Re: Aquatic Plants Digest V3 #673

[George Slusarczuk <yurko at warwick_net>]

Hello,

The toxicity of lead metal in water has been discussed for at least 100
years. 

It is my understanding, that in soft (& acidic) water lead does
dissolve, albveit very slowly.In hard water, when carbonates are
present, a protective coat of insoluble lead carbonate forms and
protects the lead metal from dissolution.

So, if your water is soft -- it would be prudent to avoid lead strips.
If, on the other hand, it's hard -- after a time the lead will be coated
with a thin coat of lead carbonate (white) and no further reaction will
take place.

Best,

George



>  I've stapled about 50 Java fern leaflets to a piece of driftwood I purchased
>  from a LFS.  Any opinions on whether the pound of sheet lead I've attached
>  to the wood to sink it will cause a problem? I thought lead was pretty inert
>  in a freshwater tank, hence no danger of lead poisoning. >>
> Hmmm, yes, the longer you live, sooner or later the same sorts of issues come
> around... There are folks (with and w/o mass spec.s) who have speculated that
> under reductive circumstances (let's say low(er) pH's, anaerobic cond.s like
> inside a rotting piece of wood underwater) that some, enuf lead might well get
> into soln to cause metabolic havoc. My real advice is to "get the lead out"
> sooner rather than not, and use some other dense material to sink yer
> deadwood. Maybe we can have a run of inputs on various wood prep. protocols
> aqua-gardeners have found suitable...
> Bob Fenner

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