I want to start using more mosses and moss like plants (liverworts) in my tanks and I am having a heck of a time figuring out what mosses are truly aquatic. I know a good deal about plants but not this sub-group. I have spent some time doing research but I am underwhelmed. I thought maybe a definitive thread here would be good thing to start. Especially for those of us who are not experts on the subject.
I for one don't want to throw a lot of money at a bunch of mosses and then have them turn wilt away. It would be good to know what will grow without CO2, the lighting conditions and in what pH range as well.
In my opinion, if you have grown it in a truly aquatic environment without the aid of a gigawatt per gallon lighting and a $1000 dollar CO2 system then it must be an aquatic form. What I am saying is that I know that some plants that are only really emersed types will continue to grow or survive under the right conditions even when fully submerged. I don't think they should be considered aquatic for the sake of this thread though. Lets aim it at people with reasonable lighting and at most a low end C02 system - there are a lot of us out there. The sellers of aquatic plants often post plants I know will never survive submerged, so I don't find them a reliable source.
What I have in the definitely aquatic list so far:
Definitely not:
Mosses that I believe are aquatic but have not found a definitive answer on:
I for one don't want to throw a lot of money at a bunch of mosses and then have them turn wilt away. It would be good to know what will grow without CO2, the lighting conditions and in what pH range as well.
In my opinion, if you have grown it in a truly aquatic environment without the aid of a gigawatt per gallon lighting and a $1000 dollar CO2 system then it must be an aquatic form. What I am saying is that I know that some plants that are only really emersed types will continue to grow or survive under the right conditions even when fully submerged. I don't think they should be considered aquatic for the sake of this thread though. Lets aim it at people with reasonable lighting and at most a low end C02 system - there are a lot of us out there. The sellers of aquatic plants often post plants I know will never survive submerged, so I don't find them a reliable source.
What I have in the definitely aquatic list so far:
- Java Moss - Taxiphyllum barbieri
- Christmas Moss - Vesicularia montagne
- Pellia
Definitely not:
- Star Moss (emersed growth)
Mosses that I believe are aquatic but have not found a definitive answer on:
- Weeping Moss - Vesicularia ferriei
- Creeping Moss - Vesicularia sp
- Willow Moss - Fontinalis antipyretica
- Taiwan Moss - Taxiphyllum sp
- Erect Moss - Vesicularia reticulata
- Singapore Moss - Vesicularia dubyana
- Flame Moss - Taxiphyllum sp.
- Phoenix Moss (US Fissidens) - Fissiden fontanus
- Phoenix Moss - Fissidens sp. from Singapore
- Mini Taiwan Moss - Isopterygium sp.
- String Moss (Japan Moss) - Taxiphyllum sp.
- Stringy Moss - Leptodictyum riparium
- Giant Moss - Taxiphyllum sp.
- Green Sock Moss - Taxiplyllum sp.
- Taxiplyllum sp. 'Peacock'
- Spiky Moss - Taxiplyllum sp.
- Nano Moss - Amblystegium serpens
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