More is not always better!

[Lauren B.]

When will I learn? :confused:

I've been reading how tetras like caves and dark areas with heavy foliage, so I bought two more fake plants to put in my aquarium today. I installed the plants, and now I hate them. There's no dimension to my tank now...it's just a background of tall plants with ornaments in front...it sucks!

Tomorrow I will remove the two new plants and go back to what I had, which I thought was really attractive to begin with.

The moral to this story is: More is not always better (unless it's cheese on pizza).

[Lauren B.]

I just bought a $1.99 package of "plant anchors" at Petco. They are small bendable metal sticks that you wrap around the bottom of your plants (fake or real) and the weight keeps them submerged. They are awesome! They worked so well for me that I took the plastic boat-looking thingies off the bottom of all my fake plants and replaced them with the anchors. It made it so much easier to move things around, as the anchor's weight keeps them grounded sufficiently so you don't even need to pile gravel on it (great when working in tight corners).

I wish I'd found them sooner...they rock!! :thumb:

[cocoa_pleco]

sounds cool.

I used to like bare tanks with just gravel and fish, but now i LOVE fake plants and driftwood and rocks.

It enhances the tank so much

[Lauren B.]

I keep forgetting that my tank is only a 6-gallon. I keep buying more ornaments and plants, and I end up taking them back because there's no more room...nothing else fits! In addition to the two new plants that I hate, I bought another one that is supposed to kind of creep across the bottom of the tank, laying horizontally. When I got it home I realized the plant was nearly as long as the entire front of the aquarium! The pet supply stores here must think i'm nuts....buying and returning every week. I even bought another air stone today...the space was so small that two wouldn't fit! My original design was the best, and I think I'll go back to that and maybe add just a few decorative marbles at the bottom.

[cocoa_pleco]

i know. I bought a huge piece of driftwood for my 20, and my old sandstone. I wanted both, and theres no more room! but the fish REALLY love swimmin through the sandstone, so the driftwoods useless

[Faith_at_Large]

I have a variety of fake plants set up throughout my tank with the taller ones towards the back and shorter ones towards the front. I agree that more is not always better, but I like the mix I have. The foliage is different, at least three different leaf types and colours of both green and brown. Some of the plants are attached to fake tree stumps, on big enough to made its own little cave. My fish love it too. They are always swimming in, through and around the various plants.

[cocoa_pleco]

my honey gourami and bloodfins really love the plants.

The honey gourami picks food off of the fake plants and real java moss, and the bloodfins cruise through the plants

[*Sarah*]

Well Lauren, it sounds like you may have to get a new, bigger tank to decorate ;) lol. I'm the same way, I love buying things for my tanks, and for my other animals lol. it's awful, but so fun. Ahh, who am I kidding really, I just LOVE SHOPPING, and it doesn't matter for what!!! lol

[cocoa_pleco]

i hate decorating and running out of room. Thats why im starting SW again. More filters to buy, live rock, fish, etc

[Chrona]

Bigger IS better. You need a 55g tank for all those decorations now!

[Drumachine09]

In my guppy tank, i have a forrest of small plants in the back left corner, and a forrest of tall plants in the back right, with one breeding grass thing in the front, along with a fake rock, and an old boat half submerged, that we used to use for a bath toy.

[Jenni E]

Hi

I am not sure where you live, but here in Australia those plant weights are made from lead. I believe this may ultimately be deadly to your fish.

Please check the label.

Jenni

[cocoa_pleco]

lead is toxic to humans and fish

[Chrona]

I think lead weights are the standard for weighing down aquarium plants. I'm sure it's not really a problem, but you are supposed to take the weights off and seperate the stalks anyways.

[cocoa_pleco]

doesnt lead cause cancer??

On the lead tip of my darts it had a warning (caution- lead has been known to the state of california to cause cancer and/or birth defects)

[Chrona]

doesnt lead cause cancer??

On the lead tip of my darts it had a warning (caution- lead has been known to the state of california to cause cancer and/or birth defects)

If you haven't noticed, everything causes cancer in the state of California. Ironic because of all of the tanning salons there....lol

And no, I'm sure the lead used in weights has some kind of coating, or is not pure lead. I don't think the aquatic plant industry would be too happy with a cancer lawsuit on their hands.

[cocoa_pleco]

oh yeah, now i know what youre thinking of. Those metal sticks they wrap around plants.

Yeah, i asked if you leave em on once, and they said you can if you want, so yeah they probably coat them

[Chrona]

oh yeah, now i know what youre thinking of. Those metal sticks they wrap around plants.

Yeah, i asked if you leave em on once, and they said you can if you want, so yeah they probably coat them

You are supposed to remove the weights and plant each stem an inch or 2 away from each other though, or the stem inside the weight will all rot away.

[Incredulous_Ed]

If you haven't noticed, everything causes cancer in the state of California. Ironic because of all of the tanning salons there....lol

And no, I'm sure the lead used in weights has some kind of coating, or is not pure lead. I don't think the aquatic plant industry would be too happy with a cancer lawsuit on their hands.

haha that is so true.

[Lauren B.]

I just read the packaging for the weights, and although it doesn't say what the components are, it does state "Non-toxic and safe for aquarium inhabitants". They're really pliable...would lead bend so easily? (I'm not Superman, so I wouldn't know).

And thank god my fish won't live in California...they'd die from cancer for sure! :ezpi_wink1:

Stupid fact: There are many veterinary medications (many non-prescription) that are unlawful to sell in California but can be bought in every other state. I guess as soon as these items cross the California state line they all become magically carcinogenic! :hmm3grin2orange:

[Lauren B.]

On the lead tip of my darts it had a warning (caution- lead has been known to the state of california to cause cancer and/or birth defects)

Moral to this story: Don't ever throw darts at a pregnant woman's belly when visiting California. :hmm3grin2orange:

[cocoa_pleco]

Moral to this story: Don't ever throw darts at a pregnant woman's belly when visiting California. :hmm3grin2orange:

I dont get why they put known to california. so, if its not known to cause cancer in canada, should i just go and swallow some lead and go to california and say " SUCKERS, I CANT GET CANCER FROM LEAD, YOU CANT! HAH!"