Robin Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 My understanding is Java Moss won't root which is why it needs to be tied down to something. Is there a moss that will root in the substrate, kind of carpet like? Also, without C02. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shkote Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 To my knowledge, there isn't a moss that will root, period. Moss will attach itself to larger substrate like gravel and rocks using rhizoids, and kind of creep and grow along the surface of the substrate. I haven't seen it enough to create an entire carpet in any of my tanks. Eventually it stops crawling horizontally and starts shooting upward. I'm sure it's possible though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich B Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 I was watching a video from Irene about using Moss Balls as a "moss" carpet by slitting them open and lying them flat. It still needs to be tied down of course but I honestly don't remember how she said to cut it. Sure wish I could remember that video too. Just saw it last week. Not sure that answers your question though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Posted August 27, 2020 Author Share Posted August 27, 2020 Thanks I'll dig around for it. It's an interesting idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nana Finopolis Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 (edited) I've used this plastic canvas you can get at craft stores. Tie the moss to it then weigh it down with a little substrate until the moss gets going real well. When the moss gets a little taller I bury the plastic canvas in the substrate. I love this stuff. You can make moss walls or use it to attach other plants as well. I've even made ledges and caves with it, then cover with substrate or rocks. There's so many uses for an aquarium. Cover a nano tank, cut small pieces to cover gaps where fish might be able to jump out, tank divider, separate filter media, etc, etc. Edited August 27, 2020 by Dice 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Posted August 27, 2020 Author Share Posted August 27, 2020 Great idea. I hadn't thought of burying it in the substrate and ta-da I already have some plastic canvas. the cave thing is interesting. I'd like t make some caves. I'll have to give that some thought. Thanks! 2 hours ago, Dice said: I've used this plastic canvas you can get at craft stores. Tie the moss to it then weigh it down with a little substrate until the moss gets going real well. When the moss gets a little taller I bury the plastic canvas in the substrate. I love this stuff. You can make moss walls or use it to attach other plants as well. I've even made ledges and caves with it, then cover with substrate or rocks. There's so many uses for an aquarium. Cover a nano tank, cut small pieces to cover gaps where fish might be able to jump out, tank divider, separate filter media, etc, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 The moss won't root, but it will attach. If undisturbed it sort of can look like a carpet, but if you pull on it, it will lift the top layer of substrate with it...and if you let go it will fall back down. So not a carpet but a throw rug?😁 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ange Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 Another method similar to plastic canvas is using plastic gutter guard, as it's usually cheaper than plastic canvas depending on where you live or for larger scale projects. I've also had good results by processing equal amounts of moss and water roughly in a blender and then painting it onto surfaces and doing a dry start. This works best on broader surfaces (I've personally done it on Mopani wood), I had to use cotton thread for my bonsai in my 5.5g. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Posted September 2, 2020 Author Share Posted September 2, 2020 1 hour ago, ange said: Another method similar to plastic canvas is using plastic gutter guard, as it's usually cheaper than plastic canvas depending on where you live or for larger scale projects. I've also had good results by processing equal amounts of moss and water roughly in a blender and then painting it onto surfaces and doing a dry start. This works best on broader surfaces (I've personally done it on Mopani wood), I had to use cotton thread for my bonsai in my 5.5g. That sounds interesting. When you say a dry start do you mean that once you paint it on you leave it to dry and then put it in water? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ange Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 For a dry start on moss what I usually do after painting it on is place it into a container, mist the driftwood until it's damp (not sopping wet or else you will grow mold), and cover it tightly in cling wrap. This keeps the environment humid and also maximizes the CO2 that the moss has access to. Some people will dry start entire tanks using moss and plants that can grow emersed and then flood it later, but it's also possible to dry start moss on aquarium decor and do the method in its own container for about a month or so (the amount of time depends on the species, this is how long it has taken me with willow moss). 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Posted September 2, 2020 Author Share Posted September 2, 2020 1 minute ago, ange said: For a dry start on moss what I usually do after painting it on is place it into a container, mist the driftwood until it's damp (not sopping wet or else you will grow mold), and cover it tightly in cling wrap. This keeps the environment humid and also maximizes the CO2 that the moss has access to. Some people will dry start entire tanks using moss and plants that can grow emersed and then flood it later, but it's also possible to dry start moss on aquarium decor and do the method in its own container for about a month or so (the amount of time depends on the species, this is how long it has taken me with willow moss). I am so going to try this. Thanks a bunch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ange Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 No problem! I learned the technique from an article on Aquasabi and I wish I had done it when establishing the monte carlo in my CRS setup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 4 hours ago, ange said: I've also had good results by processing equal amounts of moss and water roughly in a blender and then painting it onto surfaces and doing a dry start. This works best on broader surfaces (I've personally done it on Mopani wood), I had to use cotton thread for my bonsai in my 5.5g. totally off topic, but I have always wanted to use this technique to stencil a word on a brick wall here in Seattle. If I started in fall I bet it would take. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Posted September 2, 2020 Author Share Posted September 2, 2020 25 minutes ago, Brandy said: totally off topic, but I have always wanted to use this technique to stencil a word on a brick wall here in Seattle. If I started in fall I bet it would take. If you do it, you have to post pictures! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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