Plant anchor

GumboJones · 08-26-2006, 01:49 PM

Whenever I buy a plant with a thin stem and no roots, it comes bundled together and conneted by a lead wrap. I know that lead is a bad metal to have in a tank, and that this should be removed before planting, but is there any other safe way of keeping these plants connected in a bundle like this? I have a terrible time when one or two of the 6 plans i have together come loose, and I have to replant the entire thing to get it reanc****d.

1) Am I correct when I said Lead was bad for aquariums

2) Is there any alternative method of keeping several plants connected in this fashion.

Puffer Pita · 08-26-2006, 02:00 PM

1. Yes, lead is bad. However, the amount of lead in the weights used on plants is negligible and isn't much of a concern. I use the weights and they are are fine.

2. I also use these, which work wonderfully.
http://www.aquariumplants.com/Profes...9_p/pr1325.htm

**JustOneMore20** · 08-26-2006, 05:35 PM

I wouldn't plant the whole bundle together. The plants will get more light towards the bottom and do much better if you plant 3-4 stems together instead of the whole bunch.

Instead of weights, I use a big tweezer thing to plant my plants. It makes planting so much easier and 99% of the time, the stems stay in place.

Something like these tweezers will push the stems about an inch or two into the substrate so that they stay. I have the curved ones.

Blue · 08-26-2006, 09:15 PM

It's best to plant them singly with distance of 2 cm apart from each other. This way, the light can penetrate better to the base.

Mr Aquarium · 08-26-2006, 10:51 PM

keeping them bundled up can also cause the lower end of the plant to die, IF the wieght is put on to snug/tight,
If i recall i believe i had over 2 dozon plant wieghts in my 75g at one time without worries, prolly upwords or 3 dozon

wtpdosa · 09-16-2006, 11:33 AM

BoxerMom,
When using the white plastic anchors, do you bury the whole anchor? How do you use it?

Gunnie · 09-16-2006, 03:48 PM

You can also try making the weights yourself:

http://www.plantgeek.net/article_viewer.php?id=10

Puffer Pita · 09-16-2006, 05:46 PM

Yup, slit the cross marks, stick the stems through, bury it in the substrate.

wtpdosa · 09-16-2006, 07:22 PM

Many thanks BoxerMom.

Great article Gunnie! THANKS
I love Do-your-owns. Far cheaper and I can make them the sizes I need.
I'll try and make some.

08-26-2006, 01:49 PM	#1
GumboJones Shrimp-O Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New Jersey Age: 23 Posts: 118	Plant anchor Whenever I buy a plant with a thin stem and no roots, it comes bundled together and conneted by a lead wrap. I know that lead is a bad metal to have in a tank, and that this should be removed before planting, but is there any other safe way of keeping these plants connected in a bundle like this? I have a terrible time when one or two of the 6 plans i have together come loose, and I have to replant the entire thing to get it reanc****d. 1) Am I correct when I said Lead was bad for aquariums 2) Is there any alternative method of keeping several plants connected in this fashion. __________________ ________________________ 30 Gallon Tall heavily planted tank w/ Driftwood -1 Micky Mouse Sword Tail -2 Female platy -3 Guppies -6 Serpae Tetras -3 Ghost shrimp -1 Macrobrachium Shrimp -1 Common pleco -1 Transparent knife fish -2 Bolivian Rams -3 Otto cats -3 Apple snails

08-26-2006, 02:00 PM	#2
Puffer Pita Puffer Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,677	1. Yes, lead is bad. However, the amount of lead in the weights used on plants is negligible and isn't much of a concern. I use the weights and they are are fine. 2. I also use these, which work wonderfully. http://www.aquariumplants.com/Profes...9_p/pr1325.htm __________________ Tina Puffers: Auriglobus silus x2 Colomesus asellus x1 Tetraodon travancoricus x1 Tetraodon biocellatus x2 Tetraodon nigroviridis x1 Tetraodon baileyi x2 Tetraodon lineatus x1 Tetraodon palembangensis x1 The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated. - Mohandas Gandhi

08-26-2006, 05:35 PM	#3
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Age: 22 Posts: 3,592	I wouldn't plant the whole bundle together. The plants will get more light towards the bottom and do much better if you plant 3-4 stems together instead of the whole bunch. Instead of weights, I use a big tweezer thing to plant my plants. It makes planting so much easier and 99% of the time, the stems stay in place. Something like these tweezers will push the stems about an inch or two into the substrate so that they stay. I have the curved ones. __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 20g, 5.5g Last edited by JustOneMore20; 08-26-2006 at 05:39 PM.

09-16-2006, 11:33 AM	#6
wtpdosa New Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 15	BoxerMom, When using the white plastic anchors, do you bury the whole anchor? How do you use it? __________________ Peace, Tom

09-16-2006, 05:46 PM	#8
Puffer Pita Puffer Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,677	Yup, slit the cross marks, stick the stems through, bury it in the substrate. __________________ Tina Puffers: Auriglobus silus x2 Colomesus asellus x1 Tetraodon travancoricus x1 Tetraodon biocellatus x2 Tetraodon nigroviridis x1 Tetraodon baileyi x2 Tetraodon lineatus x1 Tetraodon palembangensis x1 The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated. - Mohandas Gandhi

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08-26-2006, 09:15 PM	#4
Blue Care Bear Lover Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Dancing with the Devil Posts: 132	It's best to plant them singly with distance of 2 cm apart from each other. This way, the light can penetrate better to the base.

08-26-2006, 10:51 PM	#5
Mr Aquarium Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern Iowa Age: 43 Posts: 499	keeping them bundled up can also cause the lower end of the plant to die, IF the wieght is put on to snug/tight, If i recall i believe i had over 2 dozon plant wieghts in my 75g at one time without worries, prolly upwords or 3 dozon

09-16-2006, 03:48 PM	#7
Gunnie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 156	You can also try making the weights yourself: http://www.plantgeek.net/article_viewer.php?id=10

09-16-2006, 07:22 PM	#9
wtpdosa New Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 15	Many thanks BoxerMom. Great article Gunnie! THANKS I love Do-your-owns. Far cheaper and I can make them the sizes I need. I'll try and make some. __________________ Peace, Tom

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