Artificial plants and resin ornaments are an easy way to decorate an aquarium. They are made from aquarium-safe plastics, resins and non-toxic finishes, so they do not affect water chemistry, need no fertiliser, CO2 or special lighting, and can look remarkably close to real rock, wood or plants.
Over time, though, a light coating of algae and detritus dulls their colours. LGND Plastic Plant & Ornament Cleaner™ restores them in a few simple steps.
When to use
Plastic plants and ornaments can become coated in algae and organic deposits, which spoils their appearance. Use the cleaner as soon as they show the first signs of algae or organic material building up on their surface. The earlier you clean them, the easier it is.
How to use, in short
- Take the dirty plastic plant or ornament out of the aquarium, place it in a bucket of water and add a cleaning tablet.
- Leave the tablet to fizz and dissolve overnight, or for at least 8 hours.
- In the morning, pour away the cleaning solution and rinse the plant or ornament.
- Soak it in the neutraliser solution, rinse again, and it is ready to go back in your aquarium.
Before you start
- Clean one or two decorations at a time. Ornaments carry beneficial bacteria, and removing everything at once can unsettle the biological balance of the tank.
- Your fish can stay in the aquarium while you work.
- Wash your hands with plain warm water before reaching into the tank. Any soap residue is harmful to fish.
Step-by-step: plastic plants and ornaments
The cleaning process is the same for both, but plants and ornaments need slightly different handling. Follow the left column for plastic plants and the right column for ornaments.
1Remove from the aquarium
Take out one or two items at a time. Your fish can stay in the tank.
Hold the plant at its base and pull it gently out of the substrate, so the stems and leaves do not bend or tear. Shake off loose gravel over the tank.
Lift the ornament straight up. Tip it slightly over the tank so water drains out of caves, hollow parts and openings before you carry it away.
2Soak in the cleaning solution
Fill a separate container with 10 litres of water and dissolve 1 tablet of Plastic Plant & Ornament Cleaner. Leave the items for at least 8 hours, or overnight.
Push the plant fully under the water so every leaf is covered. Light plants that float can be held down with a clean ornament or stone placed on the base.
Lower the ornaments in slowly and tilt them, so no air stays trapped inside hollow parts. Anywhere the solution cannot reach will not be cleaned.
3Rinse and neutralise
Pour away the used solution and rinse each item under cool running water for 1 to 2 minutes. Then soak for 10 to 15 minutes in a second container with 10 litres of clean water and 20 drops (about 1 mL) of Safe Solution.
Rinse between the leaves and around the base, where deposits collect. In the neutraliser, swish the plant gently so the water reaches every leaf.
Rinse inside openings and caves until no residue is visible. In the neutraliser, turn the ornament once so the water fills every hollow part.
Final rinse: rinse everything once more with clean water. Your plants and ornaments are now ready to go back into the aquarium, bright and refreshed. There is no need to dry them.
Important
- Use only on plastic, resin or silicone decorations. Not suitable for live plants, natural stone or wood.
- Never add the cleaner or Safe Solution directly to an aquarium containing fish or live plants.
- Rinse thoroughly after every step.
- Store in a cool, dry, dark place out of the reach of children.
Bring your decorations back to life
