Why Can't I Grow Moss ?

[piper]

Help would be much appreciated on this matter as I can't get that lush green growth (or much growth at all really) that I see in shops and in people photos. I currently have Java, Xmass and flame moss dose full EI, C02 is 4BPS (30ppm), 150W Metal Halide and Black Fluorite Sand Substrate in a 240L tank. The main light is on from 1pm-8pm with two 18w T8s on from 8pm-11pm.

EI dosing as below:

1/2 tsp KNO3 3x a week
1/4 tsp KH2PO4 3x a week
1/4 tsp K2SO4 3x a week
1/4 tsp MgS04 3x a week

1/2 tsp traces 3x a week

I do have a high fish load but filter with a eheim 2078, stats below.

Ammonia (NH3) = 0
Nitrite (N02-) = 0
Nitrate (NO3-) = 20
PH = 7.0

Many thanks in advance. (I'll post pics of my poorly moss in a bit).

 

[SuperColey1]

Maybe you layer too much of it. Best way is to spread it thinly and then wait for the growth.

When you layer too much of it then it then the layers underneath that are blocked from the light die and then theammonia from that causes the rest to get covered in algae.

I never had too much luck with moss when I used to use it but then I never had circulation and CO2 sorted out properly in those days.

From your spec I would guess it is a circulation thing. remember that circulation will always be poorer around hardscape and therefore mosses attached to hardscape will be the ones to suffer.

Your circulation is 1650lph in a 240 whereas we would suggest at least 2400lph to push circulation around better. If it were at the same multiples as mine you would have 4200lph!!! Some of the top scapers would be getting close to 6000lph with their current flow rates!!!

I know Saintly has 32x in one of his setups which would be 7680lph in yours.

AC

 

[piper]

AC,

I also have a fluval 4 in the tank so am getting about 2400lph although I'm replacing this with a Hydor Koralia 1 (1500lph) power head as I don't like the look of it. Maybe I should get two powerheads to further increase my flow.

That would give me about 4650 lph. Does that sound better?

I have the java moss trapped between two sheets of plastic canvas on the side of the tank, the Xmass moss attached by thread to a single sheet of plastic canvas at the back of the tank and the flame moss is on bog wood.

 

[aaronnorth]

Llj cannot grow moss either...

 

[SuperColey1]

AC,

I also have a fluval 4 in the tank so am getting about 2400lph although I'm replacing this with a Hydor Koralia 1 (1500lph) power head as I don't like the look of it. Maybe I should get two powerheads to further increase my flow.

That would give me about 4650 lph. Does that sound better?

I have the java moss trapped between two sheets of plastic canvas on the side of the tank, the Xmass moss attached by thread to a single sheet of plastic canvas at the back of the tank and the flame moss is on bog wood.

You'll find that the Koralia will out perform the Fluval by a mile. Even if they had like for like lph the way they move the water seems to be much better than the 'directed' flow from powerheads. I don't think you'll need 2.

As Aaron says it maybe that your parameters aren't good for moss. some people can grow it and some can't. I don't know wether it was my CO2/flow setup or the parameters that made me struggle. I would guess the former but since I haven't tried moss for so long I don't know. Saintly lives up the road from me and his grows really well so I would gues it is the flow.

The flow will stop debris from collecting so much and therefore should also help dilute the chance of localised ammonia spikes which then cause the algae around that area.

AC

 

[piper]

K, I'll get one power head to start with and see how I go. This is my tank.

Full Shot

Java

Xmas

Flame

 

[seanie112]

i can never get it to grow either in my tanks

 

[tetra king]

i have had tropical fish for 2 and a half years now and on my castle ormnament i have alot of moss growing on their. and i have my light on for 12 hours a day


hope this help lol

 

[Dave Spencer]

I know it is not mentioned in the original post, but do you use Excel or Easycarbo? Mosses hate this stuff if it is applied to them directly.

Dave.

 

[piper]

Nope, but thanks for the thought Dave.

 

[SuperColey1]

Dosing EI but with quote a low plant mass there!! Tip as always at the start....Fill with cheap weeds to take up the slack while the 'pretty' plants fill out.

As you can see from your photos. the moss is trapping debris (including Riccia. lol)

I would regularly get your finger in there and disturb the debris, try and keep as much of it down as possible to avoid the ammonia.

Moss walls are a nightmare. lol

Easier to grow them on the substrate and then move to the wall after or be very patient

AC

 

[piper]

Yeah I know I should get some fast growers. I moved a month ago so had to break down the tank. This is what it looked like before.

I might cut down on my dosing untill things take off again.

 

[Liam]

I am inclined to think that moss may not like high ferts, lots of land plants wont grow in very fertile soil so it may also be the case with moss. The debris is an issue too the moss is acting as a mechanical filter, with lots of fish that is going to be an issue. You could try to vacuum it off with a fairly slow siphon during water changes, a bit time consuming I guess. A lot of moss seems to do better in cooler water like below 24C though java moss seems fine in higher temperatures. My shrimp tank gets no ferts and is mostly RO water so its very poor in plant nutrients it’s also cool at about 22C-23C all the moss species grow faster than I want.

 

[pippoodle]

my moss grows like mad with 10- 12 hours light , standard and t8 (moss in 3 tanks) 24c sometimes upto 26c in with lights on
only one of the tanks has co2
all tanks are only dosed with
tetra plantamin once a fortnight and it growns like mad
i keep having to trim my bogwood lol

 

[SuperColey1]

I wouldn't think it was a high fert problem. A lot of the EI tanks have stunning moss growth in them.

Could be the temperature though. forgot about that.

AC