Material for moss wall other than mesh?

**snail** · 09-10-2010, 12:27 PM

I really want to do a moss wall but think the plastic net is ugly. I'd like to start with a fairly small quantity of moss for cost reasons and I don't want to have to look at mesh for two years. I've also seen some people say that the moss tends to have bald spots. As my aquarium is low tech, low light this could be a problem for me.

So basicly I want some thing more natural looking if it shows through. I can have lots of cork bark for free. My tap water is quite hard. My fish are all quite flexible and should have no problem with slightly acid to slightly alcaline but I don't know if adding a fairly large amount of cork would play havoc with the water chemistry.

What do you think of cork? Is there anything else that would work?

**SkipW** · 09-10-2010, 02:06 PM

I've never heard of using cork in an aquarium. I think you would have a hard time keeping it from floating. A piece of drift wood might be a better choice.

Most mosses don't require a lot of light, but the better the light and nutrients you have, the faster it will grow out. You'll need to research on the requirements of what type you want to use. But they all should attach very well to any porous material. Some black nylon screening from your hardware store should work well, and you could start small and add to it as it grows out. Or attach the screening to a piece of dark slate so the screen wouldn't be so visible.
How big of a wall where you thinking of? It's going to need some kind of structure to form a "wall".

**Lady Hobbs** · 09-10-2010, 05:01 PM

I've heard of gutter netting also being used and it's black so wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb.

If you do try this, go for the Christmas Moss. Much prettier than java.

http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/...Moss_Wall.html

**DrNic** · 09-10-2010, 05:14 PM

I've seen people use things like cheesecloth or light cotton netting. If you can get the moss growing well enough the cotton fibers eventually corrode away leaving just the moss to hang by itself. It only works with a pretty heavily planted moss mat however.

**Lessersaint** · 09-10-2010, 05:46 PM

I agree with lady hobbs, I have some xmas moss and it looks nice. I just can't seem to tie it down well enough to stay so its drifting between stems of other plants.

**snail** · 09-10-2010, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by SkipW

How big of a wall where you thinking of? It's going to need some kind of structure to form a "wall".

Quite big, for the back of a 60 gallon tank.

I had decided against java but all the others are so expensive I'll need to start with a smallish amount and wait for it to grow or it will cost more than the tank! I'd like to use weeping moss I think.

So other than net any ideas?

**Lady Hobbs** · 09-10-2010, 09:08 PM

Even the java is expensive as heck. A small golfball size is $7.

**HeatherB** · 09-10-2010, 10:53 PM

I would make yourself a screen. Using the same stuff they make window screens with. Wouldn't be too bad expensive and it would kinda disappear into the background.

I also believe they make that needlepoint plastic stuff in other colors. You could use black, and then put some kind of black backgroung (even a trashbag) behind your tank and it would kinda not stick out as much.

**snail** · 09-10-2010, 11:27 PM

Originally Posted by Lady Hobbs

Even the java is expensive as heck. A small golfball size is $7.

And I used to chuck out handfuls of the stuff ever week with when I did water changes. I didn't have any fresh water tanks on the go for a while so now I have to buy it

**snail** · 09-10-2010, 11:34 PM

[QUOTE=SkipW But they all should attach very well to any porous material.[/QUOTE]

I'm still trying to work out what porous natural material I could use. I read about a guy who did it with cork by sticking it to the back of the aquarium but I'm still worried that cork might soften the water too much or some thing. I know it would be more work than mesh but I'm trying to work out some thing the moss would grow on rather than being held between it.