Java Moss

[darenshan54]

Just got some java moss from the lfs for 2.99 and I recently put in the tank. I was looking into java moss as a new carpet plant so i just put some of my substrate on top of it to keep it from drifting away (it's 1/2 cm size pebbles). Is this adequete for it to start to grow a carpet or do i need to tie it down?

 

[Curiosity101]

You would probably be better investing in something like chicken wire. Get a couple of sheets and spread the java moss very thinly between them. Tie them together and then pop them in. Being metal they will sink to the base of the tank and overtime the java moss will grow as a nice carpet.

 

[darenshan54]

You would probably be better investing in something like chicken wire. Get a couple of sheets and spread the java moss very thinly between them. Tie them together and then pop them in. Being metal they will sink to the base of the tank and overtime the java moss will grow as a nice carpet.

Won't that affect the water chemistry? I was hoping the java moss would eventually attach itself onto the substrate ?

 

[Curiosity101]

It doesn't really attach itself to anything. It has no roots of any description.
And no it shouldn't affect water chemistry at all. If you search here on 'moss wall' you should find a few threads on how to make moss walls. Then just put it on the base of the tank instead of the back wall.

 

[Ben M]

i would use plastic mesh instead of chicken wire. or you could tie the moss onto some rocks/wood with string. i'm sure that after a while the moss will attach itself onto an object, but burying it under some rocks will probably kill it.

cheers

 

[Curiosity101]

Moss doesn't attach itself onto an object at all. I had java moss on both wood and rocks for over a year. As soon as I took the fishing wire off and gave it a quick shake it started peeling off. It's not going to attach without roots.

 

[Ben M]

oh, my Taiwan moss attached itself to my bogwood in a few weeks.

cheers

 

[chrisovington]

I've taken individual threads of Java moss and planted them into the substrate. It attaches to the rocks eventually. The trick is to keep trimming it or else the bottom rots and detaches from being starved of light. The mesh screen is probably a better idea as trimming will be easier by removing the whole mat. I trim my moss by cutting it as the shipon is running to pull out the cut pieces.

 

[Bobtastic]

I'm sure that you can adapte the moss wall technique to make a moss carpet.

Here are a couple of threads on the moss wall construction.

Constructing A Moss Wall: The Insta-Wall Approach
Step By Step Guide To A Moss Wall

Another idea would be get hold of a few peices of slate or some flat(ish) pebbles, cover the top of them in moss and hold it down with cotton or fishing line. Then lay them out so that they meet as closely as possible (like crazy paving) and leave it to thicken up.

 

[21rm]

hey thanks bobtastic for them links

 

[Dave Spencer]

Moss doesn't attach itself onto an object at all. I had java moss on both wood and rocks for over a year. As soon as I took the fishing wire off and gave it a quick shake it started peeling off. It's not going to attach without roots.

In which case, you don`t have Java moss (Taxiphyllum barbieri).

EDIT: Forgot to mention; supergluing moss is the easiest method for attaching it. For a carpet, you could glue it to a few rocks. It will spread out over the substrate, attaching itself to this as well. Pinning it under rocks will result in the covered part of the moss dying out.

 

[Curiosity101]

In which case, you don`t have Java moss (Taxiphyllum barbieri).

EDIT: Forgot to mention; supergluing moss is the easiest method for attaching it. For a carpet, you could glue it to a few rocks. It will spread out over the substrate, attaching itself to this as well. Pinning it under rocks will result in the covered part of the moss dying out.

I think it's more likely chrisovington was right and it's just that the bottom layer died due to lack of light. When I think about it I do vaguely remember the bottom layer being a bit brown.