support for moss - burlap??

[cellodaisy]

I have a tank with no substrate and I like the simplicity, but I've been thinking it would be nice to have a moss carpet at least over part of the tank, so I need some kind of support for it.

I know I could get some kind of plastic mesh like people use for moss walls, but I had a bad experience with plastic mesh in my tank and now I'm paranoid.

I don't want metal because I know even stainless steel would corrode eventually. I was in my local hardware store the other day and noticed that burlap has nicely sized openings. I know it would dissolve eventually, but is that really a problem? (So does driftwood.) Would it encourage the moss to grow into a sort of mat?

Are there other options?

[cellodaisy]

Help? Pretty please?

[rich311k]

I don't see why it would not work as long as the burlap is clean. Interesting idea.

[AshK]

You could try the shower poofs. A lot of people (myself included) cut the cord off the poof and use the mesh to hold down plants like riccia or pellia. Some sites sell a more rigid mesh like this too.

[cellodaisy]

I don't see why it would not work as long as the burlap is clean. Interesting idea.
Thanks for the feedback! Since you think it would be okay, I may just have to try it and see what happens. :)

[cellodaisy]

You could try the shower poofs. A lot of people (myself included) cut the cord off the poof and use the mesh to hold down plants like riccia or pellia. Some sites sell a more rigid mesh like this too.
Good idea---I actually used a disassembled shower poof as emergency fry cover once. If I can figure out something that isn't plastic, though, that would make me happy.

[justahannah]

I've also used nylon tulle without issue...I like the tighter weave it provides, and it's super cheap at the fabric stores. http://vox.popula.com/vintage/texlib/nett.html

[dundadundun]

i had burlap in my tank before. rinse it in tank water during a water change to make sure there's no chemicals before using it. also it breaks up pretty good in a couple, maybe 6 months. you will have to scoop it out frequently once it starts going pretty bad.

good luck not a bad idea for burlap... just messy eventually.

[cellodaisy]

i had burlap in my tank before. rinse it in tank water during a water change to make sure there's no chemicals before using it. also it breaks up pretty good in a couple, maybe 6 months. you will have to scoop it out frequently once it starts going pretty bad.

good luck not a bad idea for burlap... just messy eventually.
Hmmm... good to know.

[247Plants]

If it was me I would find large flat stones and tie the moss to it in a thin layer with cotton thread. Eventually the moss will attach to the stone and the cotton thread will decompose.

Then all you are left with is large flat moss covered stones.

[cellodaisy]

If it was me I would find large flat stones and tie the moss to it in a thin layer with cotton thread. Eventually the moss will attach to the stone and the cotton thread will decompose.

Then all you are left with is large flat moss covered stones.
That's a good idea. I thought about driftwood and rocks, but I hadn't thought about using large flat stones as the support for the "carpet." I should be able to scrounge up a piece of slate somewhere.

[ebola]

I used the stiff plastic mesh old ladies use for knitting things. I had to enlarge the holes with an exacto knife, but its stiff enough that fish cant wiggle behind it