Getting Moss/fern To Go On A Structured Background

[rjsmith]

As in the title, I've put a nice structured background on my new Trigon. When I fill it, I'd like to get some moss and java ferns growing on the background but will need to stick them on there somehow to begin with.
Any suggestions on how to do it? Suction cups/elastic bands don't work because of the uneveness of the surface.
Any ideas appreciated.

 

[Castellop123]

...

 

[rjsmith]

Use this idea and then instead of placing the moss on wood/rock... you stick it to the back using suction cups or something similar...

that's a great thread you've linked to. but my prolem is the what to use as the 'suction cups or similar' as the suction cups do not hole on the background as there isn't ever a large enough flat smooth spot on the background.

 

[Castellop123]

o[

 

[rjsmith]

The background is like coated polystyrene so nails not an option.
Can you get sticky tape that works underwater? Underwater blu-tac? Should I silicon some anchor points on before I fill up?

 

[Castellop123]

...

 

[rjsmith]

Cheers for the ideas corin c.

I've already had to silicone in some suction clips (had to trim the bases severely to get them to fit in the cracks of the background) for the filter pipes so could add some small extra black ones before I fill.

 

[Sammie7]

You could also use super glue. I've read that it sets under water and is inert. The gel version, I believe. Silicone cannot set underwater it will toxify the water until it dries. Epoxy is what sets under water and is inert.

 

[bjanbkboi]

Don't know if this would be relevant but it would be good to die the moss down using some thread. I have a java fern tied to a pice of malaysian driftwood with dental floss( made sure to get the wax off first). Heres an article about a moss planted aquarium... http/www.aquariumlife.net/articles/aquatic-plants/84.asp Good Luck

 

[Sammie7]

The problem with that is you can't exactly loop the thread around the background. Even if you did, the uneven surfaces wouldn't allow the moss to stay in certain places because it wouldn't be tight enough because of gaps.

 

[Liam]

You could use some pieces of wood, fairly flat pieces, drill small holes in them, use some fishing line and suspend them against the background, you could then tie the fishing line onto suction cups on the outside of the back glass of the aquarium. Slate if you drill it would work too for moss. Then just plant the wood with moss and ferns in the usual way. In my mostly mossy tank the journal is here, I have tied willow moss to the inlet and outlet pipes of the filter to cover them it works fine and the moss grows without actually sticking to the pipes.

 

[Castellop123]

ol]

 

[rjsmith]

Have you seen this article on Aquamoss before... It's pretty good!

Yes, that's good. sort of like the other thread but vertical.
Think I shall silicone some bottom anchor points and then run thin fishing line up to some top anchor points which shall be hidden anyway since they will be just under the lid and above the water surface. this will hold the vetical moss and fern wall in against the wall.

Question is now, what to use as good small discrete anchor points that I can silicone in and tie fishing line to?

 

[Sammie7]

Corkbark? Again, you can't use silicone underwater. You have to use epoxy or super glue. Silicone is toxic until it is allow to cure out of water.

 

[Castellop123]

Cheers...