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I bought some Marimo Moss Balls (Chladophora aegagropila) online & they've been a week in the post. Today i recieved them & they look a bit dull in colour. Not very green, but a bit brown on the ends. My question is, can i add some fertilizer or plant food in the water for them?. At the moment, thay are in a container with fresh water, in a bright window sill.
Thanks alot in advance.


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Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

I don't see why you couldn't add some liquid ferts to help get them back on track. By fresh water I hope you mean aged tank water....there are nutrients and things in old tank water that you aren't going to get out of the tap, plus if there is any chlorine in there the marimo balls aren't going to like it.

I usually siphon old nasty tank water, detritus and all, into my plant nurseries and the plants just take off. They like the addition of nitrogenous waste very much, in addition to the dirty water I just add some ferts, maybe a root tab or 2....the plants tend to do well in the sheltered environment. I use this method in jars along my windowsill for propagating plant cuttings and quarantining new plants from the LFS.

I used bottled water & not tap or tank water. What liquid ferts do you think i can add?. Is it much better to use tank water?.


http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.deathbydyeing.org/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

yes, tank water is much better.....bottled water is a bit too "clean" IMO....old tank water has nitrates and phosphates, plant food that isn't present in bottled drinking water. Marimo balls are a form of algae, so if you want to promote growth, think of the same conditions that will promote a nice healthy bloom of green algae in your tank. LOTS of sunlight, a bunch of nitrates and phosphates, detritus, etc.

If you want to add liquid ferts, anything will do really (marimo balls are really not picky) but I would recommend something like flourish excel. If you have something else lying around instead, by all means use it.

Yes, i have some Flourish Excel & 1 will add some. I was told that it's better to put them in a bright place, away from direct sunlight & in clean water.
Thanks alot for your help. I'll do daily water changes to the container & will add some tank water.


http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.deathbydyeing.org/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

Right on....no need to do daily water changes though....I do weekly on my plant nurseries, so if you want to leave them a bit longer don't worry about it. :88)

Thanks alot for your help.


http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.deathbydyeing.org/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com