Moss Balls?

[Mr. Bubbles]

Can anyone tell me what a moss ball is and if it has any beneficial factors to a fresh water aquarium?

 

[cacichlids]

moss/marimo balls are Cladophora algae. I don't think they do much for aquariums since they grow extremely slowly (a few millimeters per year), it's more decoration than anything else.

 

[Jimmy16]

i heard it competes with algae for nutrients. and my shrimp seems to like sitting on it and chowing on what ever gets collected on there. here h[video=youtube;raDecpElpAI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raDecpElpAI[/video]

 

[COG Commando]

What kind of moss are you talking about?? Aegagropila linnaei (Marimo Algae) and Taxiphyllum barbieri (Java Moss) are two "moss" balls commonly found in aquatics stores. Both reduce nitrates and suck up excess nutrients.

 

[Mr. Bubbles]

I wonder if algae eaters will eat this stuff?

 

[Fat Homer]

Algae eaters in theory shouldnt eat it.. Unless they are naturally plant eaters like apple snails...


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[Gr8KarmaSF]

Also be aware of fake moss balls if you do get some....

 

[Lusus_Naturae]

I just started seeing these fake moss balls this past week. Odd, how hard is it to just have the real ones. I tried some java moss balls before, within a week they were eaten by my red hook mets..

 

[perok]

Pet Supermarket always has moss balls, my wife has been trying to get my to spend the 5.99 on one for months.... I just don't get the appeal.

 

[Fat Homer]

^ X2... never liked them personally... although if your using it as a way to keep the parameters more steady and don't want to use something like duckweed i guess i can understand?