Moss Balls

[WendyinWichita]

I am out of state on business and had the opportunity to stop into a shop that has quite a variety of plants. (looks like I will be sneaking some goodies through airport security again).

They have moss balls and are advertising these to deter algae growth. Anybody ever hear of this? They are interesting looking, they actually look like balls of furry algae themselves. Not very natural looking but my kids would like them in their tanks. They came as big as a tennis ball, or as small as a ping pong ball, and $4.99 each.

 

[RYO]

http/www.tropica.dk/productcard_1.asp?id=000C
Seen these on e bay pretty cheap. Was wondering how they would look split open and attached to bogwood.

 

[WendyinWichita]

http/www.tropica.dk/productcard_1.asp?id=000C
Seen these on e bay pretty cheap. Was wondering how they would look split open and attached to bogwood.

Boy I don't know. They may just be a "peat" ball with the moss attached. If you split it open, it may disintegrate. The ones I saw were sitting at the bottom of a tank and they really didn't look mossy, they looked to me like that furry green algae that gets on bogwood. The "furryiness" waved in the water motion. I am going back to the shop tonight when I finish work and will ask more indepth questions. Wouldn't that be hilarious if I bought "algae" for my kids tanks? (not)

 

[Arfie]

I assure you mine don't stop algae they may if you have enough of them.

I have one that split open and there was no waste came out of it, and apparently you can just roll them back up and run a stitch through them and they'll be a ball again.

From what I've read about them, whilst you can attach them to bogwood, they will not root, so you'd have to keep them permanently attached.

I'd say get them anyway, I bought mine cos I liked them, not cos I thought they'd cure anything.

Arfie

 

[soritan]

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=118493 Was the last topic that brought up the marimo balls... I rather like them, but they are largely ornamental, slow growing plants.

I don't think that being attached to bogwood would look all that thrilling, imho, it'd be better to get actual moss for that, as 'moss balls' are actually a type of algae.

http/www.plantgeek.net/plant-199.htm

 

[WendyinWichita]

I did not buy any moss balls. Upon closer inspection, they did look like green algae, the same stuff I tried so hard to get rid of. Cant tell you how often I had to scrub my driftwood. I bought enough other things to make my trip through security exciting enough

 

[The-Wolf]

moss balls are a type of algae they are not a type of moss

they are ideal for fry tanks as they will absorb nitrites and allow microorganisums to breed providing plenty of food for the fry.