I found a package of java ferns and moss online for a reasonable price today. I was wondering if it would be possible to get the moss to grow on a gravel substrate, creating a green carpet type thing on some of the gravel?
Java moss question
- Thread starter SimonWoodstock
- Start date
In my limited experience, J moss will grow almost anywhere you put it. it may take it some time to create the carpet you want, but I'm sure it will do it. I have heard of others doing this but don't know to what scale they have.
How would you make the moss stay on the gravel, I wonder? I have a bunch of moss tied w/ fishing line to a clay pot (and nervous to take the line off, may just leave it sicne you can't see it)...
~Tara
~Tara
Weigh it down with some marbles or glass balls. After a month or so, when it's had a chance to stick to the gravel, remove the marbles. Tricky thing is that it doesn't grow roots, per se, so it will likely come up with a little disturbance.
You could also tie some down to a large, flat rock and use that as your base. After a while, the rock will be completely hidden by java moss. The added bonus of this is that you can pick up the rock when you need to clean all the junk that's gotten caught in the moss.
A turkey baster also works wel for cleaning up java moss tied down to driftwood and the like.
You could also tie some down to a large, flat rock and use that as your base. After a while, the rock will be completely hidden by java moss. The added bonus of this is that you can pick up the rock when you need to clean all the junk that's gotten caught in the moss.
A turkey baster also works wel for cleaning up java moss tied down to driftwood and the like.
That is cool! I am in the process of tearing down and starting over with my 20 gallon. This idea is definitely worth an effort.
thanks
thanks
I never take off the fishing line, either, why bother... I'm not sure, but I think a clay pot is too smooth for it to stick to by itself.
Nah, I have some on a terracotta pot and it does stick, although not very strongly. I still keep it tied down with some fishing line, but that was done only recently 'cause I didn't like where it had gotten to on its own. 
Mine adheres itself to smooth slate quite well, and pretty mush everything except the glass and intake tubes in my tank. I am forever fighting to wash it out of fiter sponges, and they come out every week for cleaning. it has a real death grip on the rougher rocks in my tank, and on any driftwood it gets near. But my favorite is the fact that it gets caught up in my jfern, and suddenly I have two plants grown together.
kveeti ~ you'd be surprised, it's on there pretty good, though I am not going to take off the fishing line... it's not a finished clay pot though, so there are tons of little 'pores' for it to grow into...
I was just thinking, if you went through all that trouble of getting it to 'stick' to the gravel, what happens when it comes time to vacuum the gravel?
Things that make you go hmmm....
~Tara
I was just thinking, if you went through all that trouble of getting it to 'stick' to the gravel, what happens when it comes time to vacuum the gravel?
Things that make you go hmmm....
~Tara
You'd have to skip that section I would think, but then I run RFUG 
so skipping areas doesn't bother me one bit. Without the rfug, I would imagine it would cause some concern though.
I am thinking about how the j moss grabbs everything. I imagine once it is estabilished in the gravel, you could probably pick up the whole carpet, vaccum underneath and then lay it back down. there would always be enough rocks stuck to the bottom of the carpet to hold it back in place when done. and it isn't like you are going to disturb the roots. a good pair of underwater barber clippers and you could give it a nice flat top look once a week or so. :laugh: :laugh:
so skipping areas doesn't bother me one bit. Without the rfug, I would imagine it would cause some concern though.I am thinking about how the j moss grabbs everything. I imagine once it is estabilished in the gravel, you could probably pick up the whole carpet, vaccum underneath and then lay it back down. there would always be enough rocks stuck to the bottom of the carpet to hold it back in place when done. and it isn't like you are going to disturb the roots. a good pair of underwater barber clippers and you could give it a nice flat top look once a week or so. :laugh: :laugh: