The Puffer Forum

Hey guys I got my plants today. I was wondering if you knew whether the metal ties on the bottom of the plants are safe to use in a cherry shrimp tank?
Thx

They're lead--perfectly safe.

remove when the plant is anchored. I tend to remove the lead ties once I take possession of the plants.

The above posts reflect the uncertainty of the hazard of lead plant weights in tanks, especially for invertebrates. Not all of them are really lead anymore. Even if they are, there is more risk the softer and more acid the tank water is. As J-P states, it is better to get them out if possible/practical once the plant is established.

Thx for the reply guys. You were right, I just asked this on petshrimp.com and they said to never add any metals to a shrimp tank.

Thx again

J-P wrote:remove when the plant is anchored. I tend to remove the lead ties once I take possession of the plants.

Hey JP! Where have u been?!

You can get ceramic weights now matey, can post you some if you like?

bertie 83 wrote:You can get ceramic weights now matey, can post you some if you like?

Is this aimed at me bertie? If so how much money would you need for them and the postage? Cheers dude

Where are you in the uk? I don't mind paying a couple of quid for postage

scpion wrote:

J-P wrote:remove when the plant is anchored. I tend to remove the lead ties once I take possession of the plants.

Hey JP! Where have u been?!

gaming... kind of out of the hobby since we moved to a smaller home.. but we digress from the topic

if you go back and think about it for a moment, where to lead ties come from? Metal... metal is mined and not refined at 100% purity. Thus you are possibly adding unwanted metals to the tank (copper). Best to leave off the ties and and anchor the plants another way.

All of my past shrimp tanks had the flora established first before adding the inverts. I think it works best this way as you can fiddle with the aquascape while the tank is cycling. By the time the plants have anchored themselves and you have your set up done, it should be cycled and ready for the new guests.

J-P wrote:if you go back and think about it for a moment, where to lead ties come from? Metal... metal is mined and not refined at 100% purity. Thus you are possibly adding unwanted metals to the tank (copper). Best to leave off the ties and and anchor the plants another way.

All of my past shrimp tanks had the flora established first before adding the inverts. I think it works best this way as you can fiddle with the aquascape while the tank is cycling. By the time the plants have anchored themselves and you have your set up done, it should be cycled and ready for the new guests.

Thx for the info matey

+1 to J-P's comments on establishing a live-plant tank prior to adding invers, It is not only safer, it is less stressful for both the hobbyists and the inverts. I tend to do the same for planted fish tanks, just because it is also less stress for both me and the fish.