java moss?

[allaboutfish]

i think im going to get some java moss for my 29 gallon so here are some questions.
how fast will it grow in low light? medium light?
will it carpet?
what benefits does it have?
is it the same as a marimo ball?

 

[jetajockey]

1. It's growth varies from tank to tank, so it's hard to say. It has a pretty average growth rate, though.
2. Yes it will carpet if you let it. You may have to put something on top of it to hold it to the substrate until it attaches itself though. I sprinkled a little gravel on mine and it's been stuck ever since. I rip some out every few weeks to add to other tanks.
3. The same benefits that other plants have.
4. No, marimo moss balls are actually algae.

 

[allaboutfish]

thanks and can you post a pic of a tank with a java moss carpet?

 

[jetajockey]

I don't have the nice camera (gf out of town) so I can't take any pictures now but I'm sure you can find some on google if you dig around enough.

One other nice thing about mine is that I put a small piece of DW on top of the moss and it ended up growing onto and covering it as well.

 

[allaboutfish]

ill be putting some on these rocks to make them look "aged" and then put some around the rocks to start the carpet.