Backround

[koi]

What is a fast growing backround plant for a 17 inch tall aquarium. I want it to have a lot of coverage so i cant see through the tank

[BeefyG]

Make a moss wall. I've never done it but it seems easy. Basically put patches of moss between two pieces of screen and tie it together with fishing line and suction cup it to the back. http://www.aquamoss.net/How%20to%20c...oss%20wall.htm

[koi]

Its going to take alot of moss to cover 48x17 in

[swissian]

Maybe you could go with vals of some sort. They grow really quickly. Just don't go with jungle vals. Those things take over.

[koi]

I'll probably go with the jungle vals i need alot of plants and not really willing to spend alot

[koi]

Anything else?

[swissian]

My jungle vals grew to be way over 24" long. If you don't mind trimming them a lot that should be fine. How wide do you want the background plant to be? Most stem plants tend to grow pretty quickly. You just trim off the top and plant it next to the other one and you can pretty quickly get a whole wall of plants.

[koi]

I dont have a backround on my tank so i dont want to be able to see through it.

[BeefyG]

Its going to take alot of moss to cover 48x17 in

You spread it out and let it grow in so its really not that bad. You probably can get some for pretty cheap or maybe even free from box members.

[armthehomeless]

My italian val is over 36" in a 30L. Most val will take ove if you let it. I''d put a plastic divider in the substrate to stop the val from going where you don't want it to go. Most stem plants will work. Anacharis grows quick under most conditions. (Just a few other options)

It takes surprisingly little moss to grow a moss wall. one softball size clump should be enough to start a 48" x 18" wall.

[koi]

I dont want to be able to see the other side of the tank. Will vals have enough coverage to do that?

[swissian]

I think that you would have to have a very thick mat of them. Anything you plant will take time to grow before you will not see the back. Why don't you just buy a posterboard or something and put it behind the tank?

[koi]

Because i have it by a window for light also.

[BeefyG]

Keep in mind that, depending on the amount of light coming in through the window, the plants may grow toward the back of the aquarium leaving you to look at their not as pleasant backsides. You may see more of the underside of their leaves than usual. It might be cool with something like rotala indica that has pink undersides. Its a stem plant so propagation is easy.

[blacksmith37]

Watersprite is fast,cheap & easy; I had one plant fill 2/3 of a 29 in a few months. Try a few different things to find what grows best in your conditions.