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hi,

I added a new piece of driftwood to my tank, but in order to keep it sunk i had to drill it to a rock. since the wood looks best laying on its side with the rock pressed against the back glass, it kind of looks a little unsightly. i was think of maybe growing some java moss on the back part to cover up the rock.

ive heard that you need to tie it down where you want it to grow - is this always true? it would be a real pain to take the piece out and tie the java moss to it - will it take root on its own?

only thing thats holding me back is that ive also heard it collects a good bit of debris - any one have experience with it? thanks!

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Back in the saddle!

If it becomes over grown, then yes it does have a tendancy to collect debris. But, the reason you have to tie it down, is the filter will suck it up, as it is lightweight and will just float in the current otherwise. Just take a rubber band, and band it to the driftwood. In about a month the rubber band will break and you can take it out. By that time, the Java will have rooted to the driftwood.

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There is always a bigger fish...

Rather than rubberband (which I've used in the past and watched break up in the tank who knows how the fish digest it ) try using cotton thread, it'll degrade much more naturally, and if you use some to match the color of the moss it wont show up as much.

As a side note...the moss rooted to the rubberband before it rooted to what I was trying to get it to root too .

^_^
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hmmm

the piece of driftwood is directly under my filter intake do you think it would eventually hold, if i reduced the flow?

does it actually have roots, though? i mean, does it put out little roots like hornwort would, or are there actual strong roots? every picture i see of it just makes it seem like a big ball of seaweed

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Back in the saddle!

It does not really have roots like that of other plants. They are very small. You can try anything you like, but the best suggestion is the tieing it to the driftwood for a few weeks. The cotton thread sounds like it would work as well, though not sure about getting it too tight, as it is rather thin and may cut the plant. But there are even other methods used, as some people use a staple gun, and just let the staples rush away. While others prefer the fishing line, though you will have to cut this as it will not rot and break for several months. You can also place the jave moss down on the bottom of the tank and lay the driftwood on top of it. It will eventually grow up and over the driftwood. But I would not just set it on the woods and let it go, as it will still likely float with the current and end up in the filter.

Just some more suggestions. . . .

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There is always a bigger fish...

No, Java Moss does not have any roots as such. It will produce microscopics hair like things that it uses to attach itself to objects. That is why it needs to be tied down until these have a chance to attach.

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Exactly, not like normal plant roots, the more technical term of these "rootlike structures" is hapterons.

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There is always a bigger fish...

maybe tie it down with several strands of embrodiary floss, would have less of a chance of cutting the moss, is cotton and biodigradeable

ive recently applied a small bunch of java moss to a peice of driftwood. i simply used black cotton thread and cut lengths, tied it around the wood and java moss. i did this a few times in different spots. You cant tell that the string is ther and you just leave it there till it rots away.