Water plant clasp

Dinky · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 31

wrote in message@comcast.com...
> Plants often come from pet shops attached at the bottom with a gray metal
> clasp. This occurs with plants like Elodea (sp?). My question is: Are
> these clasps dangerous for the fish? I have just begun to get into a new
> aquarium with my children. I've had them in the past, but can't seem to
> remember anything about this and can't find a reference in this or other
> newsgroups or on the web. Thanks, in advance, for your help!
>
>

I have seen a few debates on this topic, and they never really seem to come
to a decent conclusion. I will, therefore give you my take on them. I'm sure
others will post their disagreement. I'd be disappointed if they didn't.

I have left the lead weights in my tanks on many occasions, and have
never noted a problem. In freshwater, I don't feel the metal will break down
fast enough to cause an issue if normal water changes are done. However,
what I generally tell my friends is if you're concerned, take them out, and
use fishing line to tie them to a buried stone.

Archived from group: rec>aquaria>freshwater>plants

mpdryan · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

Plants often come from pet shops attached at the bottom with a gray metal
clasp. This occurs with plants like Elodea (sp?). My question is: Are
these clasps dangerous for the fish? I have just begun to get into a new
aquarium with my children. I've had them in the past, but can't seem to
remember anything about this and can't find a reference in this or other
newsgroups or on the web. Thanks, in advance, for your help!

RedForeman ©® · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 339

> Plants often come from pet shops attached at the bottom with a gray metal
> clasp. This occurs with plants like Elodea (sp?). My question is: Are
> these clasps dangerous for the fish? I have just begun to get into a new
> aquarium with my children. I've had them in the past, but can't seem to
> remember anything about this and can't find a reference in this or other
> newsgroups or on the web. Thanks, in advance, for your help!

I use them all the time, I've even made some out of some other lead... same
lead that is used for plant weights...

Eric Schreiber · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 41

"Dinky" wrote:

>what I generally tell my friends is if you're concerned, take them out, and
>use fishing line to tie them to a buried stone.

That exercise alone is enough to convince most people to leave the
lead weights on Smile

--
www.ericschreiber.com

Dinky · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 31

"Eric Schreiber" wrote in message@4ax.com...
> "Dinky" wrote:
>
> >what I generally tell my friends is if you're concerned, take them out,
and
> >use fishing line to tie them to a buried stone.
>
> That exercise alone is enough to convince most people to leave the
> lead weights on Smile

>
Touche' I tried it a couple times, and still do it for very specific
things, but's a pain in the Arse, all right.

Dave Millman · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 3

"Dinky" wrote in@comcast.com:

> However, what I generally tell my friends is if you're
> concerned, take them out, and use fishing line to tie them to a buried
> stone.

I don't understand the issue. I push plants into the gravel (Flourite),
they grow. Unless you have agressive gravel rooters, that's the end of it.
No metal, no stones.

Is the problem that pl*cos or cichlids uproot your plants?