Java moss carpet?

mandimoron

raving platy fangirl
Oct 2, 2005
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Toronto, Ontario
perturbedmango.net
I'd like to have a ground cover plant in my tanks, but since my equipment is so low tech, I don't think I have many options other than using java moss-- which is fine by me, really, I think it's neat! I'd just like to know what the best way of starting the carpet is? Should I bust out my extra long tweezers and poke individual strands of moss into the substrate, or is there an easier way?
 
The problem is keeping the fish from pulling it back out of the substrate. I just started a background of Java Moss in one of my tanks using nylon screening and tying the moss onto it with fishing line. It takes a bit of time for the moss to get going, but it will take off and unless managed, will drive you crazy with it's growth and invasiveness.:)
You could use a similar principle to start your 'carpet'.

Len
 
best thing that worked for me is getting thin pieces of slate, and tie the moss on with some black cotton thread. the moss will slowly cover the slate so u cant see it and the thread will rot away (not harmful to your fish). that way you dont have to worry about removing a rubberband or anything.
 
Java Moss is OK but it makes a poor carpet in my opinion. It just grows too fast and it can end up looking like armpit hair if you don't take care of it properly.

There are many other types of moss that grow to an effect you might wish to aquire and do far more nicely. Amano is famous for his use of moss in a tank.

Much of his moss only grows in 'sheets' so it is manageable.
 
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