reference for heavy metals in aquarium
Here is the reference page in original post.I took the time to copy it and paste it for anyone unable to click on it
http://guppyplace.tripod.com/WaterQuality.html
Toxins in the Water: The Invisible Culprit.
Heavy Metals such as copper, iron, zinc, and lead destroy the fish’s slime coat, cause blood patches, cloudy eyes, listlessness, and damage the gills, eventually leading to death. Keep all metal out of the tank. If you have problems you cannot identify you may be able to link them to contamination from old copper pipes. While copper is sometimes used to cure protozoal diseases, the concentration used for this purpose is relatively safe. When treating fish with copper make sure your water conditioner does not deactivate heavy metals or it will have no effect.
Symptoms: Low-level, chronic cases: Loss of colour, or darkening or “off-colour”: loss of appetite; prone to fin rot, fungus, or other infectious diseases. Loss of interest in breeding.
In acute cases: Peculiar swimming, rapid gill movements, darting after a long period of inactivity, gasping, cloudy or protruding eyes. All fish in the tank would be affected. Fish will often jump out of a toxic environment.Moscows
Other Toxins include chlorine, chloramines (easily removed with a water conditioner), chemical sprays used in the home, tobacco (via fumes or from fingernails put in the water), paint fumes, and unsuitable plastic decorations (do not use if it smells strongly of plastic). Some plastics can release phenols or other chemicals into the water that are poisonous to fish. These include polypropylene and materials containing plasticizers, which are slowly dissolved in the water. The plastic turns slippery, then dry and brittle. Check any items not made for aquariums by inserting them in hot water for several hours. If there is still a plastic odour, do not use them.
Dead snails will quickly pollute an aquarium and kill the fish.
As well, watch out for galvanized buckets and water from recently decalcified water heaters.
http://www.doctoryourself.com/lead.html Angel fish killed by lead weights leaching into water
http://www.aquariumfish.net/information/equipment_2_p2.htm
There are two ways. First, for a long time live plants have been sold with a metallic lead band around the bottom of each plant. These heavy lead bands weigh the plants down and cause the plants to sink. You may be able to buy these lead bands in a pet store. …. lead is a heavy metal and can be poisonous. This is especially a problem in an aquarium with water that has a very low pH. Most aquariums in the U.S. have water with a high pH, so I’m told that the lead will not dissolve and cause problems. But lead kind of worries me, so I try to avoid it. Alot of the weights used to hold down aquatic plants are made of zinc instead of lead now.This can also be detrimental to fish,especially a lower PH.Guppies are especially susceptible to this.
Category: AquaticLife
