Mossy Vivarium

[bshmerlie]

What kinds of moss do you have in there, what kind of lighting are you using and how wet are you going to be keeping it. Im doing a moss study here in the next few days so I'm looking to get as much info as possible from people that have kept it successfully.

[MikeM670]

What kinds of moss do you have in there, what kind of lighting are you using and how wet are you going to be keeping it. Im doing a moss study here in the next few days so I'm looking to get as much info as possible from people that have kept it successfully.

All the moss are from Josh Frogs from their moss offer you can find here on the website. I tried to design the background with two levels that are carved out and have a bit of a pool in them. The background is heavy silicone and peat moss. I put the moss in and around the pools on the background as I'm hoping to get a nice wet mossy ledges. I really don't know if it will work. I put all three type mosses at various locations in the hopes that one or more will take.

The water is pumped up to the top and spills down through each ledge so things should be very wet in some places and wet to moist in others. I was actually surprised how well the overall background was staying wet instead of just places where it flowed down. The only spot I see for a potential problem is on the right side where it flows into the one plant. I might need to move it and place some stones there. I did not get the water to flow into the corner pool but it's hard to get what you want sometimes. Water goes where it wants too!

The light I just took from my other build to take photo graphs. I'm still trying to decide what light and how bright it should be. Don showed me a 3 bulb unit like the 2 bulb unit I have. I might go with that option.

I still need to get some glass cut for the top to keep the humidity up. I plan on keeping a very high humidity in the tank. Don said when he went to I believe Black Jungle all the vivariums where very wet. I think I will try and follow that practice.

[bshmerlie]

I'm think I'm going to set up two tanks for the moss experiment. One with damp conditions and one with just light misting condtions. I also got the 3 mosses from Joshes so when I get back from a little trip this weekend I'll start my moss thread early next week. I'll do with different options to see which way grows the best...keep me posted how your different moss areas are growing as well. I'm going to be taking photos every week or so to see if I can see a difference over time.

[DonLisk]

Moss, moss everywhere, and not a drop to drink. hmmmmm Oh wait, that was water.

Nice work Mike. You Rock!

See what you started! All the vivs at Black Jungle were soaked and all the tanks were covered in moss. A lot of moss too. Substrates, glass, driftwood, it was all thriving with moss.

Did you check out their 24 inch hood? At 44 bucks I think I'll have to pick one up for the next build.

The pools should work well and look awesome. I wonder how long moss takes to spread. I'm sure it does not spread quickly but will look so cool when it does.

Again, that looks awesome.

[MikeM670]

Thanks Don,

I might add some more moss to the more vertical areas if I can find something to pin it up with. I forgot to look for some aluminum nails when I was at the hardware store getting stuff to build the screen inserts for the 55. Since I forgot to get enough corners for the other screen insert I'll be back there this weekend. I'm working shift tomorrow.

I am very pleased with how much water really has spread over the wall and dripping down. Just one place I might have to make a adjustment.

Haven't made a decision on the light yet. Stole the one from the other viv to take pictures with. I have some video that I will edit and put up on the tube when I get a chance.

I'm not sure how fast moss spreads but I' hoping it is fast and covers well.

One other thing. I'm not sure why the image looks so squashed. Kinda lost that vertical look to it.

[DonLisk]

Click on it and the image will view better.

I'm scratching my head here trying to think where I saw plastic staples in about the 1/2 or 5/8 inch size. If you get a curved needle you can sew it in with some thread like the needle they do stitches with.

What pump did you use in the viv?

[MikeM670]

Don,

I believe it was the Repti Flo 250 Terrarium Pump. I did not think about sewing the moss into the foam. That is a good idea. The thread would eventually dissolve and by then the moss should of taken hold.