How do you make a Java Moss lawn?

[Coral Keeper]

I have a 25 gallon high heavily planted tank and was wondering how do I make a Java Moss lawn in front of the tank?

[Mgamer20o0]

really easy. break it up spreed it thin put the one or two parts of gravel on it to hold it down.

[jmhart]

A java moss "lawn" isn't quite as easy as it seems like it would be. When emersed it doesn't spread out, like HC or Harigrass, it grow vertical. It'll get long(i.e. tall) before it spreads out to give you the lawn effect.

My suggestion would be to grow it emersed onto some wire mesh for a month or two and then put it in your tank.

[Yadokari]

Using mesh as if you were to make it a moss wall would be your best bet. :)

[Bk718]

another suggestion would be:
1-Find a piece of slate, relative to the size you want your "lawn to be"
2-Get a BUNCH of java moss and i mean plenty of it
3- Mince up the java moss into 1/4" pieces (this will make it grow faster and out of all directions)
4- Lay the moss out on the slate evenly
5- Take a very long piece of cotton thread and start wrapping the stone, go vertically and then horizontally so that the moss is held tight to the stone. Tie it up once secure. (ofcourse you can use a hairnet but it wont be as tight around the stone)
6- Place in any location in the tank, preferably in a spot with good flow and light.
7- Wait a few weeks to a month and it should start growing in

I did something similar on my slate wall. Will take a picture later and show how it came out.

Ofcourse other option is first making a moss wall and then transferring it down on the substrate. But would suggest you dont use substrate under the mesh so no bad stuff builds up..

[IceH2O]

I'd recommend using either christmass moss or even flame moss,I'm using both in 2 different tanks.

Christmass seems to spread a ton better then java moss and seems to have a better grip then java,also less fragile.

Flame grows straight up and is more grass like in the way you can keep it trimmed. I use a plastic mesh for my flame because its not really a grasper like the others IMO.

[Bk718]

So here are my pictures (excuse the quality :X)
This is about a month or so after they were made, grew out nicely.
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/8990/1000374gp7.jpg
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/4916/1000372zi7.jpg

I would agree with Ice on maybe Christmas moss and flame moss but regular java moss shouldnt stop you, just make sure to trim it so that the bottom doesnt turn brown.

I believe someone here on AC already made a java moss "lawn" did a 50/50 in the tank with substrate and moss... only if couldve remembered who.....

[Fishy_Fun]

i agree use some christmas moss

[Tophat665]

I've done the gravel trick, the mesh trick and the slate trick. For me, the slate has worked really well, the others not so much. I recommend finding slates or round river stones and laying the moss strand by strand on the upper surface until it's covered, then you can either tie it all down with fishing line or use a hairnet secured with fewer wraps of fishing line. I have ever had any luck with Java Moss adhering enough to form a uniform covering unless secured with non-biodegradeable line. Using slates is particularly easy because, in order to clean and trim, remove the slate, inverting it while still in the water, causing the moss to hang straight down (if you used biodegradeable thread, at this point it all drops off in a big sheet.) Then cut to a uniform height, swicsh around in a bucket of clean aquarium water, and then replace. Voila.

With mesh or gravel, you'll need to trim the moss in situ with a siphon running to take out the excess, and it's difficult to clean without sucking the substrate through the mesh or the moss right off the gravel.

That's my two cents. Reasonable minds may differ.

[eclecticoldsod]

Java moss attaches itself to tufa rock as quickly as I would attach myself to Johnny Depp [given half-a-chance..!] :drool:

[MIKE D]

Mincing the moss wont kill it? If a peice of my moss comes off the stone I have attached it to it could flot to the other side of the tank and start growing?

[Bk718]

Mincing the moss wont kill it? If a peice of my moss comes off the stone I have attached it to it could flot to the other side of the tank and start growing?

mincing it will not kill it, it will then promote each piece to grow on its own therefore giving you a thicker/quicker/greener growth
If a piece comes off you can either throw it out or chuck it in a corner if you got more java moss there to grow.

[Tophat665]

Java moss attaches itself to tufa rock as quickly as I would attach myself to Johnny Depp [given half-a-chance..!] :drool:

Unfortunately, it's very hard to keep Johnny Depp sunk in an aquarium. Surely he would cause an hellacious ammonia spike. :evil_lol: