Lead

[markandhisfish]

can anybody reccomend a good site for aquarium lead strips for weighting down plants please? looked on the site i get plants from they dont seem to sell it anywhere. also any other good sites for plants? i use plants alive at the mo as greenline have stopped trading

 

[aaronnorth]

aqua essentials and the green machine sell tropica plants.
Maidenhead stores stck aquafleur which are also good quality.
There is aquarium gardening which stock a difeerent variety but i dont know the quality of them.

lead weights can damage plants, especially the more delicate stem plants.

 

[markandhisfish]

ok thanks dont you use lead? if not how do you anchor your plants?

 

[raptorrex]

aqua essentials and the green machine sell tropica plants.
Maidenhead stores stck aquafleur which are also good quality.
There is aquarium gardening which stock a difeerent variety but i dont know the quality of them.

lead weights can damage plants, especially the more delicate stem plants.

it must be pointed out that, just about the entire trade uses lead to weigh down, none planted, plants. as such, if used carefully it clearly, causes little problems.
I just asked at my local LFS, and they gave me a few strips!!!

 

[lljdma06]

aqua essentials and the green machine sell tropica plants.
Maidenhead stores stck aquafleur which are also good quality.
There is aquarium gardening which stock a difeerent variety but i dont know the quality of them.

lead weights can damage plants, especially the more delicate stem plants.

it must be pointed out that, just about the entire trade uses lead to weigh down, none planted, plants. as such, if used carefully it clearly, causes little problems.
I just asked at my local LFS, and they gave me a few strips!!!

While this is true, the lead, if clamped too tightly, can damage portions of the stems, and I find that I must cut above where the lead was anchored anyway because that portion has turned black or is in the process of decaying. Especially when I receive plants online. I, having a much more gentle touch, can use anchors without damaging the plant. A nice investment is in a pair of steel plant tongs. I purchased them on a whim about a month ago and I don't understand how I got on for nearly 20 years in this hobby without them. Wonderful for planting and very gentle. I can now plant individual stems and even tiny plantlets directly into the substrate quite securely without damaging them. Mine were about $6 (American dollars). I don't even need to use anchors anymore.

llj

 

[aaronnorth]

i use tweezers aswell (they are a godsend!) especially for plpanting plants with fine stems like HC etc. I used to leave the strips on, eventually as llj says, they rot where the strip is as there is no light. Aslong as your substrate is deep anough then the plants will stay in fine.

 

[markandhisfish]

i have to say i use lead on all my plants. i wrap it around very gently and make sure the lead is loose on the stem.