Moss Balls

[Haych]

i have bought some off ebay to give my fish a little bit of better hidey holes, as babies keep being born, but theyre tiny

my question, do they grow? how quickly, and do they need planting (cant see roots)

thanks!

 

[Mza36]

all you really have to do is let them be and maybe roll them over occasionally if you have low flow in your tank so they get light all over(although they are low light plants i believe). they are an algae and do not root. i recently tied mine up to carpet some wood and i left it for about a month or two and it really didnt attach well like java or anubias. however i think some small patches are growing on the wood by themselves now as i rolled the marimo back into a ball and can see what is either some other algae or marimo.

searching these forum for marimo balls will also turn you up loads of other ppls info

 

[jasminekiddell]

Im considering buying osme moss balls but im also unsure on how they grow, etc lol.
But ive heard fish like hiding in them?

 

[Biulu]

Im considering buying osme moss balls but im also unsure on how they grow, etc lol.
But ive heard fish like hiding in them?

Moss balls are algae as said before and do grow albeit very slowly. You simply put them on the substrate and turn them over once in a while to ensure that all the sides get light. They are quite dense, so only small fry can hide in, or normally more under them. My small cherry shrimp love them.

 

[Haych]

since they have been in water, they have got a bit bigger, i think they were drained for transport.

i have stuck them in the breeding trap with the fry to make them feel safer as they keep getting swept along the tank like tumbleweed

 

[mattlee]

they are like sponges and when wet expand slightly thats why when you first get them they look tiny. they do grow slowly and are ok in all light, before adding them to your tank its worth putting them in some removed tank water and giving them a few good squeezes as they trap lots of dust and stuff! inside them this way it doesnt get into your tank. every once in a while roll them over as mentioned before so all of the ball gets some light, also every few weeks remove and squeeze in tank water to remove any dirt trapped in them. they are supposed to be very good nitrate removers therefor algae preventers but im sure thts just good selling point.....
i have 9 in my main tank and 4/5 in each of my other tanks, they look cool and dont really need any looking after
shrimps love them too

 

[Haych]

oh thats good, i have a nitrite and nitrate spike!

but i clean them every day in the main tank as currently theyre in the net keeping the babies feeling safe