Moss wall aquariums are a beautiful and unique way to house fish. The moss creates a natural effect that is very relaxing and works well in both modern and traditional houses, businesses, etc.
They can be as simple as one large piece of sheet moss with rocks holding it down on the bottom of your tank and some small plants along with your fish, or you could make it more like a forest scene using multiple pieces of moss to create different levels throughout the tank.
Either way, creating this type of environment for your fish will provide them with an exciting place to swim around while also making your home look great! So, this article is for you. You will learn how to make a moss wall aquarium with just one simple trick!
Step to Follow on How to Make a Moss Wall Aquarium
Step One: Determine
First, determine how tall and large your aquarium will be. You want there to be at least one inch of the substrate, such as gravel below the waterline, so you’ll need to measure from the top of your tank. Next, think about where you’re going to put the moss wall and what type of conditions it will have inside of the tank.
For example, the wall will need to be positioned next to a window where it can get at least six hours of sunlight per day, or you can provide artificial lighting. To attach the moss wall to the aquarium, I attached industrial Velcro strips with a hot glue gun, but a fishing line or zip ties could work just as well.
Step Two: Acquire Materials
You’ll need a moss wall for your aquarium. You can either order one online, make your own by collecting mosses from the wild or even attach them with Velcro (like I did) to a piece of board. If you go the latter route, you will want to use a non-toxic adhesive like Elmer’s glue.
The green paint was bought at Michaels. It is a unique variety made for use in terrariums or aquariums to ensure that it doesn’t release any toxic vapors into your environment. Of course, if you want to be extra careful, you can always buy a roll of green felt and paint it yourself with the above-mentioned green paint.
Step Three: Attach To Glass
After your wall is dry, carefully attach it to your aquarium using the adhesive or Velcro strips, depending on what type of moss wall you’ve chosen. I tested out a small piece of Velcro for my wall, hot glued it to the back, and then pressed it up against the glass.
When you attach your moss wall, make sure that you leave an inch or so of space between your wall and the waterline to allow for a substrate such as gravel or sand, which will serve as the ground for your little ecosystem. For my wall, I chose to use a sheet of felt and paint it green to get a uniform moss background.
Step Four: Add Substrate
After your moss wall is set, you can add substrate. To re-create my Ecosphere display for this project, I used plain white sand bought at Michaels. As with most aquarium environments, the options are endless when choosing an appropriate substrate, so feel free to experiment.
If you’re looking for a substrate that is specifically appropriate for aquariums with live plants, then you’ll be looking for a product called Eco-Complete, which is dark in color and comes mixed with nutrients that will help the moss wall flourish.
Step Five: Choose Water Lettuce
Lastly, choose your plant. In this case, I’ve chosen water lettuce, which can be bought at many pet stores. As a bonus, the edges of the leaves will attach to the wall and grow roots from there as well, so it should anchor itself nicely to the moss wall over time.
The only downside is that it requires plenty of light, so if you’re re-creating my Ecosphere display, you’ll need to leave the lid off for 10 hours or more per day. For other water plants that can live in aquariums check out this guide by Aquarium Ocean. This will help in how to make a moss wall aquarium.
Step Six: Add Water
After your moss wall has been anchored to the glass and substrate has been added, you can add water. For this step, I filled my aquarium up with filtered tap water. You should avoid using distilled or reverse osmosis water since it lacks minerals that fish and other aquatic life need in order remain healthy.
If you test out your aquarium and it is too acidic, you can add a teaspoon of bicarbonate soda to the water. This will raise its alkalinity and help balance out the acidity so that your fish and plants won’t get burned by the acidic water. When filling up your tank, take care not to splash any of the substrates around since they are sensitive to being disturbed.
Step Seven: Maintain Your Moss Wall
Now that your aquarium is all set up, you can add your fish and plants! As for the former, I had to get creative since it was hard to find a small transparent container that would be wide enough. In the end, I found an old Chinese take-out container that worked perfectly.
As for my particular plants, water lettuce is rootless so that it will get attached directly onto the moss wall. My betta fish is very active and loves swimming around in his new aquarium. To feed him, I’ll drop in a small pinch of food every day since he’s still young.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use Wall Moss in Aquarium?
Wall moss is a type of plant that can be used in aquariums. It has a leaf shape and generally grows on walls or rocks but will also grow on other surfaces like driftwood.
Some people use it to create beautiful aquatic plants in their tanks. However, some fish will eat wall moss, so make sure you do not add too much to your tank as this may lead to an overpopulation of the fish-eating the moss.
If you are using it for decoration purposes only, then you should be fine with adding just a few leaves at first and observing how the fish react before adding more.
Is Java Moss Fast Growing?
Java moss is a type of green algae that is often found in moist, dark places like ponds and lakes.
This green alga can grow as high as 2 feet tall. It can also be kept as an aquarium plant or grown in a garden.
It is recommended to use java moss in fish tanks because it provides shelter for the fish while they are still small and helps to keep the water clean by filtering the tank.
What Is the Difference Between Java Moss and Christmas Moss?
Christmas moss is a green, fuzzy, and wispy type of moss that appears in the fall. It is usually found on the ground or in shaded areas such as forests and woodlands. Java moss grows throughout the year in both natural and artificial environments, appearing on trees and shrubs during warmer months.
The main difference between Christmas moss and Java moss is that Christmas moss has a few clusters of flowers at its base, while Java Moss does not have flowers at all.
Does Java Moss Absorb Ammonia?
No. Java moss does not absorb ammonia. Ammonia is a toxic substance that can cause harm to the environment and living organisms if it builds up in the air or water supply.
This means that java moss can actually help clean up this toxin, which is why it’s so popular as an aquarium plant.
Conclusion
To make a moss wall aquarium, we recommend having some experience with fish and plants. You will need to trim the roots of your plant so that it fits in the container you choose. Be sure not to use too much because this could lead to an algae problem in your tank.
Also, remember that moss is not aquatic and should never contact water or any other moist surfaces for fear of rotting away. The conclusion paragraph is informative and provides information on how to make a moss wall aquarium.
You may also read it: How to Plant Carpet Seeds in an Established Aquarium
