Bugs and Worms in a Shrimp Tank - Treatment

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How can you prevent introducing snails, bugs, worms and algae in your tank?

Method 1: The Importance of Practicing Quarantine
When purchasing shrimps, fish from LFS or especially wild caught ones, it is good to practice settling them in a hospital tank and observes for a few hours to separate diseased or parasite infected live stocks. Other wise you may risk introducing parasites and diseases that may kill or harm the rest of the otherwise healthy population in your existing display tank.

Method 2: Potassium Permanganate Disinfectant Bath
In order not to introduce any wanted pest into your display tank, it is good to prepare a potassium permanganate disinfectant bath to soak your plants before adding them into your display tank. Potassium permanganate comes in two forms: liquid pp and crystal pp only difference is in price.

• Prepare two pails of water.
• Add a small amount potassium permanganate into a small pail for the disinfectant bath. Add slowly and dissolve it gradually until the water in the pail turn slightly dark pink.
• Dip the new plants into the bath and soak for 10 to 20mins.Add parts of the plant if you are unsure if PP will kill it and reduce dipping duration if necessary as different plants has different resistant against PP.
• Remove the plants with the BBQ tongs and wash it under running water for a few minutes.
• Add lots of anti chlorine solution into the other pail and dip the plants in it for a few hours to help clean any PP remains.
• Lastly it’s ready. PP should have removed all traces of algae, insects and snail eggs. Wash it again under running water just in case.

Note: Not all plants can tolerate PP as it’s a very strong oxidizing agent e.g. marimo balls , vallis species. Potassium permanganate stains the hand and clothing and should be handled with care. Use a BBQ tong or chopstick to stir and move the plants about. Clothing stains may be washed away using acetic acid or hydrochloric acid. Skin stains go off within 48 hours. It causes corrosive burns on the skin, while swallowing it may lead to gastroenteritis. In addition, mixing solid KMnO4 with concentrated hydrochloric acid generates lethal chlorine gas.