Java Moss Carpet

[IovaykInD]

I just started attempting to create a java moss carpet. I've read around and these are some of the points that came out:

1) They collect debri like crazy and trap a lot of crap
2) You have to trim it a lot if it gets established
3) It takes a lot of maintenace to create a java moss carpet

I still want to go ahead with it..since I only have a low light planted tank, and I am willing to take extra time for maintenace. For the first problem, I am planning to getting some ghost shrimp to clean out the java moss. Is this a good idea? I will still be cleaning it, but I don't want the java moss to look dirty all the time. Is there anyone who has done it before and would like to share with me? Any tips that I might need in order for this to work?

Isaac

 

[RedShark]

Last i heard ghost shrimp dont eat algae but i could be wrong on that one. If i were you i'd get some amano shrimp, they are well known for being good algae eaters. I also recommend getting your tank established with Bio-Spira, it cycles the tank over night so that your aquarium has less of a chance of coming down with new-tank syndrome (infested with brown algae) which amano shrimp dont eat. They only eat hair algae and soft algae to my knowledge.
Hope this helps

 

[penguinpimp1990]

ghost shrimp will eat a very very small amount of algae, they naturally dont consume much algae in the wild. id reccomend amano shrimp and maybe some small bottom feeder like a pgymy cory or kuhlii loach for the larger food bits.

 

[IovaykInD]

I don't think I can get amano shrimp here in the U.S. and it's too cold to ship right now even if I could find it. My tank's already cycled, the algae just won't die off, but it hasn't grown for a long time. It's just there until I take it out.

 

[penguinpimp1990]

i live in the US and i can readily find amano shrimp

 

[IovaykInD]

Where do you find them? I can't seem to find them in chain pet stores, and I've even looked in a really good fish store near me. They said that they don't get it.

 

[BWBettas]

I've only ever seen cherry shrimp here and they were about a millimeter long and a betta jumped over and ate all of them lol! erm... soz for being kinda off topic

 

[RedShark]

I doubt you'll ever find them in a chain pet store, ghost shrimp yes, but amano, No.
Your best bet would be to find a local fish store by your house and get one from there. You know, stores that only sell salt and fresh-water fish

 

[IovaykInD]

Anyone ever find a website that shows a picture of a tank with a java moss carpet? I want to see one so I can follow it.

 

[Jer-]

Check the Pinned topics in the Planted Forum

There is one on how to attach Riccia and Java Moss onto slate and create a carpet, with a couple of pics of the end result. (by Jimbooo)

I have a carpet of Moss btw. They are a piece of cake to maintain. Not hard to clear out at all, jus gravel vac over it... dont distur it tho... jus hover the thing over the carpet. I also have amano shrimp, Red-Nosed Shrimp, and Kuhli Loaches to clean it.

HTH

 

[piper]

Do amano shrimp shrimp last long in just fresh water, as I thought they needed brackish conditions.

 

[jimbooo]

as jer said instructions are in the pinned thread.

an even easier way to clean it is to pull the slate out, wash it in the sink and put it back in. washing your hair is more of a hassle honestly it's a piece of cake.

 

[penguinpimp1990]

Do amano shrimp shrimp last long in just fresh water, as I thought they needed brackish conditions.

amano shrimp do quite well in FW conditions, but im surprised you knew that they are barckish... many people think that they are strictly FW, but truth is from my understanding that they are found in low brackish conditions just many (or more) times than in FW. they will (and dont quote me on this) only breed in low brackish waters.