How Do You Acclimate New Plants?

[ripple_under]

Just got some new Anubias and Java Fern from my LFS. What's your method for acclimating plants to avoid melt? I've heard mixed things about dipping vs. soaking.

[blueline]

I just toss 'em in, no fuss. Plants gonna melt a bit no matter what, but they bounce back. My tank's got decent light, CO2, and ferts, so they adapt quick.

[greenfox]

I prefer a gentle approach. Rinse them under lukewarm tap water to remove debris, then soak in a bucket of tank water for an hour. Helps reduce shock.

[juluxe]

I just toss 'em in, no fuss. Plants gonna melt a bit no matter what, but they bounce back. My tank's got decent light, CO2, and ferts, so they adapt quick.

Yeah, but some plants are divas. My Crypts always melt if I don't acclimate slow. I drip acclimate for 30 mins, like with shrimp.

[dixon9]

Dipping in a diluted bleach solution (1:20 ratio) for 2 minutes kills pests. Rinse thoroughly, then soak in dechlorinated water for 10 minutes. Never lost a plant this way.

[tidesound]

I'm with greenfox on the soak method. Also, trim any damaged leaves before planting. Less decay, less ammonia spikes. My 20-gallon's plants took off after I started doing this.

[fleuria]

Does anyone quarantine new plants? I've had hitchhikers before, and it's a nightmare. Now I keep 'em in a separate tank for a week, just in case.

[artistix]

Quarantine's smart, but I'm lazy. I just inspect 'em real good under bright light. Snails or eggs usually show up if you look close.

[DeepRiver]

Dipping in a diluted bleach solution (1:20 ratio) for 2 minutes kills pests. Rinse thoroughly, then soak in dechlorinated water for 10 minutes. Never lost a plant this way.

Bleach sounds sketchy, but if it works for you, cool. I use alum dips—less harsh, still effective.

[ripple_under]

Thanks for the tips, everyone. Gonna try the soak method first and see how it goes. Appreciate the help!