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I was looking up information on these because I think they are way cool and found this at AquariumPlanet and thought I would share:

This is information that we found from several different sources...we apologize, as it has not been edited and may be somewhat redundunt... These "Moss balls" are the latest craze to hit the aquarium plant hobby. They actually are said to be great for algae control because they "outcompete" the algae by using the same nutrients and starving the algae. In its natural habitat, their ability to move around by using the undercurrents to sink or rise in order to position themselves to receive plenty of light to carry out photosynthesis is interesting. What is Marimo?... Those who have not heard of Marimo would probably wonder what it is. Commonly known as Marimo in Korea, its technical term is Cladophora aegagropila, also called "Tribbles" or "Algae Balls" in the West. Marimo is the name given to a type of land locked algae formed by many small strings of algae tangled together in a radial pattern forming a fuzzy green ball. Mari comes from the Japanese word for ball and mo refers to algae. Native to Akan Lake in Japan, it is considered as national treasure declared as a natural monument. Although these balls have been observed to grow to some degree growing in freshwater lakes and ponds in European countries and some other lakes in Japan, only in this particular lake they grow to be a noticeable size in perfect spherical shape. Why is it popular?... There are numerous reasons that account for the Marimo craze. First of all, it is very simple to raise. Marimo neither requires special care nor occupies much space, as it is grown in a glass jar or even in a fish globe with fishes. No sun light is necessary, and of course, fertilizer is not needed. Softly rinsing off moss on the ball and gently tabbing it in order to help it form a perfect spherical shape with a finger on a palm when changing water once a week are all that it takes. A Marimo vase can be placed anywhere below 25 degree. Unlike pets such as dogs or cats, of which the owner feel uneasy to leave them alone at home, and might grow up to have an abnormal character, there is nothing to worry about Marimo. Rather, it helps to refine emotion. In addition, this algae is free floating, and displays unique behaviors according to habitat changes. As it is photosynthetic, it floats or sinks in the water in response to columns of light, and actually rolls around on the bottom of the aquarium. Thereby, it is mistaken with animals because of its movement, which is another factor that grabs people's interest. Moreover, as its life span is quite long - the biggest Marimo ball is known to have lived over 100 years. Breeding the algae balls in right condition, one can hand over a couple of generations from grandparents to a grandson, working as a medium of family love. Above all, the main reason for it gaining public favor would probably be due to the legend; once there lived a daughter of the chief of a tribe around Lake Akan. She fell in love with a commoner, but confronted opposition of her parents. She ran away with him and sublimated into Marimo. For that myth, in Japan, it has become spotlighted as "love plant," which realizes true love and accomplishes one's heart's desire when it is given and taken as a present. It has crossed the ocean to reach Korea, welcomed by children, lovers and parents. ---------- Marimo Balls were first discovered in Lake Akan almost 100 years ago by Tetsuya Kawakami. In 1921 they were declared a "Japanese Natural Treasure" and the public's interest in Marimo was stirred. Marimo began being sold in jars to tourist who paid high prices to have their very own Natural Treasure.------------ Not long after, a hydro-electric plant was built on the Akan river leading into the lake. This river was dammed and the lake's water level fell dramatically. Dead and decaying Marimo began littering the shores of Lake Akan and people were appalled at this mass death of their Natural Treasure. Due to both the peddling of individual Marimo and the damming of the Akan river, the numbers of Marimo balls were declining fast.------------- An environmentalist movement to save the Marimo of Lake Akan was started, and an appeal was made to the people of Japan to return their bottled Marimo souvenirs. Surprisingly, the people responded, and great numbers of the bottled Marimo were returned to the lake. The people of Lake Akan were so overwhelmed by the support they received that they held a festival in appreciation. And so it was, on October 7, 1950 the first of the annual Marimo Festivals was celebrated at Lake Akan.------------ Two years later the stature of the Marimo was elevated to "Special Japanese Natural Treasure." ---------------- The population of Marimo balls is still dwindling and there is much research being done now to try to save or recreate this unusual form of Cladophora. As of yet no breakthroughs have been made.------------ Cladophora balls are a mobile form of algae and exhibit a number of interesting "behaviors". These include rising and sinking in the water column in response to light, rolling about and dumping collecting sediment from their surface and rotating positions with other Marimo on different tiers of the lake bottom. This last phenomenon allows Marimo to be found at deeper depths than light would allow for stationary plants.---------------- Marimo (Cladophora aegagropila) have been designated as a special natural treasure by the Japanese government. They grow to a diameter of 25 centimeters or 10 inches at maximum.---------------- Lake Akan is the most famous habitat for the plant in Japan. The balls, which rise to the surface in the morning and sink at night due to photosynthesis, are an unusual natural phenomenon of the lake (area: 12.7 sq km or 4.9 sq mi; circumference: 31 km or 19 mi; depth: 45 m or 148 ft).------------- Marimo (Cladophora algae balls):------------ The marimo is a spherical ball of algae of the cladophora genus, more specifically, of the species Cladophora aegagropila. This species of algae grows specifically in Lake Akan, a freshwater lake in Hokkaido, Japan. Although these balls have been observed to some degree growing in freshwater lakes and ponds in European countries and some other lakes in Japan, only in this particular lake to they grow to be a noticeable size, usually between 20-30 cm (8-12 in.), whereas in Europe they usually only reach between 1-2 inches in diameter. This is normally a filamentous species of algae that attaches itself to rocks or floats freely at the surface of the water. But the shape of Lake Akan allow this algae to take on a spherical shape. This algae is free floating, and displays unique behaviors in response to habitat changes. They will float or sink in the water in response to columns of light, and will actually roll around on the bottom of the lake. ------------------ This peculiar species of algae was first discovered in 1823 by Dr. Anton E. Sauter, an Austrian botanist, in Lake Zeller, Austria. They were discovered in Lake Akan, Japan, by Tetsuya Kawakami at the beginning of the 20th century. The marimo algae ball was declared a national treasure of Japan in 1921, and people from all over the country gathered these balls in glass jars to take home as souvenirs. However, after a hydroelectric plant was built on Lake Akan, the marimo was nearly wiped out. In the 1940's, the local people launched a campaign to protect the plant. Many people who had jars of the marimo returned them to the lake. Originating in 1950 by the Ainu people is the marimo festival, which takes place every year ------------- ......... Diameter:2-12" (5-30cm) Light requirements: high-very high Temperature: 68-82F (20-28C) Hardness tolerance: medium pH tolerance: 6.8-7.5 Easiness: average.

Aquatic Plant Depot has them for $3.40/ea (click 'new arrivals'). Shipping is $10.00 priority mail. I've ordered from them at least 3 times with no problems.

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

You can divide the larger balls once they get close to baseball size. Rotate them so they grow in a nice shape.
High light/CO2 etc will make them pearl well and they will certainly bob up and float then.

Amano shrimp, SAE's etc will not eat them. They mightn pickm diatoms off them etc, but they will not eat the ball itself.

There are about 8 species of ball forming algae, most are marine. You can see them and why they are that shape very well there, there's place near Key Largo we go each June and we always find them there. Same genus but a different Marine species.

They are quite tolernat of nutrient levels. If yiou add a small amount of NH4, they will gom sexual and small BBA like tuffs will form all over the tank and these can be removed and allows to grow loose and eventually they will form balls.

Regards,
Tom Barr

I had quite a bad algae problem on the sides of my tank untill i got 10 moss balls!

They grow well quick and the algae is far less thick now i got these.

I found them on ebay - 10 for 16 quid

I have three Marimo balls -- or moss balls -- but I've found a strange phenomenon in that there will be algae of the same type as the ball, but not in a ball, growing around the tank after introduction of the moss ball. I found another thread on the web saying a similar thing, but most other hobbyists do not seem to experience this. The algae is not hard to remove, but is annoying nonetheless.

If its free shipping, I doubt it'll make it alive. It'll go thru the customs(maybe) and they guy will send it thru the cheapest mail possible.

Why don't you ask your LFS to special order one for you?

Thank you for the link.

The only problem is I was trying obtain them for the cheapest way possible. AquariumPlanet 4ct are $14.99 and they only guarantee it if you use overnight shipping which is $21.85 Now $36.84 is alittle to rich for my blood, especially since I am just trying it out. I don't know if they will make it to me alive or not, but I just can't justify nearly $40 for 4 plants.

And it's only $15.66 USD with free shipping for the eBay auction. I think I will risk it and go with this option, just hoping and wondering if they will make it alive.

JediDragon,

I don't know if it'll make it alive, so why don't you just order them online from here

http://aquariumplant.com/cgi-bin/cart/mi268.html

This way, you can be sure they wont die

Sorry for the double post but wanted to make sure this was seperate from the novel ^above^

I first heard/found about these when I stumbled across this persons auctions. Do they really do everything that they say? And does anyone think they will make it from England to Utah alive? The seller probably guarantee's them alive, but if they don't make it the first time, they probably won't make in follow up tries.

Anywho, here is the link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3212&item=4312734388&rd=1

What is anyone's experience with these things?? They look interesting but what is your real life experience?:88)

Ive seen them get pretty big. Can you cut them in half without killing them if they grow too large? My tank is a lot taller than wide.

ETA: Nevermind, theyre brackish. And yes, you can split them

[span class="edited"][Edited by katieb 2004-07-12 09:52][/span]

I'll do graffiti,
If you sing to me in French.

mine tend to float when i turn the filters off for cleaning or aquascape, then they start to float, also when the light is off for more than the usual time they also tend to float, then when light is on again back to the bottom they go.

[span class="edited"][Edited by Falstaf 2004-06-29 00:46][/span]

That's interesting...I've had mine for a while and have never seen it move. I don't have it anchored or weighted down either.

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

The entire ball moves, like floats and stuff, not move like anemone.

They move a lot? Is it like an anemone? I've seen one at my store, "Russian Moss Balls."

Well, there is not much to say about them but that they look nice, just don't try to build an aquascape around them, they move a lot, sometimes they are on the top sometimes in the bottom, and then add filter current and you have a crazy green ball in your tank

Interesting to watch though. and they have this "snow ball effect" grow.

ive had mine for about 4 months now. Its easy and left alone by the fish. Just drop it in and enjoy it. Also you have to make sure to clean off any debris because it douesnt look good with it on.