Discus/angels + Java Wall

[c-dub]

Hey guys, I'm putting this in the tank section rather than planted because it's not a "planted tank" as such.

Today I installed a Java Moss Wall because I had a bucket of Java Moss that I took out of my tank (because it was just taking over!!!).

I simply did the usual DIY stuff with it - 2 sheets of flywire sewed together with fishing line with Java Moss in the middle. I put suction caps to hold it up.

I'm very pleased with the result and will post up more pics when it starts to grow out. You can see in my sig the tank when the java moss was everywhere, and I am including pics of it now with the wall installed.

Please leave comments and feedback - I am kinda proud of myself for the way it's turned out.
(P.S. The water looks a bit yucky because I'd just put it in and stirred up the substrate and filth was flying everywhere lol).

Please stay tuned for when the java moss grows into a lucious wall (HOPEFULLY! LOL).

 

[minnnt]

Nice job mate, great idea. Your discus are stunning too!!

 

[c-dub]

Nice job mate, great idea. Your discus are stunning too!!

Thank you very much

 

[c-dub]

Adding a few more photos of the inhabitants. Did a bit of a rescape as well.
Unfortunately I couldn't get a shot of any of my clown loaches. There are actually 4 in this tank and one fully grown one that is 30cm!
Pics aren't that greater quality they're off the phone.

You'll see a couple of my rams, bala shark, my 2 angels and my 4 discus as well as the odd tetra.

Please comment.

 

[RobGoldsmith]

Love it, be interested to see if your wall grows better than mine

 

[c-dub]

Love it, be interested to see if your wall grows better than mine

It probably won't. I am trying to fight off some algae (what I think to be Black Brush Algae).

I have been battling it for a while now.

 

[c-dub]

Quick update:

Java moss has already started to poke 1mm to 2mm out of the flywire... good sign!

I also just read that Seimese Algae Eaters actually do eat Red Algae (BBA).
I might head to the LFS tomorrow to see if they have any... even though I'm already stocked out.

 

[Haveagojoe]

Whats the stuff you use to sandwich it together m8 and where do you get it from I would really like to try that out, Ive got quite a bit of moss myself, btw could you do the same with riccia?

 

[c-dub]

Whats the stuff you use to sandwich it together m8 and where do you get it from I would really like to try that out, Ive got quite a bit of moss myself, btw could you do the same with riccia?

I'ts simply fibreglass flywire. I'm not sure what you call it over there, maybe bug screen or something? It's just the mesh used in windows and doors.
It cost me $18 dollars australian to get enough to make up the right size.
I found the suction caps were the expensive part, because I bought decent ones... in the past I've used normal aquarium ones and they go hard or lose their suction.

 

[Jenste]

just wanted to add - - I LOVE the piece of driftwood you have in the top middle of your tank!

 

[c-dub]

just wanted to add - - I LOVE the piece of driftwood you have in the top middle of your tank!

Thanks a lot! I only added it a few days ago. It's goldvine.

It is supposed to sink after a while, I was kinda wishing it would keeping floating because it breaks the huge space at the top of the tank well.

 

[nurglespuss]

just wanted to add - - I LOVE the piece of driftwood you have in the top middle of your tank!

Thanks a lot! I only added it a few days ago. It's goldvine.

It is supposed to sink after a while, I was kinda wishing it would keeping floating because it breaks the huge space at the top of the tank well.

Looking great Just a small point though, considering the fish you keep, its often worth soaking the wood before you add it to the tank, and even boiling it if you can. Just to get rid of any potential nasties/fungal spores etc. rather than floating it in your tank with the fish....

 

[c-dub]

just wanted to add - - I LOVE the piece of driftwood you have in the top middle of your tank!

Thanks a lot! I only added it a few days ago. It's goldvine.

It is supposed to sink after a while, I was kinda wishing it would keeping floating because it breaks the huge space at the top of the tank well.

Looking great Just a small point though, considering the fish you keep, its often worth soaking the wood before you add it to the tank, and even boiling it if you can. Just to get rid of any potential nasties/fungal spores etc. rather than floating it in your tank with the fish....

Thanks for the tip. I was aware of that (I used this method with the larger bits of driftwood), however did overlook that step in this case.

I just added 5 siamese algae eaters yesterday in an attempt to battle the black brush algae ARGH!!

 

[AstonN24vantage]

kewl.

 

[RadaR]

Black brush algae as per James' algae page.

Description

Often grows on leaf edges of slow growing plants, bog wood and mechanical equipment. Also sometimes it grows in fast flowing areas of the tank. Grows in clumps or patches of fine black tufts up to about 0.5cm long.

Cause
In a high light tank it is an indication of low or fluctuating CO2 levels or not enough water circulation around the plants. In a low light tank it is often due to changing CO2 levels.

Removal
In a high light tank you will need to increase your levels of CO2 and/or improve water circulation around the plants. Scrub and cut off as much as you can first. Increase levels slowly to 30ppm or more but watch the fish to see if they are respiring heavily. Make sure you have good water flow around the whole tank along with some good surface movement. Adding a powerhead may help.
If you have a low light tank without CO2 injection then not doing any water changes will help. This is because tap water often has lots of CO2 dissolved in it which causes CO2 levels in your tank to fluctuate. The algae respond to this a lot quicker than the plants do.
Siamese Algae Eaters are known to eat BBA so can be used to control this algae.
Overdosing Flourish Excel will clear it up.