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ok so the family was setting up the christmas tree last night and i noticed some moss growing at the forks of the lower branches...

i harvested most of it and set it into my faux paludarium on a ledge that has water beneath, but has air above...

i was wondering what kind of moss this mught be and if it would be ok in an aquarium and if it would even grow.

i was thinking it might be x-mas moss or whatever but i wasn't sure.

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

It could be taiwan moss, as that moss is found living and thriving on the ground. Im not sure....You probably will have to post a pic, if you can....It could also be lichen, which will degradeand rot in your tank, as it needs a constant supply of clean air to live. I would wait anyways, as it could be one of those that just dont grow in water environments. I have a little clump of spagnum moss growing in my 10gallon downstairs.

Good find!

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Hi Brand

Your only bet for certain identification is to contact a local bryologist. Any guess from anyone here would be pure speculation. For example, Taiwan Moss originates
from Asia.

The fact that it grows on a tree narrows it down alot. (that rules out the hundred or so species of the non-aquatic Fissidens moss that grow in the U.S., approx 5 species have been converted to aquatic) Do you know where the tree was harvested from ? That will help as well. There may be books in your library containing info on the local biodiversity for plant life which may also be of help. It would be listed under bryophytes or mosses but IS a chance you have a lichen. If you're a student approach your science or biology teacher with this they may be able to point you in the right direction for additional resources and you might turn this into a project and score some brownie points.

Some people have created their own outdoor moss gardens using this trick. Put moss into a blender with buttermilk, then paint the mixture onto rocks or the object you wanted moss to grow on. That's the 'moss milkshake technique' for non-aquatic mosses.

Buttermilk not only a good medium to 'paint' with but I think the bacteria in it provides a food source for the moss until it could adapt to it's new location.

I tried an easier way which was taking moss I found in the woods at my mom's, painting rocks with buttermilk then simply pressing the moss to it, then put in a fairly shaded area so it wouldn't dry out. It worked and the moss attached to the rock. I did this in early fall so not in the hot summer months.

Your moss was located growing on wood so I'd try using a piece of driftwood. Lightly coat some driftwood with buttermilk then stick a thin layer of moss to it. Use
plastic coated garbage ties, dark thread or fishing line to tie it on firmly. Place in your paludarium and don't touch for 2 months. Maybe it will adjust to the more humid atmosphere

Watch for mildew that you don't want. And yes should be safe, watch for insect larvae though, we don't want you getting carried off into the night do we

Good luck !




The Amazon Nut...

lol thanks everyone!!!

those are some god posts. i will try to put it on a rock or on some DW within the next week. i dont really have any to spare so it will be a while before i get anymore.

thanks for the responses.

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

so i tried puting some of it in the water and it seems to have some new growth... i tied it to a rock and a pirate ship deco in my 29g and it seems to be doing pretty well, but only time can tell...

i also tied some of it to the baso of a statue in my 15g faux paludarium and it seems ok, the paludarium isnt being filtered right now though because of a power outage i had to out its 10g whisper filter in the 55g to make sure that water waste that was built up was removed...

i will put the filter back in soon!

my questions were do mosses need any special sort of fertilizer and or lighting need?

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

i also for got to mention that there is still plenty of moss still just sitting in my paludarium out of the water... i am just waiting til we get som butt milk and i will probably use a peice of left over 1X2 or something because we are remodeling the bathroom and scraps are in plenty...

also for the "moss milkshake" coul regular milk or something else work? i dont really want to buy something i dont ever use or will only use once and waste the rest of...

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

Use buttermilk then make pancakes with the rest LOL.
Sounds like you maybe won't need it though.

The Amazon Nut...

MMM......I could go for some mosspancakes!!!




Well mosses dont really need ferts if there is enough water changes and fish to keep a constant supply of them. THe lighting requirements are pretty low also. You can get away with anything as low as .8 wpg!

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ok well i know the light in the 15g is pretty low as there is only a soft white flourescent and an incandescent lighting it right now... but the 29g i am pretty sure has at least 2.5 WPG... but i am not sure as it is one of those eclipse all in one hoods (works great though!)...

i dosed both tanks with LEAFZONE by Aquarium Pharmesuticals... and i havent done a water change in a while(like a month and a half... i am a bad aquarist.. but the tanks are growing in nicely so i am likeing it...) so there will be plenty of waste/ferts for them to grow with i am assuming (as you said they dont require much)...

also are there any matinence needs of mosses or do you just let them grow and trim when necessary? also there are some pine needles in with the moss because the moss grew the dried leaves... will this be a probelem to the health of my tanks?

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

Hi,
If you are going to be successful in the aquatic world
either with fish or plants, you are going to have to make
some changes.

Aquarium maintenance is, perhaps, the most
important factor in success.

Regular water changes, of once a week 10-20% is your
way of mimicking nature and the equivalent of a
recharging rain storm.

With each water change, you should be cleaning a
different 1/4 of the tank's gravel. This aerates
the gravel, and cleans it which will keep the nitrate
at a normal level (0-10). Preferably, the nitrate
should be between a 5 and 10 in a well planted tank.

Lastly, you should work on your lighting.
You should immediately replace the incandescent bulb.
It puts out the wrong "temperature light (degrees Kelvin)
and tremendous amounts of heat, that keeps the tank warmer
than normal and can actually "bake" the plastic causing
distortion (the plastic softens from the heat).
Use a spiral compact fluorescent. But use one that is a
DAYLIGHT or SUNLIGHT bulb not a Soft white (replace it too.)
Soft, or warm are terms given to light bulbs that are
designed for reading and to prevent headaches. The DAYLIGHT
and SUNLIGHT bulbs are designed to mimic the Sun, and
are the correct temperature (about 6700K) that is perfect
for plants. For moss to thrive you will want at least
2 watts per gallon, and 3+ would be better.

The moss is easily encrusted with detritus (dirt and dust
that floats around in the tank that the filter does not
eliminate) and when that happens the moss will die off.
You have to have well filtered, clean water, along with
adequate light for the moss to thrive.

Frank

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

thanks frank...

i know how to matinence the tanks, but i have just been a bit busy and lazy lately...

i have had finals and well just hectic arround the house with all the remodeling...

i planned on swaping out the bulbs eventually, but those were the best i could provide with...

i am watching the moss carefully and after a WC sometime this week (hopefully!!!) it will take off... it doesnt seem to be doing much now...

what is a sign of decaying in the moss?

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

"what is a sign of decaying in the moss?"

it will turn brown.

The Amazon Nut...

well it was a littel brown to begin wit because it was in a low light area of the tree and was on a part that i would assume collected alot of water (on the forks over dead needles)...

i will keep an eye open thought to make sure...

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

today i went to an LFS i swore i would never enter again and i bought some anacharis to put in a betta jar i made for my girlfriend and i saw somw moss growing rather rapidly in the tank with it... i asked how much the moss and the guy said he cant sell it but he would give me a hand ful (quite a hand ful in deed!!!) i also asked how much for the few MTS in one of the tanks and he said nothing that the MTS were free and i got three...

so now i have what i think is java moss... but i am not sure... don have a camera to take a pic with...

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"