Java Moss.. Help!

[anniegiannini]

I have some java moss that's getting rather large now.. but a bunch of crap is getting stuck in it and making it look sort of brown and funky. Is there any good way of cleaning it or something? I'm scared to even touch it because it's so delicate.. let alone rinse it out. Or is it good for the fishies and should I just leave it?

Any tips?

Thanks,
Annie

[Cathy G]

Does the yucky stuff look like curly whiskers? If so, it is hair/beard algae and bad stuff! Check out online accounts of people who have dipped their plants in Potassium Permanganate - I just did that to all my plants and so far it is only good news. If your moss is attached to a piece of driftwood - I'd dip the whole thing in the bucket. (You can get Potass. Perm. at ACE Hardware in the water softener supplies). Do check around with others though before you do this to the moss. I did it to a sword, java fern, wisteria and ludwigia w/o any problems. Good Luck!

[John N.]

If it isn't algae and just debris getting stuck. aim some water current to flush the stuff out.

-John N.

[anniegiannini]

I think it is debris.. I'll give that a shot.. if it isn't I'll dip it in that stuff. Thanks, guys!

[Aqualung]

It's probably just various particles/debris getting stuck in it. Java moss is great at catching "gunk". If it (the moss) is well attached you should be able to suck a lot of the stuff out with the gravel vac. I also run my fingers through it and give it a good "swishing" while vacuuming up the debris. I have a jungle of moss and have to do this quite frequently.