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Plant anchors

7K views 12 replies 5 participants last post by  Hawkian 
#1 ·
Hi All,

Most of the plants I buy come with a lead-type anchor that is wrapper around the stem. Because I have a substrate that isn't too deep, I've been keeping the anchors around the plants where the substrate isn't too deep. But now I'm wondering if that is good practice. Does anyone have an opinion on that?
 
#2 ·
I've used those and my own version of that...fishing weights, for almost @$#%^& years! (let's just keep it at lots of years,'kay?!)!! and none of my fish had any ill effects. I do take the plants out and wash them frequently,but,no ill effects to date!! Oh...are they live or plastic/silk??? I don't think that matters tho...:shock:
 
#5 ·
So, this is what pushed me into this thread really. I know from being a parent to a toddler (and other reasons) that lead is not exactly good. Can this stuff leak into the water? Doesn't the fact that a company like Penn-Plax (as an example) produce some of these anchors tell you that - heck - they should be good for your tank? After all... didn't they research the stuff before marketing it? I understand that this is a naive question on my part... but it needs to be asked doesn't it?

Anyone care to comment?
 
#6 ·
Like I said before...HONEST!! I've never had any trouble with those type of anchors!! HONEST!:shock::shock::shock: I sometimes stuff the weights into surgie plastic if I've got the time. But,if it says it's ok for aquariums,it usually is!! HONEST!!:p
 
#8 ·
you can use almost anything else other than let. heck get a bag of small aquarium rocks at the pet store as anchors. i would deffinitly not put lead in your tank. i mean would you suck on a piece of lead?
 
#11 ·
OK so all anchors have been removed. I hope the roost have time to "take" before the plants decide to float away... luckily pretty mush all my plants are good floating plants as well! ;-)

*gamer* your last post convinced me... made me remember seeing a rotten stem under one of the anchors one time...
 
#12 ·
Heavy metals are toxic to all organisms, whether they are required micro-nutrients (copper, iron, manganese, zinc, nickel) or pollutants (mercury, lead, etc.). Studies determined that with respect to fish, lead was third highest in toxicity, mercury and copper being higher, and second highest (to mercury) for plants. Brook trout showed juvenile deformity with levels of lead beyond 0.058 ppm. It is known that some metals will bind to organic matter and carbonate ions and becomes less toxic, and other fasctors such as water hardness and pH also have an impact on toxicity.

Whatever the numbers, lead clearly has a toxic effect on plants and fish, and therefore should be kept out of the aquarium.

If the substrate will not hold down a plant, the depth is insufficient for a planted aquarium. Increasing the substrate is easy.

Byron.
 
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