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. Plastic Plant & Ornament Cleaner restores them in a few simple steps.
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
1. Soak
Fill a separate container with 10 litres of water and dissolve 1 tablet of Plastic Plant & Ornament Cleaner. Place the decorations in the solution and leave them for at least 8 hours for a thorough clean.
2. Rinse
Pour away the used solution and rinse each item under cool running water for one to two minutes until no residue is visible. There is no need to dry them.
3. Neutralise
Prepare a second container with 10 litres of clean water and add 20 drops (about 1 ml) of Safe Solution. Soak the ornaments for 10 to 15 minutes. This removes any reactive residue left by the cleaning step.
4. Final rinse
Rinse once more with clean water. The decorations are now ready to go back into the aquarium, bright and refreshed.
Important
- Use only on plastic, resin or silicone decorations. Not suitable for 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.