moss balls at petco, as well as other ?'s on low light plants

[Necrobyheart]

I was in petco, looking around for some cichlids and noticed that they had these things known as moss balls, I was wondering if anyone had known what kind of moss, these are? or is it all different kinds, depending on the petco? the reason I ask this is because I have very low lighting, and would really like to add a few plants, so any other suggestions besides moss would be awesome too.

I was also wondering, some fecal matter in certain animals is known to be a fertilizer, if this holds true in fish would there be a difference in the fecal matter, between an omnivore, carnivore, or herbavore? if this is the case, would the fecal matter from carnivorous fish, be alright?

 

[Ace135]

I think it's just balled up java moss. at least i know the ones by me are.

 

[Lrry93]

It is not java moss!
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=768+2553&pcatid=2553

 

[bigspizz]

GOOD QUESTIONS!!!



I have these moss balls, and real ones...The ones at pet-co are like stated, some kind of moss as well as whatever else they have laying around, wound around a fabric core....If taken care of properly they GROW. Real moss balls just sit there and grow REAL slow...The real ones are the ones that need little to no light...The fake ones will die with low light. I recommend both types. The fake ones just EXPLODE when you do it right and it attach's to wood...I am hoping to get some full coverage soon with that and my dwarf hair-grass. The real ones spread out also from what I hear...I pull mine out (the real ones) and squish them like a sponge and it seems to hold their shap..I do however notice that it "hold-fasts" to gravel..Holdfast is what mosses and other plants use to affix themselves to things...So I can see where it would spread and attach to things. Here are some pics...



First couple pics show the fake balls before the explosion, then I show the explosion in the next 2 pics (3 and 4), last 3 pics are the real McCoy....Morimo balls are the name of the real ones...Like hybrids, the fake ones have no scientific name...

 

[Necrobyheart]

The real ones look absolutely beautiful, and from what I think I got from your post a lot easier to care for, I also like the grass looking stuff, coming up from the gravel

 

[bigspizz]

The real ones look absolutely beautiful, and from what I think I got from your post a lot easier to care for, I also like the grass looking stuff, coming up from the gravel

Yes..lol sometimes I'm a bit long winded...The real ones are by far easier to care for. The grass is dwarf hair grass, and if I had proper substrate (like onyx or any other flourite) it would take properly grow...The real ones float when they don't like the water too! Not enough light and they will float up to the top as well...Good luck and let me know if you need a link to buy some...

 

[Necrobyheart]

a link would be nice, I'm going to see what my lights really are and see what plants would work, what ones won't, so I can do a big group by.

worse goes to worse, when I do happen to get my 10's I can set them up in there, I'll just need to buy the whole tops, and lights... ect mind if I shoot you a PM, later this month and you can talk me through all of this?

 

[bigspizz]

I am by far not a plant expert..I can lead you to wyldfya though...He is the plant guru here Feel free to PM me about anything anytime man! I will send you a link to the balls...

 

[smithj427]

I'm just getting into plants too and picked up one of these to experiment with. It's been working out great in my 1.2 wpg tank. A good site I found for plant profiles was www.plantgeek.net there's lots of people that will help you there too!

 

[logo]

I work at petco and the moss balls there are java moss growing around a core and attached to a weight. They are very easy to grow. They do well in both low and high lighting and can grow in most types of aquariums. I keep one in a betta bowl where it ets no artificial lighting and I have had to cut it back several times. But I still prefer the true moss balls they have a much better look.