coconut fiber

Since I have just moved (not by choice) I have the opertunity to reset up my 125. I use a special soil mixture under black sugar sized sand but this trime I want to expand the active surface area by attaching sheets of cocnut fiber to the sides of the aquarium. I am hoping that aquatic moss and ferns will grow on this and maybe even some higher plants. the tank is made of wood covered with several coats of two types of epoxy used in boat building and has been in operation off and on for 25 years. Any ideas as to how to attach this cocnut fiber to the walls of the tank without it falling off down the road?

Michael Hissom
aurea mediocritas

since it's wood and not glass then suction cups won't work. you can hang it at the top with monofilament and weight it at the bottom, or even bury the end in the soil/gravel. the latter may cause unnecessary impacts to established plants, etc. if you have to fiddle with it though... you could "sow" some stones or brick chips (rough enough that the mono won't slip) to the bottom with monofilamemt also. I would soak the matting for a bit before you try and place it to reduce its bouyancy.

my 2cents

since it's wood and not glass then suction cups won't work. you can hang it at the top with monofilament and weight it at the bottom, or even bury the end in the soil/gravel. the latter may cause unnecessary impacts to established plants, etc. if you have to fiddle with it though... you could "sow" some stones or brick chips (rough enough that the mono won't slip) to the bottom with monofilamemt also. I would soak the matting for a bit before you try and place it to reduce its bouyancy.

my 2cents

It might work but it sounds a little bit less than sturdy to me, I'll keep this on on the back burner but thanks for the idea. sometimes a combination of ideas works the best.

Instead of coconut fiber have you considered corkbark? I think those panels may come apart after a few years underwater. But if you've heard otherwise some silicone should do it. I've used it to glue rocks and wood together so epoxy shouldn't be a problem...no?

Edited by critterguy, 09 March 2008 - 10:02 PM.

Instead of coconut fiber have you considered corkbark? I think those panels may come apart after a few years underwater. But if you've heard otherwise some silicone should do it. I've used it to glue rocks and wood together so epoxy shouldn't be a problem...no?

I don't think cork bark would do what i have in mind I want a porus surface for small invertabrates to live in and have refuge away from the fish.

Since I have just moved (not by choice) I have the opertunity to reset up my 125. I use a special soil mixture under black sugar sized sand but this trime I want to expand the active surface area by attaching sheets of cocnut fiber to the sides of the aquarium. I am hoping that aquatic moss and ferns will grow on this and maybe even some higher plants. the tank is made of wood covered with several coats of two types of epoxy used in boat building and has been in operation off and on for 25 years. Any ideas as to how to attach this cocnut fiber to the walls of the tank without it falling off down the road?

Michael Hissom
aurea mediocritas

Could you glue it with regular silicone aquarium cement? That should be removable if you change your mind.

Could you glue it with regular silicone aquarium cement? That should be removable if you change your mind.

That was my first thought but silicone rubber has a tendency to let go of porus substances. I used it once to glue small golfball size chunks of marl to the back of a 50 gallon aquarium but it didn't stick but a few weeks due to the porus nature of the marl. But so far silicone and a hot glue gun are in the fore front of possiblities.

That was my first thought but silicone rubber has a tendency to let go of porus substances. I used it once to glue small golfball size chunks of marl to the back of a 50 gallon aquarium but it didn't stick but a few weeks due to the porus nature of the marl.

Well, you would have to mush it into the silicone a bit - that would do the trick I would think. In other words, the glue would completely encapsulate some of the fibers so that they can't just get unstuck.

Use a few of those plastic strawberry containers filled with that annoying shredded plastic floss from easter baskets if you want an in-tank refugium. Works just as well as coconut fiber without the probability of it decomposing 3 years down the road.

Well, you would have to mush it into the silicone a bit - that would do the trick I would think. In other words, the glue would completely encapsulate some of the fibers so that they can't just get unstuck.

That just might work, I am hoping that I can get about an inch to project out from the rim so i can plant myy cypress that I've trained to have several trunks. Then the roots will hang down in the water making a cool place for fish to congragate. You can have all the green sunfish yopu want I hate the little bait stealers. We way more than our share here!

Use a few of those plastic strawberry containers filled with that annoying shredded plastic floss from easter baskets if you want an in-tank refugium. Works just as well as coconut fiber without the probability of it decomposing 3 years down the road.

Thnaks for the thought but that's not the idea, I use a special soil mixture under my black sand actually it's three or four layer. 1/2 inch of a soecial soil made up of secrete things, then crshed up live oak leaves about 1 inch thick, then whole live oak leaves about an inch think covered by about four inches of black sugar sized sand. each layer is seperated by fiber glass screen.I want moss and ferns to grow up the sides of the tank as well as give my cypress trree a place to root! that's the reasom for the cocnut fiber

If your tank has been in use of and on for 25 years or so. It is no longer porus as some have menioned. If it was it would be rotten and/or leak. The several applications of figerglass made the surface just that. (fiberglass/glass) I do not see why silicone would not work as long as the surface is prepared properly (clean clean). Unless the person was speaking of the shell from the coconut being porus. I still think even with the shell being porus this would help rather than hinder its adhesion. I suppose you could drill holes in the shells then string them all together so they fit the back of your tank then simply hang them. Hmm may float??? I say when you are finished and have fern growing all over them please post photos because I think that would look extreemly nice.

2 cents
Daniel

Nativecajun- he's talking about using coconut fiber (coir), not whole coconut shells.

Moontanman- lots of vivarium makers use the technique Ckraft and Irate suggested with good results. I would recommend GE I silicone, as it is supposed to adhere better than GE II. I don't know how long the coconut fiber will last underwater, but I don't think it'll fall out until it's pretty well decayed. I would worry about the cypress tree damaging the tank or the fiber layer as it grows, though.

Nativecajun- he's talking about using coconut fiber (coir), not whole coconut shells.

Moontanman- lots of vivarium makers use the technique Ckraft and Irate suggested with good results. I would recommend GE I silicone, as it is supposed to adhere better than GE II. I don't know how long the coconut fiber will last underwater, but I don't think it'll fall out until it's pretty well decayed. I would worry about the cypress tree damaging the tank or the fiber layer as it grows, though.

I've grown so many bald cypress, water tupelo and the associated shrubs that grow on them over the years I'm sure no dammage will occur. Actually many of these trees and bushes can be grown without any soil with their roots just dangleing down into the water. I even did a sycamore tree like that once, willows are easy. Aquarium bonsai is a great untapped part of the hobby!

Edited by Moontanman, 11 March 2008 - 01:32 PM.

Perhaps you could start a thread describing your water bonsai setups from the past, they sound interesting.

Perhaps you could start a thread describing your water bonsai setups from the past, they sound interesting.

Perhaps I will, right now I am so bumed out by loosing almost everything in the move but I will give my best shot soon.

Michael Hissom
Captive Environments, aquaculture

Perhaps you could start a thread describing your water bonsai setups from the past, they sound interesting.

I'd like to hear about that, too.

Nativecajun- he's talking about using coconut fiber (coir), not whole coconut shells.

Moontanman- lots of vivarium makers use the technique Ckraft and Irate suggested with good results. I would recommend GE I silicone, as it is supposed to adhere better than GE II. I don't know how long the coconut fiber will last underwater, but I don't think it'll fall out until it's pretty well decayed. I would worry about the cypress tree damaging the tank or the fiber layer as it grows, though.

Yes that is the #two mistake I made on my post. He said epoxy and I assumed fiberglass/epoxy layered since that is the only way I have seen the outside of a wooden boat laid up. Cypress Tree? I must have missed that one. I must see this tank when fully addorned.

Daniel

Hi Moon,

Wondering how well this worked for you? Pictures??? Also, pictures on your aquarium bonsai thread?

Thanks!