Aquariums are unique piece of ecosystem we place in our home for beauty and aesthetic ambience. Good ecosystem is the integral part for plant growth, for fish plants and oxygen are the life. Therefore, improves water quality and to help species to hide from prey use aquarium mosses underwater plants. Let’s dive into aquarium moss and Java moss.
Before setting an aquarium you should know about the mosses that suites your aquarium. Lets dive with us in to the knowledge tank, to learn about some top known mosses, their care, origin and much more. If you are looking for the plants that covers floor or featuring plants, take a start with the aquatic moss.
Purpose of Aquarium Mosses
After knowing about the aquarium moss the question arises is, what is the purpose of them? Aquarium moss not only add greenery or beauty in tanks but comfort to fish. The mosses soften the aquarium edges as well as gives the natural feel to the design. These mosses comes in various shapes and colors, you can also use it in lawns. Moreover, you can grow over driftwoods or rocks.
Benefits of Aquarium Moss
Aquarium moss improves the water quality, absorbs excessive nutrients. They provide natural shelter or hiding spaces to adult fish and fry or shrimps. Moreover, they are the producers of oxygen and can easily grown by beginners.
Let’s move towards the top three varieties of aquarium moss one by one.
Java Moss
If you are looking for a durable and beautiful plant, then Java moss is best option for you. According to the research mosses are not only the beauty but also the easiest plants to grow. The interesting fact is that, it is said that “it is hard to kill them rather than to keep them alive.”
Java moss is known by many names such Bogro moss or Singapore moss. The scientific name of this plant is Vesicularia dubyana and Taxiphyllum barbieri known for multiple plants. This plant belongs to the family of Hypnaceae and originate from South Asia. It’s a fresh water plant used in aquarium as well as for aquarium trade.
Java Moss Charateristics
Unbreakable: Java moss is one of the durable plant, lives and growing for the long run of time. This plant needs no special care, can grow in no light and light green color on its edges shows the growth of new moss.
Design: This plant have unique and attractive design have no roots. They anchor itself with one spot and grow peacefully.
Excellent for breeders: Java moss is good for babies and baby shrimps. They feel safe and comfort in this moss and place for nest as well. Shrimps gently clean the moss to keep them healthy.
Appearance
This plant don’t need any special care, take nutrients from water. These are 2mm long oval shaped leaves and can survive in 15-30 degree celsius temperature. Java moss don’t required specific light, they can grow in low light, but for faster growth provide them with the sufficient light in the beginning.
If you want keep them healthy inside the tank trim them. Trimming plants keep them healthy and free from damage. Bogro moss is brilliant choice for the beginners who are just establishing their tanks.
| Name | Java Moss(Vesicularia dubyana) |
| Origin | South Asia |
| Size | 2 mm |
| Temperature | 15-30 degree celsius |
| Scientific names | Vesicularia dubyana and Taxiphyllum barbieri |
Java Moss for sale
As discussed earlier that Java moss is an well known aquarium moss, easy to grow and popular among aquarist. With these characteristics it is high in demand in markets due to its soft appearance and low cost. Whether you are aquascaping lover or a moss vendor, this plant is rewarding venture for you.
If you want to sale java moss you can visit your nearest market.
Christmas Moss
If you want to keep your aquarium clean and attractive, best option for you is Christmas moss. Another famous aquarium moss after java moss is Christmas moss. The slowest growing moss, their leaves resembles to the Christmas tree. This plant is also known by the name of Xmas moss and Vesicularia montagnei.
Christmas moss is an aquarium moss, but its found on the surface in its natural habitat. This plant grow on rocks on river bank or streams, and gets water from the moist air. Sometimes, Vesicularia montagnei found in dense areas, on forest floor. It is found in warm areas, like Indonesia, India and some other tropical countries.
They grow haphazardly on rocks form triangular shape and when remove form the rocks or drift woods they look like java moss.
Java Moss Charactersitics
Planting: Christmas moss is of unique design and texture that add extra beauty in your tanks. They can be plant in different ways such free floating leaves they provide shelter to fish, or they can attached like a glue to some surface and grow slowly. They can create moss wall or carpet which more beautifully showcase your aquarium.
Care: This aquarium moss is not easy to grow in aquariums, but they can survive with care. The most important factor that needs to be keep in mind is light. This plant can not set up in low light like its cousin plant java moss. Medium light is prefer for its growth but still grow slowly.
Size: This moss grow up to 2 to 4 inches, the size can be vary on environmental conditions. In an ideal aquarium condition this can grown dense and look like carpet.
Problems with aquarium Christmas Moss
Growing any live plant is sometimes challenging, there are some problms arises while maintaining mosses.
Algae: This plant unluckily is the algae magnet, any imbalance can cause the faster growth of algae and you cannot remove without ruining mosses.
Turning Brown: Lack of pruning is the key factor of browning of plants. The trimming of the plants is very important to keep them safe and healthy.
Other problem of Christmas moss are lack of water, bad water conditions as well as nutrient deficiency can also lead this plant to death.
| Name | Chritmas moss (Vesicularia montagnei) |
| Size | 2-4 inches |
Marimo Moss Ball
Another type of Aquarium moss is marimo moss ball a rare growth plant of Aegagropila linnaei. This plant is also known as lake ball, moss ball and moss ball pet. Marimo moss ball grown in Aegagropila linnaei and appeare in velvet texture. This plant found in lakes and river which are locted in japan and Northern Europe.
Marimo word comes from the Japanese “Mari” which means “ball”, and “mo” means algae. So this ball is also known by the name of algae ball. Basically they are not moss they are the algae.
Lake ball is a free floating filament, grow on rocks and on shaded side of rock. Bunch of grass of unattached filaments form on muddy bottom which form a ball shape.
Appearance
Marimo moss ball from its name its shape is clear it’s a ball shape plant. The growth rate of this plant is 0.2 inches every year. They grow 8-12 inches to its maximum size. This plant maintained through gentle wave action, moreover, the best environment is shallow lakes with sandy bottom.
Marimo Moss Ball Significance
Cultural significance:This plant originate from Japan, and Japanese associate some special emotion with things. For this lake ball, they symbolize this with love, Japanese use to give this as a gift to their love ones. They also symbolize marimo moss ball with the good luck, moreover, fun fact about japanaese is they celebrate it as a festival.
Educational significance: Another significance of marimo moss ball is education. This plant is use in school for kids to tell about the photosynthesis.
Effortless care: Marimo moss ball are easy to grow, this plant requires soft, clean, fresh and cold water. Moreover, moss ball demands light and indirect sunlight to grow.
Longer lifespan: Moss ball lives for decades than other houseplants. According to the long live and oldest marimo moss ball lives 150-200 years with great care and water condition.
Moss for sale
Aquarium moss are easy to care and easy to grow moss, that can aquarist keep in house aquariums. All these three, Java moss, Christmas moss and Marimo moss ball are an well known aquarium mosses. These are easy to grow, effortless care, beautiful appearance makes them popular among aquarist. With these characteristics it is high in demand in markets because of their soft appearance and low cost. Whether you are aquascaping lover or a moss vendor, these plant is rewarding venture for you. If you want to sale your aquarium moss you can visit your nearest martket.
Live moss
Live moss is also known as sheet moss or living moss naturally growing plant with care. This can use for many purposes espacially for decoratio on walls, in jars or in gardens etc. Live moss needs moisture, light and proper care to grow and stay healthy. It’s a type of bryophyte, that don’t have roots, stems and leaves and absorbs moisture through air. Live moss have longer life span can live 2-8 years with good care and water conditions.
Conclusion on Java Moss & Aquarium Moss
Aquarium moss is not just a decoration for tank, but are a healthy, balanced component of ecosystem. Whatever you chose from hardy java moss, attractive Christmas moss or symbolic Marimo moss ball each have its own benefits and provide shelter to fish. Their easy care, growth and natural beauty make ideal for beginners and experienced aquarist.
Moreover, these aquarium moss have great potential for small scale business opportunities, and have high demand in aquarium trade. With proper care, tank maintenance and water conditions these plants can survive in any tank. Whether you are building aquascape, garden or thinking to start selling the moss, aquarium moss is a rewarding venture for you.
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