How to Build a Moss Wall for an Aquarium

Adding moss to your aquarium maintains higher levels of oxygen for your fish, keeps the aquarium cleaner and provides an alternative food source for everything living inside your tank. Moss walls are inexpensive to build, and have more benefits than the fake plants that you can buy for an aquarium. Moss is a very low-maintenance plant that does not require any natural light or extra care.

Things You'll Need

  • 7 or 8 mm plastic mesh
  • Scissors
  • Suction cups
  • Nylon thread
  • Aquatic moss
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the wall of the aquarium you would like to cover in moss.

    • 2

      Cut a piece of mesh that is two times larger than the size of the aquarium wall you are covering, because you will need to fold the mesh in half to allow the moss to grow in between the mesh layers.

    • 3

      Cut small holes in the corners and one hole in the center of the mesh for the suction cups.

    • 4

      Lay the mesh down on a flat surface and spread the moss evenly onto half of the mesh.

    • 5

      Fold the mesh in half over the moss and use nylon thread to tie the mesh together along the edges.

    • 6

      Insert the suction cups into the holes you cut out for them.

    • 7

      Remove fish and other animals from the aquarium so you have room to work in the tank. You can leave the aquarium full of water.

    • 8

      Insert the mesh into the aquarium by applying slight pressure to all of the suction cups.

    • 9

      Add the fish and other animals back to the aquarium. Allow three to four weeks for the moss wall to grow.