I have noticed that lead melts/rots stem plants from the end to about an inch above the lead, even if it's attached loosely. So watch out!
Where to buy sheets to make lead weights?
- Thread starter BioHazard
- Start date
The "lead" weights for plants are actually made of an alloy of zinc and magnesium.
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Fish Story
I always wanted to breed angelfish. I had a number of really fine angels which I moved to a private tank furnished with some beautiful plants. The plants were held down with some metal “plant weights” that I bought at the local pet shop. Plants, you see, often get uprooted and float to the surface. So when I saw the package of nice, easily bendable, made-to-order soft metal strips, I bought it.
The weights held the plants down admirably.
All the angelfish died.
It was pretty awful. I woke up one morning bright and early to check on my charges, and half of the angelfish were dead. The rest were swimming erratically, in an unbalanced circling movement. It is sad to see sparkling silver angelfish swimming on their sides, upside down, and writhing in their death throes, and not being able to do anything about it.
It was not until I had taken chemistry at college that I had a guess at what had happened. Those plant weights were made of lead. The lead leached into the aquarium water, and the angelfish may have died of lead poisoning
I always wanted to breed angelfish. I had a number of really fine angels which I moved to a private tank furnished with some beautiful plants. The plants were held down with some metal “plant weights” that I bought at the local pet shop. Plants, you see, often get uprooted and float to the surface. So when I saw the package of nice, easily bendable, made-to-order soft metal strips, I bought it.
The weights held the plants down admirably.
All the angelfish died.
It was pretty awful. I woke up one morning bright and early to check on my charges, and half of the angelfish were dead. The rest were swimming erratically, in an unbalanced circling movement. It is sad to see sparkling silver angelfish swimming on their sides, upside down, and writhing in their death throes, and not being able to do anything about it.
It was not until I had taken chemistry at college that I had a guess at what had happened. Those plant weights were made of lead. The lead leached into the aquarium water, and the angelfish may have died of lead poisoning
From: Arizona Aquatic Gardens,
Bunched/Oxygenating Aquarium Plants for Sale-Banded with non-toxic lead bands, unless otherwise noted. Non-toxic metal band actually made of a magnesium/zinc mix safe for all aquaria. Most of these plants in this table require regular pruning in typical aquaria and these plants will propagate from pruning as well, so replant all of your cuttings!
Bunched/Oxygenating Aquarium Plants for Sale-Banded with non-toxic lead bands, unless otherwise noted. Non-toxic metal band actually made of a magnesium/zinc mix safe for all aquaria. Most of these plants in this table require regular pruning in typical aquaria and these plants will propagate from pruning as well, so replant all of your cuttings!
Re: Lead in the aquarium
- To: KillieTalk at aka_org
- Subject: Re: Lead in the aquarium
- From: BizEcology at aol_com
- Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2000 20:22:22 EDT
I have never seen a fish die of lead poisoning. Never saw them go crazy or become learning challenged as result of the lead. I would like to see proof from a reliable lab to support or refute the claim of it's toxicity to fish.
In the past I made all my weights from tire balancing weights as opposed to battery lead and they too have migrated away from lead. Later when the plumbing industry moved away from lead solder, I started using lead-free solder for plant weights and never saw any difference..
IMO, the amount of lead used in plants weights might become dangerous if you had acidic water AND never did water changes. Bit of a far reach I think.
I do not refute the possible dangerousness of lead or many other heavy metals in respect to long term exposure. Anyone got access to a mass spectrometer so we can find out?
Back on topic, solder is easier to use, and small quantities are easier to obtain.
In the past I made all my weights from tire balancing weights as opposed to battery lead and they too have migrated away from lead. Later when the plumbing industry moved away from lead solder, I started using lead-free solder for plant weights and never saw any difference..
IMO, the amount of lead used in plants weights might become dangerous if you had acidic water AND never did water changes. Bit of a far reach I think.
I do not refute the possible dangerousness of lead or many other heavy metals in respect to long term exposure. Anyone got access to a mass spectrometer so we can find out?
Back on topic, solder is easier to use, and small quantities are easier to obtain.
