plastic plants

[elliebob]

Does anyone have a suggestion on how to best clean plastic plants? I've scrubbed them vigorously but they still are not clean. I can't even see the color of the plant anymore.

Thanks.

[davidc]

thats how there going to be the rest of their lives ! u caint clean them no more!

[cichlidkeeper]

you can try vinegar

it really depends on what is on them. algae, mineral deposits, etc

[Venom SS]

Throw them out and go buy more at Hobby Lobby. You can get some really neat aquarium safe plastics there, at a fraction of the cost :hehe:

[ANBU]

I LIKE hobby lobby.

[Venom SS]

I LIKE hobby lobby.

My ol' lady is addicted to that place lol. She cant go in there and not spend money :spend:

[elliebob]

I figured it would less expensive to just buy some new ones. I didn't know Hobby Lobby sold aquarium stuff. The stuff that's on them is black and I can't even scratch it off with my fingernail. Please don't tell me I've got some kind of wicked stuff growing in my tank!

[xrickyhoangx]

hobby lobby is where its at

[Michael]

Try real plants.

[Stickzula]

I bleach mine. Just put them in a bucket, pour in some bleach (the actual bleach/water ratio isn't important I probably end up using 1/2c of bleach to 1 gallon of water I make it strong), add scalding water (as hot as you can get it) leave them soak until clean or water is room temp. Rinse under running water until bleach smell is gone(usually your hands will still smell like bleach, but the actual plants don't), place back into tank, add extra dechlor just in case there is residual bleach. I usually pull out the plants and start the soak then do gravel vac and water change, occasional filter maintanence and then do the rinse. That amount of time is usually sufficient to totally clean all the plants and other decor with no scrubbing required. I'm sure that it won't work for hard water stains, if that's what you have it will be better to start over with new.

X2 on craft store plants. they are great. I am moving to natural plants in most of my tanks so far it is more enjoyable and less hassle than plastic. I'm doing the Walstad method for my planted tanks FWIW.