Raven_Wilde's 'Ebiwagumi' Edge (Updated Pics 6/6/2012)

[raven_wilde]

About a day after I started this journal I took a good long look at my tank and decided that I still really wanted a moss carpet. Since the stainless steel mesh I'd initially tried this with had proven toxic and I don't like the way plastic mesh looks I decided to pay a visit to the local craft store and see what I could find to get this job done.

After a lot of wandering around, picking up various products and confusing the hell out of a few store employees I made it home with the following:

1 yard of nylon tulle/mesh
1 spool of all purpose brown cotton thread
2 packs of super cheap black glass beads

My idea was basically the same as any other moss carpet, only this time, the mesh would be barely visible and cut to size in organic shapes that fit in and around the hardscape. In order to secure the moss I very carefully stitched it to the mesh bit by bit with the cotton thread. Yes, this took quite a bit of time and patience...

After I had the moss secured I then used nylon fishing line to tie a few glass beads to the tulle mesh to serve as sinkers.

When placed in the tank I pushed the beads down into the substrate rendering them invisible. The mesh itself is also barely visible and I have no doubt that once the moss grows in the brown cotton thread will also disappear.

All told (using the playback history of my Netflix account as a sort of a log) I spent 18.93333 hours working on this carpet, deploying it in the tank and generally fussing over the layout. It includes not only Xmas moss but also Fissidens... the difference it makes in the tank, I think, justifies the time spent:

[raven_wilde]

Some more shots of my Edge:











SO PRETTY!

[zenche]

dig the whole setup. funny, i've seen that red ikea locker before and thought it was make a good stand too :P but i've no space for more furniture...

need to sell off an old 75G and my 8G biorb, then I'll get an Edge too...either for shrimps or a betta.

[Storm]

Really nice carpet! You really have some dedication to spend so much time on this.

[Shrimp_Newb]

Wow--amazing work! It payed off!

Originally Posted by Storm

Really nice carpet! You really have some dedication to spend so much time on this.

Yeah, what Storm said!

[tharsis]

That looks great! I love the idea of using the sinkers, I think I will try this in my shrimp tank.

[Daximus]

Oh this is killing me! Looks great, fantastic setup.

(I will not buy another tank...I will not buy another tank...I will not buy another tank)

[mcqueenesq]

You are the Edge Master now! What a great idea and execution. The tank just keeps getting better. Full disclosure: I will steal this idea at some point in the future. Lol.

[raven_wilde]

Originally Posted by mcqueenesq

You are the Edge Master now! What a great idea and execution. The tank just keeps getting better. Full disclosure: I will steal this idea at some point in the future. Lol.

Steal away! But be sure to post pics, I want to see how it turns out!!

[150EH]

I've been looking for a mesh with a more open nature and light material and what you have is perfect, I had picked up some green plastic sheets but it's really too heavy. What craft store did you get that from and what is it typically used for so I know where to look?

BTW the tank looks real good.

[raven_wilde]

I got it at a Joanne Fabrics... it comes by the yard, probably any fabric store would have it. Its called Tulle, its the stuff that pouffy underskirts or tutus are made of. I like it because it can be draped over or around rocks.

Originally Posted by 150EH

I've been looking for a mesh with a more open nature and light material and what you have is perfect, I had picked up some green plastic sheets but it's really too heavy. What craft store did you get that from and what is it typically used for so I know where to look?

BTW the tank looks real good.

[150EH]

Cool, we have Joanne's Fabrics around here so I'll pic some up, I wrote tulle down the first time so I wouldn't be going which thread was that, thank you.

[Shrimp_Newb]

Originally Posted by mcqueenesq

You are the Edge Master now!

[FlyingHellFish]

God, I love that mountain effect you have with the moss on wood. Would the moss cover the whole thing if you let it grow? How do you cut the moss without scraping bark off the wood?

Sick looking tank indeed!

[raven_wilde]

Originally Posted by FlyingHellFish

God, I love that mountain effect you have with the moss on wood. Would the moss cover the whole thing if you let it grow? How do you cut the moss without scraping bark off the wood?

Sick looking tank indeed!

Thank you for all the compliments, but dude, c'mon, we explained it like three times in your thread, it's not wood... it's petrified wood; aka rocks that used to be wood, but are not wood any more; aka click this link if it still doesn't make sense!