Aquarium Plant Paradise P.19-21

[ChrisC]

Hi all,
Been awhile since I've been here. Anyway, I'm referring to Amano's Aquarium Plant Paradise, I'm wondering how he acheived the carpet look on "The Glow of the Grove" (p18-21). The plant seems primarily to java moss, but I'm wondering how he got such a carpet effect? I can't see if it's mounted on anything. Any help would be .

Chris

 

[DarkEntity]

I don know if this is how he did it, but...

You can have a moss sandwiched between plastic. Place in tank and let it grow. Once moss carpet.


eg..

PLASTIC MESH
MOSS
PLASTIC MESH

 

[Graeme Edwards]

He proberbly tied it to flat stons with cotton, this carpet with moss takes some time to acheive, good growth and lots of trimming will give you a good carpet of moss. Another method iv tried is teing the moss to hessian with cotton and pinning it down to the substrate with DIY hoops/staples, iv doen this before and it has its problems, with trimming etc, the hessian tends to lift and move around to much for my liking.
So flat stones would work best and a good amount of moss to start with.

Regards,
Graeme.

 

[ChrisC]

Ok thanks for the help Graeme & Darkentity.

I was wondering, I'm after a low lying carpet (preferably grassy in texture). I would like a low substrate cover which will allow my Cryptocoryne Bullosa and Nomaphila Siamensis Parvifolia to create little "bushes" above this lawn. I was thinking E. Tennellus, although I am not sure if it will grow too tall? I am ideall y after something very low, i.e. 4cm or so.

Chris

 

[Graeme Edwards]

The moss will look grass like, and as you have mentiond E-tennelus ( doh spelling!!!!!!) will also work.
Ive grown ET a couple of years back and with good light it grew to about 5-6cm, nice plant and carpets really quick, in the right conditions of course.

 

[ChrisC]

Thanks again Graeme.

Ok maybe a little background is required - the tank is a 20gal Rekord 96. The lighting is minimal (18W Daylight T8, the stuff Amano's nightmares are made of ) and I'm not too keen on going back down the DIY CO2 route. Java Moss fits my requirements perfectly as it's low light, slow growing and there's always a ready supply of the stuff dead cheap at the lfs. Having read the sticky on the subject in this forum, I'm tempted to go down the moss route using some kind of mesh to tie it down with. I'm not too sure about a suitable mesh. Any suggestions?

Chris

 

[Graeme Edwards]

If your attaching the moss to stone, first use stones that arnt too smooth, something for the moss to anchor too.Then use black or brown cotton, thats all you need. Ive found that once the moss is growing well, regular trimming like you would grass in your garden helps the moss bush up rather than go stringy than like a bad hair day!

 

[ChrisC]

I was considering using rocks to base moss, but I think that rocks create a too inconsistent "lumpy" look to the lawn, I much prefer the uniform look of mesh, and holes can be cut out for the crypts to be planted in. I was thinking about egg crate perhaps?

Chris

 

[Graeme Edwards]

Not sure what egg crates your on about, why not then get hold of some slate, brake it up so it all fits in your aquarium and then tie it down to the slate using cotton, try scratching the slate for better anchorage too.

 

[demonmagus]

Not sure what egg crates your on about, why not then get hold of some slate, brake it up so it all fits in your aquarium and then tie it down to the slate using cotton, try scratching the slate for better anchorage too.

I think egg crates just plasticky kinda sheets, they use it for LR stacking in reef tanks I believe

 

[Graeme Edwards]

Ahhh got ya, could work, yes!

 

[ChrisC]

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/Egg-Crate-Plastic-Gr...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[MoreCoffee]

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/Egg-Crate-Plastic-Gr...1QQcmdZViewItem

Hi,

I think the grid size on the egg crates might be a bit on the large size. Although it's hard to tell from that pic.

I'm just in the process of setting up a moss carpet (and also trying some riccia) and am giving some plastic netting a try. I'm using the type used sold in garden centres for 'greenhouse shading' ......

Similar to these Greenhouse shading netting

I'm only just trying it, so cant say if it will work, but I think that with a few weights to hold it down it should be OK. To weigh it down I'm going to use plant weights in between the two layers of netting. I'm also thinking about putting some flat stones in between the netting to give some gentle mounds (as well as hold the net down).

Cheers
Al