Armin's 4 ft Moss aquascape

**Armin** · 14th Apr 2008, 23:53

Hello,
I would like to share my moss aquascape.

Main info about my tank:
Dimension: 120x40x50 cm, about 240 liters
Filtration: external filters - Eheim 2215 and Fluval 304
Lighting: 3x30W Philips Master TLD 840
Fertilization: DIY – based on agricultural fertilizer and KNO3, KH2PO4, K2SO4 (MICRO – close to TROPICA’s TMG, MACRO – water solution of KNO3, KH2PO4, K2SO4 to keep NO3 in tank on level 5-10 ppm and PO4 less then 0,5 ppm.
CO2: 1 bubble/second
Water parameters: GH-10; KH-5; Ph-7,0-7,5; NO3- 5-10; PO4- 0,2-0,5; temp.- 24-26 Celsius
25% water changes weekly – (Tap water /RO filter water in proportion about 1:1 - to keep GH and KH on the same level like in tank. I have very hard tap water (GH ~19) at home).

At the back wall of tank I have lignite plates and mosses are tied to them. On the bottom of tank mosses are tied to driftwoods. Besides of mosses I’m interested in liverworts, fissidenses and ferns so I keep them together. They all are slow growers and looks good in one tank

The only exception is aponogeton henkelianus.

More info about me and my tank on my web page.

Armin

**Salphur** · 15th Apr 2008, 00:18

A fantastic moss tank... captured my attention immediately with the nice lush green growth!

Cheers!

**CrAnKCaM** · 15th Apr 2008, 01:10

really nice lush grow moss tank

**sragor** · 15th Apr 2008, 02:24

what a great tank! loved it at first sight

**dwgi32** · 15th Apr 2008, 08:55

Hi bro,

I am a moss lover, the tank is fantastic. Well-done.

**Hermes** · 15th Apr 2008, 09:39

Sorry if I'm stupid because it's apparent, but what substrate do you use?

**xaine** · 15th Apr 2008, 10:42

great lush greenery you have done with the moss.
hmm..CO2 at 1/sec, it's that a little too much, any reading on the CO2 saturation in the tank ?

Great job

**dcwk** · 15th Apr 2008, 11:08

Great scape. It is one of the better ones I have seen.

**jacian** · 15th Apr 2008, 11:09

1 bubble per second for a 4ft should be okay. If you are to base on the kH/pH relationship, the CO2 is around 5 to 15 ppm.

**Armin** · 15th Apr 2008, 14:28

Hi,
I really happy you like my tank

To answer your questions:
I don’t use any special substrate. I would like to keep it as simple as it is possible and use regular quartz gravel.
I’m not checking CO2 level in tank. I only calculate it from kH and pH readings. And as jacian mentioned it is around 5-10 ppm. Like for me it is not too much for so heavily planted tank.

**jasonchua1982** · 15th Apr 2008, 21:39

Originally Posted by Armin

Hi,
I really happy you like my tank

To answer your questions:
I don’t use any special substrate. I would like to keep it as simple as it is possible and use regular quartz gravel.
I’m not checking CO2 level in tank. I only calculate it from kH and pH readings. And as jacian mentioned it is around 5-10 ppm. Like for me it is not too much for so heavily planted tank.

Hi Armin,

A really nice moss tank you have, do you use Java moss in any parts of your tank? I have Java Moss tied to some rocks to create a mountaineous effect, however, they have since overgrown and I have cut out a tub of extra Java moss, wonder if you have any advice how I can reuse this tub of moss to create something as nice as urs in my landscape

Jason

**torque6** · 15th Apr 2008, 22:25

welcome armin,

Great scape you have there

thanks for sharing.

**Armin** · 16th Apr 2008, 00:06

Originally Posted by jasonchua1982

Hi Armin,

A really nice moss tank you have, do you use Java moss in any parts of your tank? I have Java Moss tied to some rocks to create a mountaineous effect, however, they have since overgrown and I have cut out a tub of extra Java moss, wonder if you have any advice how I can reuse this tub of moss to create something as nice as urs in my landscape

Jason

Hi Jason,
I don't have Java moss in my tank. I had it long time ago but it is really difficult to control its shape so why I'm not keeping it. Like for me Java moss is best choice for breeding tank not for aquascapeing.

**spgan** · 16th Apr 2008, 00:26

Armin, it was love at first sight. Great mosses you had there!

How long will you achieve the effects you had on your background mosses? Are they tied on rocks?

As for the little balls of mosses and fissdens in the foreground, what was tied to it? Little pieces of rocks and driftwood?

My flame moss seems not flamey enough. I'm still trying to learn the art of tying mosses.

Well done.

**tcy81** · 16th Apr 2008, 01:05

wow. how many type of moss did you use in your tank ?

**aquanatix** · 16th Apr 2008, 01:43

Now this is nice! A moss themed tank and yet so lush...now why didn't i think of this?Hmm... Anyway spgan, flame moss curls("flamey" effect) when under cooler water conditions.I tried out some awhile ago and tested the theory out based on what i've read. Not sure if it's just psychological but my flame moss sorta looked alot better when in waters less then 26 deg celcius.The ones in my other tank without fans didn't end up so nicely.

**stardus00** · 16th Apr 2008, 10:45

Nice setup

**Armin** · 16th Apr 2008, 13:22

Originally Posted by spgan

...How long will you achieve the effects you had on your background mosses? Are they tied on rocks?

As for the little balls of mosses and fissdens in the foreground, what was tied to it? Little pieces of rocks and driftwood?

My flame moss seems not flamey enough. I'm still trying to learn the art of tying mosses...

As far as I remember it takes about 3 months to reach such effects. My background mosses are tied on lignite plates and foreground mosses are tied to driftwoods and volcanic lava pieces.

About shape of flame moss and mosses generaly aquanatix has right. Mosses looks better in cooler water and from my experience they like to be well fertilized not only with Micro but also with Macro fertilizer.

Originally Posted by tcy81

... how many type of moss did you use in your tank ?...

Probably too many but I have limited space for new tanks

Vesicularia montagnei (Christmas moss)
Taxiphyllum alternans (Taiwan moss)
Vesicularia dubyana (Singapore moss)
Vesicularia ferriei (Weeping moss)
Leptodictyum riparium (Stringy moss)
Vesicularia reticulata (Erect moss)
Vesicularia sp. - (Creeping Moss)
Barbula sp. - ???? "Milimeter Moss"
Taxiphyllum sp. (Flame Moss)
Taxiphyllum sp. (Spiky moss)
??? - Mini Java Moss
Fissidens Nobilis
Fissidens fontanus
Fissidens zippelianus
Fissidens splachnobryoides
Oedogonium sp. (Fuzz algae)
Riccardia chamedryfolia (Mini Pellia)
Lomariopsis lineata (Subwassertang)

And two more not identified Vesicularia sp.
More details about flora in my tank here.