FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Just curious as to why these plants weights would be made of lead to put in your aquarium? (lead being toxic). I bought them for my Anubias Nana that's rhizome is under the gravel. Would that be why a couple leaves are turning brown?

Thanks

That could be are you 100% its made of lead???. How much wpg do you have? you may just not have enough light even though anubias is a fairly easy plants to grow. So im not sure that could be it. I would take the plant weight out and see if it does any better.



==fish1[hr width='90%'][hr width='40%'][hr width='20%']

On the back of the package in bold lettering it says "MADE OF LEAD". I just picked up a 55W 24" All-Glass compact flo light yesterday, with a 9325 K lamp. Sitting on top of a 20 gal aquarium. WPG 2.75, should be plenty for the Anubias.

Hi,
Plant weights are made of lead because the do not affect
the plants or fish, are very maleable, can be trimmed
with scissors, and are not designed to be left in the
tank permanently. Once the weight acheives its purpose
(holding the plant to the surface of the substrate long
enough for its roots to grow into the substrate and
anchor the plant) the weight can easily be "unbent"
from around the plant stem/stalk, and removed.

Note: they are temporary solutions, not permanently left
in the tank where their long term effects might be felt
by the plants and fish.

Frank

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

Good to know, thanks Frank

So if I leave the Anubias sitting on top of the substrate with the weight around the base, should it's roots grow into the gravel? I've read the best method for planting Anubias is to tie down to driftwood, rocks, or ornaments, and let it's roots take hold of the surface over time.

Can I leave Hornwort sitting on top of the substrate until it roots.

My live plants are:

1 Anubias 'Nana' (divided into 3 seperate plants)
1 Hygrophila Polysperma (divided into 2 seperate)
2 Anacharis (propagated 2 more small)
1 Corkscrew Vallisneria
1 Hornwort









Last edited by bala shark at 17-Jan-2005 11:04

If you bury the rhizome of anubias, it will most likely rot, which could be the problem.

Hornwort doesn't root. You might be able to make it LOOK like a rooted plant, but it doesn't actually grow roots that will hold it in the substrate.

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

Will Hornwort grow any other runners so it gets bushy? Sorry but there's not alot of specifics about plant growth on the net. Thanks

If left floating, hornwort will grow into a "cloud" of green. It grows longer and longer and will branch off and grow longer, etc. Nice plant, grows well in just about any conditions (had it in betta tanks with little light and no filtration and it flourished), but if it gets moody, it just falls apart. Moving it from tank to tank or variances in temperature, etc, will make it shed all the "needles" into a big ol' mess. I finally tossed what was left of mine because it just didn't seem to like me anymore. :%)

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

Would this pic from my aquarium be Hornwort?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/JEG499/hornwort.jpg

Here's a pic of my plants. Anything else that I could add in the way of plants Kitten?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v227/JEG499/planted.jpg

- 20 gal
- 26C
- GH 6.72 dH
- pH 8.0
- 55W flo compact strip light

Just about done cycling (started Dec 28, 2004). Ammonia 0 ppm, nitrite 0.1 ppm, nitrate 5 ppm.

Thanks

Merph... I'm a plant newbie (or practically so, anyway), but I think you've got a good start there. You've got decent lighting that should allow you a good variety of plants, just stay away from the ones that need high lighting.

Yes, I think that's hornwort, but someone else can correct me if I'm wrong. It's been a few months since I've had it.

You've got pretty light greens in there now, I'd suggest something darker green to balance it out. There's a bunch of crypts that would do the job and they're a really easy plant... stick them in the gravel and DON'T touch them. If you disrupt them, they'll melt, but if you leave them alone, you wind up with gorgeous plants. Either that or java fern (nice texture, another easy plant), maybe java moss tied down to those pieces of driftwood (I've got plenty extra ), or hmm... oh, an interesting plant is the onion plant. That one looks like a green onion, sorta... very cool plant.

Either that or stick with the light greens and maybe try watersprite or wisteria... hmm... things like that.

I'm trying to stick to relatively easy to locate plants, as I don't know what your selection is like. Maybe try a smaller sword plant? I believe some of those would be okay with your lighting and the height of the tank. I always wind up with small or short tanks, so I'm limited in height. *shrugs*

I'm sure others will chime in soon!

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

There's so many choices in the way of live plants out there, it's hard to decide! Best method would be to select native plants according to where your fish have come from, giving them a home away from home type feeling Also taking into consideration that the aquarium setup is suited to grow these plants so they do well, e.g. lighting, substrate, placement, temp, pH, etc. I know I have fish from one end of the planet to the other, guess I haven't thought that out to well But they seem to be happy with what I've given them

There's one small plant that I was interested in at my LFS the other night, that made the aquarium look real nice, but they were all fresh out of it. It's a grassy looking foreground plant, not overly small blades like hair grass. He didn't know the name, so I've been trying to search the web, but with no luck so far.

Thanks

(in answer to the first question: lead weights are sometimes coated in plastic... they're solid lead, not an oxidized state that dissolves readily, plus they are made of lead because lead is very dense and a small amount of it can weigh your plants down very well)

><>