120 Gal Dutchy Freestyle - Now with 50% more Dutch!

Took the main stump out and did a little hacking.

I never really liked the long horizontal part up top. It looked really good from the side, but from the front it created a shadow that made the whole thing look like a big dark square. It wasnt so bad in person, worse in pics



Also ran across two softballs of Christmas moss for $20 shipped. I took it as a sign from the universe that it was finally time to try a moss wall...

 

Here's the build:

Grabbed some #7 art mesh off ebay. Cut it to the appropriate size and zip tied it together






For supports Id originally planned on using rigid plastic airline tubine, and airline suction cups to hold it on. I wanted something that would be easy to take out/put back. This was deal breaker

But I dint have any rigid tubing. What I did have was soem stainless steel rods (1/8" 304 welding rods). So I slid these inside some regular tubing









* Most folks arent going to have stainless steel rods laying around, but Im fairly sure using rigid plastic airline tubing would work the same way. Thats what I'd planned on doing in the first place

 

Testing on the front glass






To attach the moss I just stitched it on using fishing line and a big ass needle. There might be a better way to do it, idk...

 

Vois la!











As you can see there wasnt enough moss to do the whole pieces, which are 12" tall. I think hopefully this will be enough as long as I keep the background plants tall enough. Also Im not sure how xmas moss grows, whether it'll spread on down or whatever.


Overall Im pretty happy with the result. It added a new sense of depth that I wasnt expecting. And now obviously I have to do the right side too because it looks weird without it.

Anybody have a buttload of xmas moss to get rid of??

 

Thanks. I was pleasantly surprised, especially by the added depth effect. Would've done this a long time ago if Id known that!

The moss was grown low tech so it's kinda long and stringy atm. It should start looking better, I just hope it grows well and stays algae free

 

Fab and Dale, thanks for the compliments

Haha, thanks

And well, Dutch rules require that any visible back and sides be planted. Otherwise it's just "Dutch inspired", as mine have always been

 

PAR there is about 118. The color also has a lot to do with the bulbs. T5s rock!

Sure, are you going to do it or do you want me to?

I went back to the drawing board a little on the design. To prevent shrimps and small fish from going behind it, hiding or getting stuck, I decided to turn a 3/4" edge all around. That's about how much it stands off the glass.

I used a sheet metal break (for bending metal). But you can do it by hand using a hammer on a hard surface.

This stuff is pretty soft, and the perforations make it easy to fold over in a straight line. Mash it over first with your hands, then take a hammer and bang the crease real good. This will create a sharp, lasting bend. Easy peezy.



Use zip ties to secure the corners and anywhere two pieces meet









Quick pic after installing the side




Still looking for more Christmas moss to do the left side. If anyone has a softball or so they want to sell let me know.

 

Thanks, Dale

Did you have to trim inside the tank? I can imagine that being a nightmare!

Im hoping to trim this outside the tank. That's one of main reasons to have these panels detach.

Otherwise I havent seen many stray moss pieces anywhere, early days though for sure