Hydrogen Peroxide Dip
3% H2O2 solution. Dip plant for 1-3 minutes, stirring gently. Kills pest eggs, fragile algae spores.
Rinse thoroughly before planting. Most plants tolerate well except mosses.
Bleach Dip (Aggressive)
1:19 bleach water (1 part bleach + 19 water). Dip 30-90 seconds only. Kills everything — snails, algae, bacteria.
NOT for delicate plants. Java moss, HC Cuba, and some stems melt. Use only on tough plants (anubias, java fern rhizome).
Alum Soak (Gentle)
1 tablespoon alum per gallon. Soak plants 2-3 hours. Kills snail eggs primarily, gentler than H2O2 or bleach.
Available at pharmacies (aluminum ammonium sulfate). Good for delicate plants like mosses.
Post-Dip Protocol
Rinse 3 times in clean water. Quarantine plants in separate tank for 2 weeks to observe for missed pests.
Check for snail egg masses (gelatinous clusters) that might have survived.