Moss Arch

[pik01]

i am gonna make this.. but i will make mine smaller and with a back to make it a cave.

my question is if i use hot glue to bond the two pieces is that bad ????

also how long does java moss take to grow.

about the hot glue, it doesn't seem like it would fare too well when submerged, here's a thread addressing the same question: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26254

As for the java moss I assume it all depends on your setup. It's listed as a very slow grower on the planted tank and I've read that it takes months for peoples' moss walls to grow in. Sorry Ican't tell you from firsthand experience as this is my first planted tank: the moss wall is just over a month old and the arch are less than a week old.

 

[Amante_di_Betta]

Any pictures of the update?

 

[Kashta]

Oh I love that arch, Pik. I hadn't seen this thread until it just got bumped up.

Where's the update?????

On the metal question, if you can be sure something is made of stainless steel, then it's aquarium safe. Any other kind of metal (including staples) would be taking a huge risk - especially for shrimp.

Craft stores are a good place to find plastic mesh. They use a lot of that for stitching projects. For more flexibility to anchor moss on hardscape, go to the Beauty Department and buy a hairnet. Different screening materials can be found in hardware stores. They make screens/etc. out of nylon too. (And the guys probably feel more comfy at Home Depot than in the Beauty section at Walmart.)

BTW.. the easiest way to make a mossy cave would be to just cover a coconut shell with using moss, a hairnet, and some fishing line.

To make like a floating tube or something, use a fishing bobber or two or even some cork bark to hang it from. Look at cheap, plastic bangle bracelets in thrift shops and yard sales. Some of those are light enough to float and could be covered in moss with a meshy type netting. My Mom had one in our fish tank when I was a little kid. A big round bracelet that floated. She used heavier beads or something to hang at the bottom of it, so it floated along in a vertical position as a hoop the little fish just loved swimming through.

 

[pik01]

sorry folks i wasn't aware the thread had been bumped hehe. Disclaimer: I am as newbie as they come when it comes to plants so laugh all you want at the lack of growth, I know!

On a somewhat more serious note, I had to leave the tank for 3 weeks over winter and the plants suffered for it (not the critters, they were all moved). I lost all of my java ferns, which weren't doing well, anyway. There are maybe 4 of the tiniest leaves in the world on this arch and that's the last shred of java fern in the whole tank. I don't have the heart to remove it entirely, they're little fighters lol.



Think it's about time to trim the moss? It looks long, but it's very thinly spread out, I really wish it would thicken up, but I guess it will just take time. At least it's growing.

Oh and great tips, kashta! One day I'll take a deep breath and brave the beauty aisle I've also since learned that you can use super glue to attach plants to the mesh (or rocks or wood). Also, they sell black plastic mesh >.< If only I'd looked at the rack just below before grabbing this plastic mesh. It doesn't even cost any extra.

 

[thebrandon]

instead of trimming maybe you can try to thread it through some of the holes, that way it might grow in fuller along the entire arch.

 

[pik01]

I'm expecting more java moss to arrive pretty soon and when I do I might pull the whole thing up and super glue additional moss and trim and "replant" the strands

 

[Kashta]

Oh I remember this, pik... thanks for the updated photo.

And yes... if you keep trimming the moss, it will grow in thicker. Just takes a long time. Looks like healthy moss, though. Also no harm in adding more to it as you said you plan to do. If you chop up the moss a little into smaller strands before you super-glue it to the mesh, that makes it thicker too. (Remember to get super glue GEL.. not the runny kind.)