How to Clean Plants in an Aquarium

When adding plants to a fish aquarium, it is a good idea to first wash the plants. This helps to remove any hitchhiking snail eggs or other parasites that you do not want transferred to your tank. Already-established plants can also be cleaned to help combat a snail, parasite or algae problem in the tank. These delicate aquatic fish tank plants need gentle handling while being washed.

Things You'll Need

  • Paper towels
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the plants that are already in the tank by digging them up with your hand. Pull the plants out by grabbing them near their roots so that you do not break the plant stems.

    • 2

      Remove any pots or wrapping around the roots of the plants. This allows you to separate the individual plants for better rinsing.

    • 3

      Rinse the plants off in a sink using a gentle spray of water. If the water pressure is too strong, you may damage delicate plants.

    • 4

      Wrap the plants in damp paper towels as you finish rinsing each one. This is to keep them from drying out as you wash the other plants. Aquatic plants need to remain moist.

    • 5

      Return the plants to the aquarium when you are finished. Do this by holding the plants near their roots as you maneuver them into the gravel.