How does one Disinfect plants????

[Jason]

I recently purchased some plants and have a suspicion that there may be some parasites attached. I don't want to kill the plants but would like to be sure I'm not introducing parsites to my tank. Is there a safe way to ensure all parasites are eradicated before I put them in? Salt bath, high temps, anything?

Thanks in advance

Jason

[Crumpet]

Myself, I use a very mild bleach solution to disenfect new plants.  The ratio is 1 part bleach to about 20 parts water.  What I do is this:

In a bucket I mix the solution, immersing the plant, leafy bit first, gently rubbing the plant for about a minute.  In another bucket I have ready dechlorinated water, in which I rinse the plant, again rubbing gently.  I rinse the plant until I can no longer detect bleach.  Another precautionary step is to quarantine the new plants.

[beowulf]

Salt would kill most plants, it might be better if you said what kind of plants.  Quarantine might be the wait to go.

[Jason]

The plants are amazon swords so they are pretty hardy.

I don't have a quaritine tank avail right now so I may have to make due with a couple large buckets.

I will also try the bleech solution and hope for the best. You mentioned to put the leaves in first, should the roots not be emersed aswell?

I had just read that a soak in potassium permangenate is also quite effective against pathogens, parasites, and snail eggs. Has anyone used this before?

[Crumpet]

If you can get your hands on PP, all the better!  I haven't been able to get it, so I've settled for bleach solution.  I do the roots, but I let the leaves in first so the roots aren't exposed to the solution for as long.  Be very gentle with the roots -- don't want to damage them.

[clouxles]

Bought some on E-Bay have not used it yet... will one day 

[ebay]http://cgi.ebay.ca/Potassium-Permanganate-Powder-100g_W0QQitemZ120110639182QQihZ002QQcategoryZ57230QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD2VQQcmdZViewItem[/ebay]

[BigDaddy]

I have done bleach dips at times, however dipping the roots is something I have never done.  Dipping depends on the plant, a hardy plant like an anubias handles the dip much better (and thus longer) than say a fine leaf stem plant.  They all go into the same solution, but the hardy ones just stay in longer.

PP is a good choice, as is alum.  If you can get 'em, more power to you.