Steel mesh ok?

[wlepse]

I picked up some moss to attach to some decorations in the tank but the shapes don't lend themselves to using nylon mesh. So I went out to find a metal version I could form around the corners and such but all I can get is carbon steel. I know this will rust over time but since the plants need iron anyway would that be a problem or is iron oxide useless to them?

[smaug]

It would be very unsightly and would break down quickly.

[wlepse]

Any recommendations then? I found some SS mesh on McMaster but it is 30x's more expensive and I don't like the idea of buying something I can see and touch to see i I can form it easy enough.

[smaug]

I cant think of anything right now.

[Dave66]

Black cotton thread. By the time the thread decays, the moss will be attached.

Dave

[smaug]

Black cotton thread. By the time the thread decays, the moss will be attached.

Dave
I assumed the op wants something with structural support to attach it to.

[wlepse]

I assumed the op wants something with structural support to attach it to.
Yeah...I had thought about using thread but the parts I want to put it on are not a very regular shape and I am not sure if that will hold it down very well. But since the SS mesh is crazy expensive I may give it a shot.

[rich311k]

A hair net might work.

[gm72]

What about fiberglass screen?

[wlepse]

What about fiberglass screen?
I don't think fiberglass will hold a shape unless I glass it, then the moss can't grow through. I did look at aluminum screen but the holes were too small.

[tetra]

needle point mesh

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u8/there_be_dragons_here/Hornworms/100_0566.jpg

[wlepse]

needle point mesh

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u8/there_be_dragons_here/Hornworms/100_0566.jpg
Tetra...is that pretty stiff? Do you think I would be able to form it with a heat gun?

As a side note...is it normal for the moss to bubble? I got my moss before I was ready to get it going in the tank (obviously) so I put it in a bucket with a grow light attached. Water in the bucket is from last water change. Today I noticed that there are bubbles coming to the surface occasionally. Is this just a sign of it growing? I would have thought the oxygen it would release would be dissolved.

[J Pribb]

Thats just the moss converting daylight into O2. Its a good sign.

[Wild Turkey]

As a side note...is it normal for the moss to bubble? I got my moss before I was ready to get it going in the tank (obviously) so I put it in a bucket with a grow light attached. Water in the bucket is from last water change. Today I noticed that there are bubbles coming to the surface occasionally. Is this just a sign of it growing? I would have thought the oxygen it would release would be dissolved.

Sounds like the water in the bucket is degassing.

[Northernguy]

Some laundry baskets have a nice sized mesh pattern on the sides.Cut out a good sized section to tie your moss too.It can also be shaped with a heat gun easily.
Just my 2 cents:22:

[gm72]

Sounds like the water in the bucket is degassing.

I agree, indeed sounds like that.

[tetra]

that plastic mesh if pretty strong. People who knit with it so it together to make shapes, My nan does it all the time. plus a large sheet of it is 1.99 at walmart

[Northernguy]

I beleive that mesh is what MCHRKiller used to make her moss wall.
Its in here and looks great.http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquariumforum/showthread.php?t=43971

[wlepse]

Welll I guess I will off to Walmart to give that a shot. I'll have to borrow a heat gun from work since that stuff does look pretty thick and substantial. Northernguy...great link! Thanks, definately gives me some ideas since I just picked up the same tank from Walmart as my QT.

[Padams]

If it is a small enough bend piece you could use a flexing butane lighter (http://www.google.com/products/catalog?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=flexible+lighter&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=13746213166682469869&ei=EOcuS5_OAcG0tge6s-3_CA&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCcQ8wIwAw#ps-sellers)