Java moss for the aquarium: maintaining a beautiful aquarium plant

DESCRIPTION

Java moss belongs to the Hypnaceae family. Grows in tropical regions of Southeast Asia. Other names for this plant are Singapore Moss, Java Moss, Vesicularia dubyana. Its height is about 5 cm. The optimal temperature for its development is from 18 to 30 °C, the required water parameters are pH from 6 to 7.5, dKH ranging from 2 to 15 °, lighting is 0.15 W/ l.

• Quite often it is used as decoration. This plant looks like a dense and chaotic interweaving of thin stems, which are strongly branched and covered with dark green leaves. The leaf size is from 1 to 2 mm. At first glance, this plant has only leaves and a stem. Almost impossible to see with the naked eye
• numerous rhizoids that the plant needs to attach to a variety of surfaces. They are very small. The randomness of the shape of Java moss is deceptive. When a piece of the plant is attached to a permanent place and not disturbed for a couple of months, you will notice that the stems develop differently. The stems, hugging the substrate, stretch down and to the sides. Thus, they are securely connected to its surface. After the plant is firmly attached, it begins to produce numerous shoots that are directed slightly upward and horizontally. Externally, all moss has the appearance of many layers arranged in the form of an arch, relative to each other. When the plant acquires the required amount of biomass, stems begin to grow that are directed upward.

Appearance

The thin (up to 2 mm) but long (up to 17 cm) stem for which this aquarium resident is known is covered with miniature green leaves up to 4 mm in size that change color. This is affected by age, lighting, CO2 saturation.

Instead of a root system, there are rhizoids at the base of the crop, which help it to strengthen on hard surfaces, which eliminates the need for soil. Through rhizoids, Java moss absorbs water along with nutrients dissolved in it. The appearance of Java moss is best seen in the photo.

Biological description of the plant

Java moss belongs to the Hypnaceae family. In the wild it grows in southeast Asia (Malaysia, India, the island of Java). It can be found on the banks of rivers, swamps and lakes, on rocks and trees.

Java moss is often used to style driftwood as living vegetation.

The plant has a soft stem, not exceeding 17 cm in length. The leaves are jagged, pointed, colored green. The bushes form a large number of rhizoids, which develop at the lower end of the stem and are capable of attaching to any surface. This allows you to grow crops on stones, snags, and other decorative elements.

Through rhizoids, the culture absorbs water and nutrients required for growth.

Habitat

This epiphyte is native to Southeast Asia and the island of Java. Perhaps this explains his unpretentiousness. It is also found naturally in Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia.

The name was obtained due to the fact that moss was brought to Europe from the island of Java in the last century.

It grows in humid tropical regions on rocks, along the banks of rivers, lakes and swamps, entwines tree trunks or floats in the water column. Like all mosses, it accumulates moisture and retains it during dry periods.

Why you should get moss and its scope

If you take care of moss responsibly, you will get a fast-growing miracle that can not only decorate a home for fish, but also serve as a good shelter for future offspring.

To breed spawning fish, you simply need to place moss in the spawning aquarium. The eggs are well hidden, which means they have the opportunity to survive.

Moss is able to absorb harmful substances that accumulate in the aquarium.

Bryophyte absorbs nutrients necessary for the life of primitive organisms. It is involved in aquarium oxygenation. The carbon dioxide that fish release during respiration is used by moss in the process of photosynthesis.

What you need to know about aquarium mosses?

The main advantage of aquarium mosses is that they are easy to move from one place to another, and this can be done even with the substrate to which they are attached. Mosses, unlike most aquarium plants, are not anchored by roots in the soil , which is explained by the absence of a full-fledged root system as such.

Another feature of mosses is their method of reproduction. Mosses reproduce by spores. When the capsule containing the spore-bearing generation ripens on the parent plant, they spill out. Most of the spores, as a rule, develop near the parent colony, sometimes even parasitizing on it. Dying mosses are replaced by young ones. This method of reproduction allows aquarium mosses to maintain a spectacular appearance for a long time.

Mosses reproduce by spores

Note ! Next, we will tell you how to fix moss, anubias, bucephalandra in an aquarium, or more precisely, in aquarium decorations (driftwood, stones). Including the most effective, but not very popular among aquarists, method of attachment.

Compatibility with fish

An aquarium sparsely populated with small fish species is perfect for Java moss.

It is vulnerable to attacks from some aquatic inhabitants, but gets along well with neons, angelfish and shrimp. Neocaridina and caridina shrimp, which continuously move along the branches of moss, eating remaining food and deposited debris from its leaves, help maintain the decorative appearance of the Javanese.

Conditions of detention

In professional literature and on amateur websites, the idea appears that the aquarium plant Java moss is almost the most profitable aquatic organism. This is because it requires almost no attention. Or rather, the Javanese is able to easily adapt to changing circumstances.

This aquatic organism is very easy to grow, you just need to comply with a number of requirements. In order for it to grow healthy and please the eye, you need a “dwelling” with a volume of at least 100 liters. You can use it as a back wall decor in a 54 liter tank, but with intensive aeration and filtration.

Feels good in a pond with moderate light and is undemanding to the soil. If desired, you can build a small current - all bryophytes love this.

Designer finds

Proper design of the aquarium helps to achieve a stunning visual effect. Javanese can be used to decorate the back wall of an aquarium.

Then you need to select a plastic mesh of the same size. Before use, rinse the mesh thoroughly with water.

Although the back wall of the aquarium is often chosen for decoration, you can decorate any wall with moss by placing it under a tightly secured mesh.

For the second decoration method you will need a coconut.

• It is necessary to break off the top of the nut and pour out the coconut juice.
• Divide the coconut into two parts and remove the pulp from each of them.
• Next, cook the peeled half in boiling water for half an hour.
• Let the coconut cool and drill a few holes in the shell using a drill.
• Secure the Javan with synthetic thread or fishing line and place the half in the aquarium.

Coconut will not only be an excellent element of aquarium decor, but also a home for fish!

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Planting and propagation

Java moss is a life-loving organism that survives in all conditions close to tropical. If you can create the right environment around it, it grows faster than algae. In a few weeks, provided it has enough light and is not affected by low temperatures (less than 21°C), Java moss grows from a small twig into a large, dense bush.

It is easy to propagate Java moss by simply dividing a healthy plant into parts and planting them in new places. Small decorative shoots are laid out on the selected surface and tied with thread at a short distance from each other.

For propagation, Java moss is divided into parts and planted in new places.

Before planting, be sure to disinfect moss pieces with a 3% solution of potassium permanganate.

After a few days, there is no free space left on the Vesicularia dubyana fixed in this way, because it is growing. The new plants make a beautiful and soft green carpet.

This ease of reproduction attracts aquarists, but certain problems also exist. Any branch accidentally separated from the main britophyte grows rapidly, forming a new colony in the most unexpected place, for example, a filter.

Immediately after planting, the light intensity in the pond should be increased, maintaining its duration for up to 8 hours.

Appointment in the aquarium

Java moss is also loved by aquarists for its versatility. It not only performs a decorative function, but also has a number of useful qualities.

The thickets are a safe place for spawning fish, which lay their eggs on their leaves. For this reason, Java moss is very often used in spawning tanks. Even in a general-species aquarium, in the case of spontaneous spawning, some of the eggs are preserved, since the “parents” and other inhabitants cannot get close to them and eat them. If necessary, the bushes chosen by the egg-laying fish for spawning are transferred from the general tank to the hatchery, where the eggs develop in safety. The thickets are used as spawning habitat by barbs, characin fish species, and representatives of the killfish family.

The benefits of moss are also obvious for juveniles. Due to the abundance of ciliates in the thickets, it is the main reservoir of food for young fish and shrimp.

The decorative function is not inferior in importance and provides great opportunities for expressing design ideas. Java moss was one of the first to be used to create aquascaping.

Planting methods

Representatives of the hypnotic species sprout almost everywhere.
You can plant them on anything - any surface will do. How to attach such parts (wire, rope, glass) depends on the flight of fancy, you just have to remember that all this will be overgrown with moss. Java moss is an excellent tool for creating fantastic landscapes in artificial ponds. Most often it is grown in the form of a smooth carpet on the bottom areas or on the back wall. There is decoration of driftwood and stones with moss. There are more fancy design options.

Mesh carpet

Thickets of Java moss create a magnificent green background against which fish of both dark and light colors look great. This process is long, but the result is worth it.

Propagation of Java moss on a grid

For this you will need:

• mesh made of stainless steel or dense plastic with suction cups on the sides;
• sprinkler;
• knife;
• scissors;
• fishing line or thread.

The process looks like this:

1. First of all, the moss is laid out on a grid suitable in size for the aquarium, with small cells (up to 8 mm) made of stainless steel or plastic. This is a rather labor-intensive and lengthy process. It is secured so that the sprouts do not touch each other and do not touch the bottom.
2. They are tied with fishing line (later you will have to remove it) or sewing threads (there is no need to remove them, they will disappear with time and moisture). You can also use vegetable glue.
3. Suction cups are attached to all corners of the mesh. The mesh is placed in a pond and secured to the wall using suction cups.
4. In the first 1-2 weeks, the moss will take root. And then the green mass will begin to grow wildly. In a month or two, the result will delight you with a perfect green carpet.

You can line the bottom of the aquarium in the same way.

On a stone or driftwood

This option is simpler, but the composition can turn out even more interesting.

Wrap individual parts of the plant with threads or fishing line on the surface of a stone or coconut shell in a pond. In a few weeks, the moss will look like a green lawn on top of a cliff.

Reproduction of Java moss on stone

You will have to regularly monitor the shape and size by carrying out timely pruning.

The same method can be used to decorate driftwood.

Spread the moss in an even layer over the entire surface of the driftwood and wrap it tightly, being careful not to damage it. After a week, the beginning of rapid growth will be noticeable. After a month, the bushes will tightly cover the snag, giving it an amazing exotic look. And in another month, the Javanese will grow in the form of a luxurious tree crown (if the snag is placed vertically).

Decoration of the outside of grottoes and caves

Grottoes and caves built from wood, stones or clay are also decorated with moss, using the same tying method.

All this will help imitate natural conditions, which will make the aquarium more comfortable for the fish.

Creating green islands at the bottom of the tank

Again you need to take the grid. Spread the moss over it, distributing it evenly. Then secure the mesh to the bottom. The culture will grow upward, creating a natural atmosphere of the underwater bottom.

Subject compositions

It is difficult to imagine another known species more suitable for decoration than aquarium mosses.

Long stems with carved leaves can perfectly imitate thick grass or the crown of a tree, which is very attractive to aquatic designers. They create amazing green carpets or fantastic compositions from driftwood, stones and other things.

Stems with carved leaves can perfectly imitate a tree crown

To create the desired shapes, you need to systematically trim the moss thickets.

Images of sunken ships or abandoned huts have been created from Java moss, and entire underwater gardens have been created with an incredible number of different plant forms. And the fish play only a secondary role here.

It is possible to create a unique landscape in combination with ferns, microzoum or Bolbitis gedeloti.

How to care for Java moss?!

It all depends on your understanding of the design of the aquarium. Regular trimming of moss will give a neat appearance and will allow you to get almost any shape, especially in strong lighting and the presence of nutritional supplements in the aquarium. But, you are free not to interfere with the growth of Java moss, which will give a wild, pristine look to your design.

In strong light, your problem may be algae that will settle on the Java moss. Removing them can be your nightmare.

Use a toothbrush to wrap the algae strings around and remove them from the aquarium. You should not pull too hard; you may damage or tear the Java moss out of its place.

Java moss is unique in that with its help you can simply decorate an aquarium, completely reproduce a natural biotope, or provide a reliable shelter for fry, or give a feeling of age to your aquarium, driftwood or stone.

By the way, many types of aquarium fish prefer to lay eggs on Java moss , if available.

• The optimal water temperature for Java moss should be +23*C+30*C (the plant is native to the tropics). If the temperature in the aquarium drops below +22*C, then the “Javanese” will simply stop growing, and if it is even lower, then it will certainly “give up”.

• As for the acidity and hardness of water, it is better if the acidity of the water is from 5.0 to 8.0 Ph. And it really doesn’t care about the hardness of the water: it feels great in both hard and soft water, as well as in brackish water. The only requirement is perfect purity and transparency! In dirty, muddy water, a coating forms on the moss, which interferes with the plant’s normal nutrition, and this is very bad.
• Java moss also prefers a slight flow of water. Therefore, if possible, be sure to create such a flow.
• Lighting for Java moss - question ten: the plant tolerates the complete absence of light without any problems! But in bright light, its growth accelerates significantly, and the plant itself acquires a very rich color. But still, the optimal lighting is moderate.
• No soil is needed at all: Javanese will grow perfectly even on “bare” glass!

Why it doesn't grow and common problems

The most common problem with Java moss is algae growth. Blue-green algae in the aquarium and black beard are direct enemies. If such a proximity is allowed, then the Javanese faces immediate death.

Once they appear, they are very difficult to remove. You have to get rid of the entire plant at once.

Heavy growth of moss can also cause problems. This can be dangerous, it can grow in the filter, on decorative decorations.

Fertilizers

For good growth and development of Java moss, fertilizers are necessary. A lack of microelements leads to an unhealthy yellowness of the stem, or even to its blackening. The concentration of CO2 and nitrogen in the reservoir should be increased.

For good moss growth, it is necessary to increase the nitrogen concentration in the reservoir.

The main thing is not to exceed the concentration of fertilizers, because its excess leads to the growth of filamentous algae, which is unsafe for moss.

Root feeding is not used due to the fact that the aquatic organism does not take root.

Moss that is grown according to the recommendations will become a wonderful living corner or decoration for any aquarium. He interacts wonderfully with aquatic inhabitants. Attaching it to interesting details will be fun, and the aquarist will want to change the interior of the aquarium once again.

Do you have Java moss in your aquarium? What composition did you create with him? Share your experience with other aquarists in the comments.

We fix

Growing Java moss does not require special knowledge or equipment. It reproduces by dividing the bush. You need to tear off a small piece of moss and fix it in a new place. After some time, the same dense green bunch forms at the site of the breakdown. Even a few branches can be torn off from an adult mother bush and used for planting. The plant can be replanted on stones and plastic pipes.

Java moss grows quickly, so when planting it must be attached over the entire area of ​​the bottom of the aquarium. This will create a visual effect, and thanks to the plant, the bottom will look lush and beautiful. The plant can be fixed to snags and even soil. If there is soil, pieces of Javanese can simply be placed on the bottom of the aquarium. It is recommended to place the plant on the decoration in a thin layer. Avoid overlapping stems on top of each other.

The plant is secured to a new location using fishing line or thread. Once established, the branches grow small brown roots. With their help, the bryophyte grows to the installed surface. If the sprout is tightly attached to the snag, the fishing line is removed. To quickly plant attached cuttings, you will need to increase the light level. During rooting, moss needs good lighting for intensive growth.

In some cases, planting occurs without the participation of the aquarist. When the moss reaches the top layer of water, reproduction by spores occurs. Spores form on the stems, and as they mature, they fall into the water, forming a protonema. Later a new plant emerges from it. The method only works in the presence of calm water. In a community aquarium this rarely happens, as the current and fish prevent it.