Moss

SHK_ATK

SHK_ATK

Clam Chowda
Nov 4, 2006
1,447
0
0
42
(805)-CA (336)-NC
I was at the lake today and noticed some really brigth green moss. and as I inspected closer It look really clean and nice I was thinking that it would look really nice to have a "carpet" of this in my planted tank, I was wondering if this would be a wise idea to do/try. I know that there are other things to try but I was wondering if in theory it could work?? Moss grows on trees and in the ground but could it do well underwater? not trying to mess up my stable tank without getting some feedback first.

Also what other things would be good to have as a "carpet" besides dwarf grass? besidesI dont want to use just java moss.
 
unless it is aquatic, it will rot, unfortunately. I wouldn't risk it unless you have no inhabitants in your tank, then go ahead and try to see if you can get it to go from emmersed to submersed...
 
I have a java moss carpet in my 10 gallon that I really like. It is nice and bright green. Why don't you like it? It's really easy for a carpeting plant. Just about as easy as it gets. Most carpet plants are going to need a lot of light to grow and spread well, so if you can't supply this you should just keep it simple.

Was the moss you saw underwater or just on the water? Could you take some pics? There are ridiculous amounts of different moss species, so I doubt that you'll be able to ID it, but it just might grow. I would try taking it and submerging it in a vase or container of some sort and put it in a window to see if it survives. It's a long shot but you never know.:)

The moss needs a hair cut it's a bit overgrown right now.:) Just to show you that it can look a nice bright green. There are some people whose moss looks way better than mine with pearls and all.

HPIM0948.JPG HPIM0988.JPG
 
Last edited:
its not that I dont like it, I mean I have some now. I just want something "diffrent" My lighting isnt a problem. I did not have my cammera with me but I will take a small sample and play around with it. It was also on the waters edge not submersed. Also on the JM Its really hard to find something as green as that if at all. I have some dwarf grass but so far I just have a small bit of it I want to find some but havent been able to get my hand on anything localy. Hence the moss was something that was...how do you say..Free and ubundant. :D
 
My moss didn't come to me like that, I grew it so that it would become bright green. All you need is decent light and maybe CO2. I have noticed in my experience that when put in high light my moss turns the nice bright green as you see and in low light it is a drab dark green. I suspect it is because the moss needs more chlorophyll when in lower light so it has more of it giving it a darker appearance, but I am no plant major so who knows why it happens?

There are plenty of other types of moss, but some are not as easy to find as others. Either way I don't think it would make a difference if the conditions were the same it would probably grow just as dark as java would. The only difference between mosses I notice is the organization of the "little leaves."

I wouldn't trust the moss at the lake either, since you have no idea what could be lurking in it. Whether it be some sort of insect, bacteria, or toxin that you wouldn't want in your tank.
 
I concur. Don't risk it. And the lake water is probably much colder than your tank water. The moss may not survive long and could create a decaying mess.

Question for Sammie 7 : How do you get the java moss to lie down so nicely? I notice you seem to be starting a moss wall on the side of the tank...
 
gmh said:
I concur. Don't risk it. And the lake water is probably much colder than your tank water. The moss may not survive long and could create a decaying mess.

Question for Sammie 7 : How do you get the java moss to lie down so nicely? I notice you seem to be starting a moss wall on the side of the tank...
Click to expand...

Well, I'll just post a PM I just sent a couple of minutes ago from someone thinking of creating a carpet as well.

First question about the wall
Well, that actually not a metal mesh it's a bath sponge poof that has been unraveled an spread over needlepoint grid with a suction cup pushed through an incision in the needlepoint and then stapled in various places to keep the mesh snug, so the moss won't float away.

For the carpet, I used thin pieces of slate wrapped with sewing thread, though the recent ones I've done were with the same bath poof mesh. I have heard of some people just letting the moss just creep on the gravel, but I don't know how well that works. I like using something to attach it to, because you can just remove it when ever you want, take it out to clean the moss, or pick it up to clean under it.

If you don't have slate available you could use needlepoint grid. I tried this when I first attempted the carpet, but if you don't have anything to weigh it down it will try to float in the current.

So, basically all I did was lay down a thin layer of moss, wrap thread around it (enough to keep it from floating off), and tied the thread off. You could also use fishing line.

Did that make sense?

http://www.aquamoss.net/How to c...oss wall.htm
http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?...c=101806&st=64
Those should explain other methods a bit better.

I also have pics of the 5 month transformation, but I don't want to completely hijack SHK_ATK's thread unless they don't mind and would like to see as well.
 
POST AWAY MY FREIND!!!!!!!!!!!! :D I have JM but its only on my rocks and I wouldnt mind doing a "carpet" I know about the poof that you used I though it was pretty cool. But yea post away. I think im going to experiment with the moss on the lake but not put it in my tank but rather a vase or something and monitor the levels as well as what it does. My little experiment. who really knows it might just end up working and who knows people might be bent over fowards trying to find some green moss at their local lake.
 
Ok well here's a second message when the person asked how long it would take for the moss to grow out.

I guess it all depends on the conditions you have in your tank. I have 2 10 watt Compact Fluorescent bulbs over my 10 gallon with DIY CO2. It takes about a month or more for the carpet to get really bushy like it is now.

For the moss wall, I haven't really had it up a long time probably a month or less, but things like this take patience, especially since moss grows so slowly. I'm sure that in another month it will have filled in nicely.

Just have patience it will happen. I was a little worried about being able to see the slate pieces under the moss, but over time the moss has grow out to wear it covers that as well. I can't believe the difference from when I first started out.

This is a photo transformation of the moss from November, since I started the carpet I have trimmed it once. I also moved some of the moss/slate pieces over to my bettas 5 gallon and made new ones for the 10 gallon. The newer ones were slender pieces that I put over on the right side of the tank in the small area between the glass and the driftwood. You can also see how different my tank was in the beginning of my "real" plant experience.

Nov: http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s239/Sammie777_2007/HPIM0013.jpg?t=1175807271
Kinda blurry but you can see the needlepoint grid under the moss.

Dec: http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s239/Sammie777_2007/HPIM0150.jpg?t=1175807304
Still blurry (this was before I had my new camera ) You can see how short the moss was and the needlepoint under it.

Jan: http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s239/Sammie777_2007/HPIM0462.jpg?t=1175807376
Better camera this month you can see that I have changed over to slate. Still pretty short with thread still showing.

Feb: http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s239/Sammie777_2007/HPIM0540.jpg?t=1175807415
It has grown out a lot but the thread is still visible if you look carefully (in person).

March: http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s239/Sammie777_2007/HPIM0839.jpg?t=1175807557
Don't mind the dirty glass, it's algae. I was growing it to get ready for the otos I got about 3 weeks ago, they ate it within days. You can see that it is full grown and wanting a trim. Also the newer piece on the right side I was talking about that hasn't quite grown out yet.

As you can see, my tank went through quite a transformation. Kind of odd to look back on now, since I know so much more about aquascaping and plants.

EDIT to add:
Some pics I just took a minute ago:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s239/Sammie777_2007/HPIM1041.jpg?t=1175808783
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s239/Sammie777_2007/HPIM1038.jpg?t=1175808866
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s239/Sammie777_2007/HPIM1044.jpg?t=1175808933
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom