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!

wrote in message
...
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.
eg
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.

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...

"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


--
www.ericschreiber.com

"Eric Schreiber" wrote in message
news
"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

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

"Dinky" wrote in
:

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?