Attaching Riccia to rocks "how to"

[jawasnack]

I saw this on another site somewhere so the idea is not mine, but it did seem to work pretty well.

Go to your dollar store and get one of those bath loofah/sponge/pouf things. Untie or cut the sting that is holding it together and you will have mesh netting to last you a long long time.

Cut a small section off (big enough to more than cover the size rock you're going to use) get enough Riccia to spread out over the top side of your rock. Then take the netting and cover the rock pulling the excess netting under the rock and twist it up to tighten it. I then used the smallest zip tie I had on hand to keep the netting twisted tight.

Done! Place rock in aquarium and hope that it works! I will update this thread to show how well this works or doesn't.

It should be noted that the Riccia won't actually attach itself to the rock, this just weighs it down...

 

[WeedCali]

Nice! i was wonder what the mesh was. Ill have to get some

 

[ValorG]

I think thats the mesh that holds onions?

 

[dundadundun]

no... the ones for onions holes are way too large. try a loofah.

 

[jasonG75]

or you can get a hair net.

 

[jawasnack]

The loofah's are the way to go, once you untie or cut the string holding it together it's just one long piece of the doubled netting (about 10-12' long) and for only $1 It's pretty darn cheap!

 

[sorberj]

The material that the Loofah is made from is called Tulle and you can get it from fabric stores in a lot of different colors to help with blending as well. It usually runs about $1.50 to $2.50 per yard (48" wide fabric) depending on what hole diameter you're looking for.

I really like the idea with the zip tie, I'm going to have to get some riccia and try it now!

 

[NewObsession]

keep in ming you will have to continuously trim the riccia close(ish) to the rock. not only does it not actually attach to the rock, but unlike java moss which grows in long strands, riccia moss is quite short and if not trimmed you will eventually hav clumps breaking off and floating away.

 

[Liquid_Pyro]

we need some pics of before and after...when its all grown out

I have been wanting to try this for awhile

 

[jawasnack]

I will get some updated pics and post them soon. I can tell you all that it hasn't worked the way I hoped it would. The Riccia has been growing just fine, but every time my Shrimp/CPO's/Snails crawl around on it they loosen the riccia away and it floats off toward the top of the tank!