Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, How do you all clean/sanitize your clay aggregate? I went to a hydroponic website that said "Reuse over and over by rinsing out roots then sterilizing in a very mild bleach solution". What dilution is considered "very mild", 10:1? Is this what you all do? Since it is fired clay, could you not put it in the oven to sanitize it? Is there a maximum number of times you can reuse it? Thank you all for your help, jrbl

A mild bleach solution would be about 2% Clorox--or 2 parts commercial brand Clorox added to 80 parts parts of cool or tepid water, to make up 100 parts over all. Water should be cool, not hot, then add an ounce or so of white vinegar, which will goose up the reaction by acidifying it. Let it sit a two hours or so, then rinse the aggregate well with fresh water and air dry it, preferably in the sun for a few days. It will be good to go.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
6 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
7 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
6 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
6 P. terribilis mint and organe
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus
2 D. azureus
4 P vittatus
2 P. lugubris

usually when cleaning herp stuff they suggest a 5% bleach solution.