Aquarium Moss

If you are a beginner, believe me, aquarium moss is going to be the best pick for you to start. It is one of those aquarium plants which are versatile, aesthetic and flamboyant. They not only look appealing and add beauty to the tank but also grow rapidly and cover the tank into lush green aqua space.

Although the terrestrial moss is not so attractive, aquarium moss is exactly opposite and highly useful for the tank. Apart from imparting greenery to the tank it also gives shelter to the fish.

Let us know everything about this wonder plant and how it is useful for a new aquarist.

What are the uses of aquarium moss?

Aquarium moss is quite popular among the aquarists. The major reason behind it is not just its beauty but also the usefulness. It can be used for various purposes to benefit the tanks and its creatures. Moreover, you get multiple options to use it in different ways. For instance, it can be left free floating in the water or attached to the sides or walls of the tank. For a more aesthetic view, one can also tie the moss to driftwood and give a visually appealing appearance to the tank.

Generally, the aquarium trees that you must have seen in high-class aquariums are made utilizing nothing but the aquarium moss. Moss is tied on the top of a piece of driftwood and allowed to grow naturally. After a few days when it attains good growth, it gives an appearance like an aquarium tree.

Other than making the tank look beautiful and aesthetically pleasing to the eyes, moss also provides shelter or breeding space for different species of fish. In general, the egg-laying fish prefer laying eggs on fine leaves. So, if you have an aquarium moss in the tank, the fish will prefer laying eggs on its leaves. Now if there is a danger of parents eating them, you can easily pick the eggs and transfer to a separate tank.

Apart from this, moss provides a safe place for the fry to grow up. Since moss shelter microorganisms, it will give enough opportunities to the fry to feed on them and fill the stomach until it gets big enough to eat the regular fish food.

How to grow aquarium moss

There are a variety of mosses that are perfect for growing in the aquariums. The best part is they are least demanding and doesn’t have any specific or unique requirement for growth and development. The need for extra lights, carbon dioxide or root tabs is nil while growing aquarium moss. Java moss which is considered as a hardy moss can easily proliferate in ambient lighting conditions. Temperature requirements are also not quite specific.

However, to get the best growth of aquarium moss, little points that you should keep in mind are-

• Know your fish- To get lush, green aquarium moss you need to consider the species of fish dwelling in your tank. It is because some fish love to munch on the moss instead regarding it as a decorative item. Goldfish and some omnivorous fish will eat the moss, so proper research is a must before introducing moss in the tank.
• Trim regularly- To keep the moss look fresh and vibrant it is essential to trim them on a regular basis. No matter whether your moss is free floating in the water, attached to the sides of the tank or tied to the driftwood, it calls for regular maintenance to make the aquarium look beautiful. The middle sections of the moss turn brown after attaining full growth and eventually die off. It depletes the aesthetic view of the tank; therefore, regular trimming is vital.
• Temperature tolerance- Moss has a good temperature tolerance. However, like other plants, it also has a specific temperature requirement. Aquarium moss grows best and shows its true colors when grown in the temperature range between 21-24 °C. If the temperature rises above 24 °C, the moss will survive but may look dull and dreary. Therefore, you should grow moss only in the tanks where fish also prefer almost the same temperature requirements.

How to attach the aquarium moss

Aquarium moss looks great in all the ways. While free floating moss has its own fan base, most of the aquarists prefer attaching it on the surface or tying it on the driftwood. However, doing both the task could be little troublesome.

Most of the people use fishing line to secure the moss on the surface which seems the most feasible way of attaching it. Since the fishing line is quite invisible, the moss looks adorable. Other than this, one can also use aquarium-safe mesh to secure the aquarium moss to the surface.

Final Words:

Whether you are a newbie or an expert in fish-keeping, introducing aquarium moss is one of the best decisions. They are easy to maintain and do not have any specific growth requirement. It is the reason why moss always makes a place in the list of easy aquarium plants. From adding the aesthetic value to your tank to giving a natural and serene lush green look, aquarium moss is something worth to add in the tank.

Whether you use it as a carpeting or free-floating plant, it will only add beauty to the aquarium. Moreover, from providing an excellent hiding place to the shy fish and ample of space for the baby fish to play hide and seek, to breeding spots and for laying the eggs, moss is a multipurpose aquarium plant.

So if you are in a dilemma as for which aquarium plant to start the journey, pick aquarium moss and get the best experience.