What to do with plant weights?

[jaylach]

As most probably know I, not long ago, went to a heavily live planted tank. Some plants I received with enough roots to just push into the substrate. Some others came per-weighted as in starter bundles. Some that have rhizomes I had to weight myself. The weights I used are of a soft metal that is easily bendable. Since the metal, lead, is largely restricted these days I figure that the weights are either zinc or solder.

My question is if I should remove the weights once the roots develop enough to hold the plants in the substrate, as several have already done, or should I just leave well enough alone and not bother with removing the weights.

 

[Alice B]

I thought they were lead, and most solder used to be lead. I might remove the weights if it were my tank

 

[Fishmanic]

the plants with rhizome should be attached to driftwood or a rock using fishing line or gel superglue... I wouldnt leave weights in the tank...
for stem plants,
use a rock or two around the stem to hold it in place to roots take.

 

[jaylach]

I DO intend to remove the heavy metal weights as the plants root. That is why I thought a bit on how to attach the weights. In most cases such weights are wrapped in a spiral around the stems but I don't like that idea. I came up with what I think is a better method which also makes the weights easy to remove.

There are two reasons that I don't like the idea of wrapping a weight around the stems in a spiral.
1) It is possible that the weight could restrict stem growth as the thickness.
2) Using the 'spiral method' makes it hard to remove the weights when no longer needed.

Here is my solution. I did this with all the plants I weighted myself. Put one loop around a stem and the other loop around another stem. The result is no restriction on the stems and easy removal by just opening the loops again. I have yet to remove a weight yet but I can't see an issue. If the weight were done in a spiral I would probably have to uproot the plant to remove the weight. With what I did I can remove the weight without having to uproot the plant.

 

[Mb7640]

I DO intend to remove the heavy metal weights as the plants root. That is why I thought a bit on how to attach the weights. In most cases such weights are wrapped in a spiral around the stems but I don't like that idea. I came up with what I think is a better method which also makes the weights easy to remove.

There are two reasons that I don't like the idea of wrapping a weight around the stems in a spiral.
1) It is possible that the weight could restrict stem growth as the thickness.
2) Using the 'spiral method' makes it hard to remove the weights when no longer needed.

Here is my solution. I did this with all the plants I weighted myself. Put one loop around a stem and the other loop around another stem. The result is no restriction on the stems and easy removal by just opening the loops again. I have yet to remove a weight yet but I can't see an issue. If the weight were done in a spiral I would probably have to uproot the plant to remove the weight. With what I did I can remove the weight without having to uproot the plant.
View attachment 167039

What did you use to make this?

 

[jaylach]

What did you use to make this?

I used generic soft metal aquatic plant weights. My difference isn't the product but just how I used. The weights came in flat straight units. I just wrapped around the end of a rod to make the 'S' form. The picture of the formed weight is actually larger than the real thing.

 

[Mb7640]

I used generic soft metal aquatic plant weights. My difference isn't the product but just how I used.

Thanks I will have to look those up

 

[jaylach]

Thanks I will have to look those up

Go back to my previous post as I added.