I figured out why I was having trouble growing java moss

[fballguy]

It wasn't really java moss! :duh: :duh:

My LFS said it was java moss and I had ever seen java moss before so I had no idea. Now I got the real stuff so hopefully I have better luck.

 

[djlen]

OK, I'll bite......what was it that you mistook for Java Moss?

Len

 

[kveeti]

I had an experience where somebody thought this was java moss (in the back):

 

[fballguy]

I don't know, but it was a moss of some kind.

 

[epicfish]

I had an experience where somebody thought this was java moss (in the back):

...Cladophora?

Isn't that what algae balls are made of though?
http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide_viewer.php?id=199

 

[Sammie7]

It does look like some sort of algae, definately.

 

[kveeti]

...Cladophora?
Isn't that what algae balls are made of though?
http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide_viewer.php?id=199

Yup, I think it's a type of cladophora (algae), too, but it's not short stuff like on the marimo balls (which I have), it's almost a hair algae. In the water, it actually looks kinda nice, when you take it out it flattens and is almost paper-like. It was sold as java moss - the funny (?) thing is the person selling it probably is so happy their "java moss" is growing so well that they can divide and sell it.

Anyhow, it's sitting in a jar now, definitely not going into any of my tanks, I haven't decided if I'll throw it out or set it up somewhere and see what it does. Maybe some shrimp would like it.

 

[epicfish]

My shrimp went crazy all over my clado hair algae for a while...cuz it was filled with debris! =) After that, I threw it out.

I still have about four fist-sized clumps after it's been taken out of the water. It's pretty, but deadly I guess. Trying to get little strands out of my main tank still. When I first got some, I picked it out, and threw it in an empty QT tank w/o substrate. 3 weeks later, it was HUGE.