Marimo moss balls

[Barry Grayson]

Are Marimo moss balls compatible with the aquatic requirements (temp, pH, water hardness etc) for keeping betta healthy and happy?


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[Colin_T]

They are an aquatic algae that does well in most conditions but do require light and some nutrients.

They don't use lots of nitrate in the water and if you want plants that help filter the water, you are better off with floating plants like Water Sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides/ cornuta) or Duckweed. Water Sprite is the better plant for Bettas.

 

[FroFro]

I would like to add that duckweed, although very easy to grow and find anywhere, is a terrible mistake,. Especialy if you have any kind of mechanical filtration from a simple HoB to canister filters. Duck weed is an insatiable plant that will suck all the nutrients from the water and cover every above water surface imaginable. It will also deprive the water of oxygen if you don't have any air stones/ air system set up. This stuff gets into your filters, so even if you want to scoop it all out it can AND WILL come back. The only way to get rid of the stuff for good is to take down the entire tank and let everything dry out.

Secondly, disposing of it during regular pruning is risky. If the plant gets into any local water supply or ponds/lakes/bodies of water it can take over and wreak havoc on the ecosystem. All in all this is a pesky plant.

 

[Colin_T]

You can make a loop of plastic hose/ air line or black irrigation tubing and join the ends together with a connector. Then tie it to a suction cup at one end of the tank. You keep the duckweed in the loop and it stops it from spreading over the tank.

If you get too much, use a fish net and scoop it out and put it on the garden. It makes a great mulch.