leaded or not leaded plants

[delboy109]

Hi there guys
This is my first post on this site so hello everyone!
I am from Inverness Scotland and have just bought a
Channa aurantimaculata snakehead,
I have a trigon 350 corner tank and have bogwood and medium substrate,
I have been advised i need some plants for my set up and some floating plants as well,I have looked all over the net to but some but am unsure on the type to buy as thetank is gonna be a sub tropical temprature,
Also many firms offer plants that are weighted down with lead?
Is this safe and what plants are best? unleaded or leaded?
thanks
delboy109

 

[kydsexy]

lol never use lead. that's all.

 

[kiokie72006]

Hello,& Welcome.

 

[Potts050]

Hi and Welcome,


Lead solubility is increased by several factors. The four most important and within our control as aquarists are the following;

1. The pH of our tank. Lead becomes more soluble at lower pH and more of it will become available for uptake by fish fatty tissues and internal organs in the water column as the pH is lowered.
2. Carbonate Hardness. Lead will form complex insoluble salts at the surface when exposed to carbonates. This will prevent the tank water from being further exposed to the metal and leaching ions into the water column. High kH equates to lower lead levels.
3. Temperature. Lead solubility is directly proportional to the water temperature. That is why we are cautioned to never fill the kettle with hot water if you have lead sodered plumbing!
4. Level of dissolved organic compounds. Research in water quality has indicated that dissolved organic compounds in the water column will bind and fix heavy metals, including lead, making them unavailable for absorbtion by fish.

I hope this info helps you make your decision as to whether or not to use lead anchors for your plants. There are of course a few alternatives in any case. Surf the planted tank forum for a few of those.......


Jon

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy & Welcome.

My question is: Why risk it? I always remove the lead and push the plants into the substrate. That works well if you do not have large, digging fish. In my tanks where that's the case, I weigh plants down with a small rock.

HarleyK

BTW: I moved this thread for you to the plants forum