I've got balls!

[Allivymar]

*grin*

Miramo (algae) balls to be specific. They JUST arrived. I'm so psyched! They look like tribbles (for all you old star trek fans).

Has anyone had them before? Anything special I should know?

 

[reefrunner69]

LMAO, might be time to stop listening to AC/DC

 

[Allivymar]

*snicker* I did wonder if anyone would get the reference

 

[TankGirl]

I have heard that these are easy to grow, and under optimal conditions (high light and CO2) they will split and multiply. I think they float to the top of the water or something, and then you can break them open and make more balls! This is the hot new thing so I have been waiting for your review. Keep us posted. I have heard they are easy to grow, and if I had a speck of space left in my planted tanks I would get 'em....

 

[bettagirl]

How cool! Do they rise and sink with the light cycle? How big will they get? *who's got big balls- you've got big balls*

Seriously, that is cool. Where'd you order from?

 

[Allivymar]

The ones I got settled nicely on the bottom. I still think they look like green tribbles LOL The gouramis pick at it a little, and every once in a while I find one of the cherry shrimp hanging out on top like the king of the mountain LOL While they do rise n fall in the lake they are found in, mine haven't. Thats ok, I think that would kind of freak me out if they did LOL because I have halfway decent lighting on my tank, I don't think they need to (thats why they move up the water column in the lake, to reach the light).

They're about golf ball size atm, although I've heard they can get really big before splitting...like 10 inches big. I hope they don't get TOO big; its only a 10g tank LOL

I got my info about em here: http://www.lioncrusher.com/miscellaneous/marimo.htm

*edit*
Whoops. Meant to add I got em from AZGardens: http://www.azgardens.com/index2.htm

 

[bettagirl]

They do look like tribbles! lol one of my favorite episodes... Keep us posted on how they do in your tank. How many wpg of lighting to you have?

 

[Allivymar]

Not much. 1.5 wpg atm. I'd like more, but this whole powercompact retro fit thing confuses the hell out of me LOL I'm hoping, since its only a 10g, that it wont be too much of an issue since its not a deep tank.

 

[TankGirl]

I have heard these balls do fine in lower light tanks. I converted my 10-gal standard hood to the power compact, but when I first visited the AHSupply.com site I was very confused by the options. If you call them they are extremely helpful and if you just say you want to convert a standard 10-gal strip to PC they will hook you up. It cost me $14.00! But then you get all new kinds of algae growing when you increase the light, and then you need CO2..... 8O

 

[purplestarfish]

I just read about them yesterday. They're awesome! The book told me that they're rarely grown in the USA, but floridadriftwood.com sells them . . . they're only golf ball sized and cost $9.50, but you can bet I'll be getting some. floridadriftwood even called them "tribbles"! Way cool!! 8)

 

[Allivymar]

$14? Thats it?? I can do that! Do I actually have to touch anything electric? LOL Or do they just send something?

I'm actually not too concerned about algae...I have the shrimp, I'll have the corys and it will be well planted which should suck up most of the nutrients from the algae spores...

Heh, ive taken to calling this the Xmas tank. I've dwarf gouramis which are mostly red, red cherry shrimp, will be getting cardinals, lots of green plants and the marimo balls will be my xmas tree decorations

 

[TankGirl]

Well, you will have to do the electrical work yourself. The kit contains all of the components, and you take your strip apart and install these parts. You need to strip wires and install wire caps, use a drill, etc., but it is not hard. Think how empowered you will be! The only drawback to this retrofit is that you have bright light in the center of your tank and it is dim in the back. You get about 2wpg with this, which is good but my didiplis diandra bit the dust in there (sold as a low light plant!!). I love my shrimp and they do an incredible job on hair algae. My puffers and tiger barbs leave them alone, believe it or not. I think I have been bad and gone way off topic here...Anyway, it is cheap enough for you to give it a try, then you will be confident enough to tackle other DIY projects. I think this same kit will also work exactly the same for the strip that comes on each side of a standard 55-gal, by the looks of it.

 

[Allivymar]

Ack. Electricity and I don't get along. Maybe I'll let the hubby get electrocuted instead I've 1.5 wpg atm, and my new Cryptocoryne blassii (which only came with 6 leaves...cheapos!) is sprouting new leaves within a week of entering the tank. I'm still waiting for the marimo balls to move around with the light tho LOL

And np on the topic shift. I'm the queen of threadjacking (not on purpose) even in my own threads (obviously LOL).

 

[bettagirl]

Not much. 1.5 wpg atm.

hmmmmmm... *looks over at the bare spot in the front of the
tank*

Enjoy 'em! And, keep us posted on how they do!

 

[TankGirl]

Yes, my crypts are doing great even in the 55 with two 15-watt bulbs. Luckily for low light tanks there are really some pretty good options. I think I will order up some of those marimo balls for myself, though, as ever since I heard of them I have wanted some.