Question on driftwood, screws (to mount it) and java moss

[JamesBenjamin]

I have a very nice driftwood 'log' that I would like to use in my tank, but it floats. I read on here before that if you keep it tied down for a long time, it will usually stay down on its own, but after 6 weeks of being tied to a brick, it still floats.

question #1:

i plan on buying a peice of slate to screw it into, but what kind of screw should i use to avoid nasty metals leaking into the water? (obviously rust-proof, anything else i should look for?)

question #2:

I want to have my java moss grow ON the driftwood, and from what i've gathered on here, I should staple it to the driftwood and wait 3-6 months, and eventually it will cover the wood, and grow 'up' and 'out' as it were, flowing in the current. is that all i need to do? and should i use special staples too? (see above question)

Thanks!

[thom336]

one thing you didnt mention was that driftwood, although not as bad as others, does have a tendency to colour the water. so, one way of preventing this is to put carbon in the filter.

As for screws...screws? to attach wood to slate, the best method in silicon. cheap, unnoticeable, readily available, non toxic (it is the stuff they stick your tanks together with), to need to do no drilling, very strong and water proof.

To attach java moss to driftwood.....fishing line. tie the java moss on.the fishing line will eventually rot away, leaving a lovely centre piece for the tank...and it is practically unnoticable when it is there anyway!

[Skittyfish]

My driftwood does have a screw in the bottom and is attached to a huge piece of slate, it still wants to float after almost a year.

I used brown thread to attach my fern to the wood. It only took a month for my fern to firmly attach to the wood and the thread eventually rotted away. As far as I know, fishing line takes years to rot, but it won't be noticable, but neither will brown cotton thread.

[superstein61]

Yea, I also use cotton thread - black, dark green, whatever I can scrounge up from my wife's sewing room - LOL. The Moss should attach itself within a month.

As far as the driftwood and slate - if you use a screw, you should be able to find ones that are rustproof. Just check your local hardware store

[somefinnfishy]

Some wood never sinks:mad:
Screws are the only way to go.dont go over board on the masonary bit the cheapest one you can get your hands on will cut like butter.any screw other than phosphate coated(drywall)should work.
I worked my wood with a dremel tool carved a bit then drilled 50 or 60 TINY holes took a needle andpushed the ferns and moss in no thread:) As for the mono filiment or nylon fishing line I just dont see it EVER degradeing IMHO

[Glenstorm]

Another option that builds on the other suggestions is to goop the screw in silicon. This way it is sealed off from contact with the water.

[Slappy*McFish]

My driftwood still has floating tendencies even after 3 years of being in the tank...I just leaned heavy stones(5-10lbs) around it on certain areas.

[JamesBenjamin]

well, i purchased 2 peices of slate today, tonight i'll try to mount it to the wood with the screws.

then comes the hard part, tieing (sp?) all that java moss to it!

i'll let you guys know how it turned out, thanks!

[Gumby7]

Originally posted by Glenstorm
Another option that builds on the other suggestions is to goop the screw in silicon. This way it is sealed off from contact with the water.

That's a good suggestion. Stainless steel screws are another.

Silicon alone doesn't stick well to stone. If it’s a big piece of wood there will be a lot of buoyancy force on the glue causing it to let go (and probably take out your lighting in the process).

Gumby

[tyler]

i prefer the use of (1/4" stainless) staples. i have some pieces where tying would have been aquward. i have no idea how i could have got my anubias in place without stapling the rhizrome down and now the growth is thick enough where i don't even see the staples. same with my java moss and fern.

[Dabbler II]

In one of my tanks I tied the driftwood to the UGF and then put my gravel down and it stayed in place :D
If you use the slate screw it down with Stainless Steel screws. If it isn't enuf weight then you can add larger rocks to the slate base to keep it down. I used fishing line on my moss, I just wrapped it with the fishing line and tied one knott. If you use the staples then make sure they are stainless steel.