Quarentine plants?

[Shelley]

How long should I quarentine some new plants in a fishless tank to kill any possible ich cysts?

[thegrandpoohbah]

How long should I quarentine some new plants in a fishless tank to kill any possible ich cysts?
Ich cysts can live on plants? I've always rinsed new plants really well under tap water but never quarantined them. Would a bleach dip not do the trick?

[CACAdmin]

I'm really not sure. Ich cysts usually hatch after one day but I think it's temperature dependant so it could be longer in cooler temps. Then the ich are free swimming (in the water and thus can be on the plants for at least a couple of days). I am uncertain how long they can live without a host. I'll try to check and see if I can find out. However, I think Mr. GP is probably correct in that a bleach-dip should do the trick.

[Melody]

I usually go two weeks when I use that approach.... I'm not sure why....lol....nothing scientifically profound there.

A bleach dip, or at least a soak in non-dechlorinated water, should look after bacteria, which plants can also harbour.

Mr. GP, it is often recommended that we don't buy plants from stores that keep them with fish, because they can carry the parasites & diseases. However, I don't think that's necessary - there are no guarantees no matter how the plants are sold and they should always be decontaminated to be on the safe side.