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well as stated above i thought lead was bad for tanks. but how come penn and plax, and several other companies make plant wheights out of lead?

*click *flash *click "whered he go???"

Really? I did not know that. I currently have some lead plant weights holding down my hornwort so I am as eager as you to hear some replies.

Sorry I can't help.


~Morgan~

There's been discussion on this in the past; I think someone determined that the weights are not actually made out of lead, but another kind of metal (I forget what kind).

---

I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.

Probably tungsten. That's what they replaced lead split-shot used in fishing with.

Joe Potato

I recall someone looking into this in the past, too, and it's not lead...but we all call them lead weights because historically that's what they were.

Eric

So these so call lead weights are not harmful?

I don't think it was lead. I vaguely recall someone saying it was zinc?



For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

ok so i gathering that they are not lead but the wrapper for the penn and plax wheights say that it is soft lead.

*click *flash *click "whered he go???"

Hi,
Lead in the drinking water can cause humans severe
nerve problems and others. The lead weights used in
aquariums are essentially harmless - because they are not
left in the tank permanently. Lead weights are designed
for use in keeping plants bunched (floating in your LFS
tanks - although many suppliers have shifted to rubber
bands) and for us to help hold a plant down to the surface
of the gravel just long enough for it to grow roots into
the gravel and anchor itself. Once anchored, you remove the
weights let them dry, and flatten them back out for use the
next time.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

what is it about lead that hurts the fish? just the metal itself, or is it something that leaches into the water?

*click *flash *click "whered he go???"

Hi,
Lead Pb is a "heavy metal" like Copper and others.
It affects juvenile growth in fish, and in plants inhibits
growth.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

ah i got it. makes sense

*click *flash *click "whered he go???"

Lead was once used in paint, but because children were eating the peeliing paint off walls, etc. it has been outlawed. It was determended to cause brain damage and retardation in small children. I suppose it would do the same to fish, though who would actually be able to determine it in a fish - not healthy for any living thing.
The ancient Roman Empire used lead to line their aquaducts - it was blamed for a lot of crazyness that effected (Nero, Caligula and others) the early Roman Emperiors.