Marimo Moss Balls What Are They For?

[marieukxx]

I've kindly been given some moss balls and think they look great. What are moss balls for if anything? Also is there anything special I need to do to keep them?

I've read things like they can spread out and form a carpet you can't get rid of. I don't want that. Will they stay in just balls shapes?

Thanks for any replies

 

[hanny93]

IMO moss balls just sit there and look pretty, whilst soaking up a bit of your nitrates.

The only special care they need is occasional turning to keep the circular shape.

They have an interesting ancestry, they are only found in one lake in japan naturally, and are a protected species, they are supposed to be very lucky and only grow 5mm a year!
If you get a little lump on one, just pull it off, its a little propagation

 

[marieukxx]

Thanks hanny

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Oh and they're actually a form of algae, dunno y they called moss balls, good for shrimp too as they collect debris which shrimp will sift through.

 

[StandbySetting]

They do virtually nothing towards removing nitrate, any nitrate they do utilise is negligible because they're such slow growers, also as PS3steveo stated they're actually a form of algae.

 

[hanny93]

Oh right, oops sorry, thats just what ive been told, ignore my comment!

 

[ian]

which arn't the same found native in the lake in Japan.