, but after five days, my hygrophila and tiger lotus are basically leafless and rotting away. The blyxa is looking pretty wilted, and the moss has lost its green color. Java fern seems fine, though. Do I need to add substrate to my quarantine tank? Could there be some kind of disease at play? They just look like they couldn't survive in my tiny container - all rotted out.
Re: A quarantine disaster: how to cope with isolation
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2022 4:04 am
by whetu
Bleach and fertilizer might be the culprits.
Re: A quarantine disaster: how to cope with isolation
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2022 4:39 am
by coltin
How long was the bleach treatment for your plants? Typically, a 1-2 minute soak in bleach followed by a thorough rinse under tap water is the way to go. Exceeding this time frame can cause the cell walls to rupture, effectively killing the plants.
In my experience, bleaching is only necessary when dealing with plants from tanks that have a history of fish TB or the gourami Iridovirus. For most cases, it's an unnecessary step.
Daily water changes in a quarantine tank are overkill - a weekly change is more than sufficient, especially when you're only dealing with plants.
The primary purpose of quarantining plants is to monitor for pests like snails, hydra, planaria, and other insects or larvae. After a couple of weeks, the plants should be free of any diseases they might have picked up, and any unwanted critters should have been identified and removed.
Re: A quarantine disaster: how to cope with isolation
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2022 5:59 am
by rockyfox
I'm on the same page as the others. The bleach can be a real issue, and it's essential to use it judiciously. I've found that hydrogen peroxide is a great alternative - it gets the job done without the harsh effects of bleach.
Re: A quarantine disaster: how to cope with isolation
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2022 7:21 am
by graye
I'm inclined to think bleach was the culprit. Mycobacter/fish TB is resistant to it, and I'm not aware of its effectiveness against Iridovirus. Personally, I've never resorted to bleaching plants and don't plan on starting now. My experience with plant imports has been limited to unwanted snails and Hydra.
Re: A quarantine disaster: how to cope with isolation
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2022 9:00 am
by infold
Bleach is basically just concentrated chlorine, right? I've never used it on plants, seems like a recipe for disaster.
Re: A quarantine disaster: how to cope with isolation
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2022 10:51 am
by coltin
Liquid bleach, like what you'd use for sterilizing plants, is actually sodium hypochlorite. On the other hand, those chlorine granules you'd use in a swimming pool contain calcium hypochlorite. Both are chlorine-based and can release fumes that are toxic to living organisms. Prolonged exposure to these fumes can cause lasting damage to your sinuses, lungs, and throat, which is why it's essential to wear protective gear when handling them.
Re: A quarantine disaster: how to cope with isolation
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2022 11:41 am
by cichlidgirl22
I personally prefer peroxide for my plant treatments, it's a gentler option that's worked well for me in the past.
Re: A quarantine disaster: how to cope with isolation
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2022 12:17 pm
by rockyfox
coltin wrote: ↑Mon Apr 04, 2022 4:39 am
How long was the bleach treatment for your plants? Typically, a 1-2 minute soak in bleach followed by a thorough rinse under tap water is the way to go. Exceeding this time frame can cause the cell walls to rupture, effectively killing the plants.
In my experience, bleaching is only necessary when dealing with plants from tanks that have a history of fish TB or the gourami Iridovirus. For most cases, it's an unnecessary step.
Daily water changes in a quarantine tank are overkill - a weekly change is more than sufficient, especially when you're only dealing with plants.
The primary purpose of quarantining plants is to monitor for pests like snails, hydra, planaria, and other insects or larvae. After a couple of weeks, the plants should be free of any diseases they might have picked up, and any unwanted critters should have been identified and removed.
I've got a bad feeling about the next 20 years, I've messed up so much already.