Fishing weights good or bad?

[Andy02793]

I need something to hold some plants that I have that float up and i am wondering if I can use fishing weights to hold them down. So can I?

 

[wantokeeptrout]

lead - bad
non lead - should be fine as long as nothing eats them

 

[Andy02793]

How do i know of they have lead? Theyre 1-2 pound pyramid weights and some 1/2 pound weights.

 

[wantokeeptrout]

if the package says non lead they should be fine, otherwise i'd not trust them

 

[Andy02793]

They are not in bags due to them being like months old and i got them at whalemart. (walmart just a habit i picked up)

 

[Andy02793]

So would you trust them or should i not use them?

 

[wantokeeptrout]

if you have the original package or remember what the package was then fine but if it is unknown I wouldn't trust my gut/ way too many bad things lead does to living things to make me comfortable to leave in lakes and rivers let alone aquaria.

 

[fishtex]

lead is extremely soft metal- try to scratch it or drop it on a hard surface - should leave a nice scratch or flat mark if its lead- as tungsten and alternative to lead weights are usually more expensive and harder to find i'm pretty sure you have lead weights.

 

[Andy02793]

Ok, thanks. So what can i use to hold the plants down? Gravel doesnt hold it down long and i dont want to add tons of gravel to hold the plants down.

 

[joe jaskot]

Plant anchors have been made out of lead for many years. No real harmful affects on fish.