Setting up Low-Light Moss Tank - Need Suggestions

DGalt

DGalt

AC Members
Jun 1, 2008
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Connecticut
OK, well since I've failed so far in the mid light range, I'm going to try and scale it down and do a moss and anubias tank. I'm playing for wood formations as I type this (well, not literally, but...
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)

I need some help though in terms of how to go about this.

This is for my 15gallon.

First off....need moss suggestions. I'm assuming Java and Christmas moss. What else? If anyone has any please let me know, I'd much rather buy from you all then have another mess with online dealers.

I know about attaching the stuff to wood / rocks. What about making some type of ground cover with it? How does one go about this?

As for tank conditions...what should I decrease my light to. It's currently at 40W, but I want to lower it due to algae issues I'm having now and well, this is going to be a low-light tank. Also, what about other plant needs. Do i keep up with my fert schedule now? (2x flourish and KCl a week. Dosing with excel daily along with DIY CO2) Or do I change it?

Can't think of anything else right now, but if anyone has another other suggestions please let me know
 
Your image doesn't show. You have to click go advanced and then click manage attachments then upload it.

You don't need ferts or CO2 with low light plants. Feeding your fish normally provides them all that they need.

To make moss grow as ground cover, you just poke it in the gravel in different places and as it grows continue doing that until it covers the area you want covered.
 
that picture was just a smiley...don't know why it didn't come through.

which type of moss is best as a ground cover?
 
I've only kept java, so I don't know the results with any other.

You could get a flat piece of driftwood and grow moss on it then bury the driftwood so it looks like a ground cover is actually growing in the gravel. Easy enough to grow on driftwood and you can just cut driftwood pieces to fit the places you want ground cover.
 
Christmas moss tied to small chunks of slate and layed next to each other can make a good looking moss foreground.
 
hmmm,
so right now i have a whole bunch of java moss, some christmas moss, some weeping moss, and maybe (pending a response from the person) some taiwan moss coming to me. anyone have anything to add to the list?

also, should I bother keeping up with the CO2. How much benefit will the moss get from it?

Oh, and still need an answer to the lighting question. What should I be shooting for?

thank :)
 
I have 30w over my 10 gallon moss tank (spiral cfls) and wish there was more light. Dave's on the right track with the slate pieces, as they can be easily removed and trimmed to keep their low profile. To make a groundcover, I'd go with the weeping or christmas moss, as they have a flatter growth habit. CO2 is not necessary but will be greatly appreciated by your mosses. Also, the majority of mosses we have access to do better in cooler water, and the best thing you can do to avoid algae problems is stock the tank very lightly, as mosses have relatively low nutrient needs and any excess will be feeding algae directly.
 
really? why the need for so much light?
 
Well, I think it has something to do with the fact that the WPG guideline doesn't apply for smaller tanks. 30w over 10 gallons would be considered a medium light tank, even though it has 3WPG.
 
so should i stick with 40w over my 15? b/c i've been getting some bba at that wattage (part of the reason i wanted to go with a lower light set-up)

if i were to decrease it down to maybe 30w would the moss not grow?
 
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