Is Java moss an easy plant?

[Phyroath]

Hi every one,

Mosses are my favorite plants. I have been growing moss successfully within a month time in my previous two tanks and once in emersed condition - in a paludarium, with just shop light, CFL and T8 10,000K.

However whenever I move moss whether Java or Christmas to another different tank, it is not growing well, turning brown, slimming and or dying out with similar light, fert and CO2.

The same condition if the other tank is of high light tank with other plants. Another issue I have is when I use fertilizer and in my case EI and the moss start showing sign of not happy (I refer to my previous tank). I have been on pressurized CO2, on T8, T5

I usually take into account two things - temperature and cleanliness for mosses but I am trying to find out what are more. Are mosses sensitive to any fert or any other chemical elements.

Many of my friends who got java moss from me from my previous tank failed to keep it growing.

I have been searching around the internet but not much I can find common solutions to situations I mentioned above.

Sorry for my English. Kindly help

 

[excuzzzeme]

Java moss is the easiest plant to have. There are many reasons for it to die including fertilizer burns or too much light.

 

[Phyroath]

Thanks. I don't know if I have to stop dosing fert and wait. As you can see I stopped doing high light in my 75G and moved the mosses from my 39G to the 75. The last pic tells how the mosses do under the same light T8 10000K and in the same room temperature. Also tried mosses in my 75G when it was under high light but they all died.

 

[tolawdjk]

My java does best in my no fert, screw in spiral cfl light 10 gallon tank. Couldn't even begin to tell you what the K value of that light was other than I think it is closer to 10000K than 6000K.

It does moderately well in my EI, presurized CO2 T5HO tank, but it grows completely differently. Much lower and "horizontal" branching rather than verticle and bushy branching.

Tried it in my 20L with regualt T5 lighting, but it was very susecptible to BBA growth (only liquid micro ferts and occaisonal liquid CO2, when I remember. I'm bad like that). I moved it to a higher flow area, but it -really- did not like that. Subwassertang really grows well in that tank though.

 

[Phyroath]

Once I put my Javamoss under my new T5HO but it was burned. It did well until the bulbs were one year old - tried once again later. I still wonder why some people can grow mosses in high light setting. I am not sure if EI dosing regime does not apply for moss only tank or the properties of my EI components become less since i order the components 3.5 years ago. I heard moss likes nitrite, how can I increase nitrite? I only have several fish in my 75.

 

[Alasse]

I hava java moss in ambiant/low light tanks, grows well. I also have it growing in another tank under T5 lights and its growing well there too. I dont fertalise either tank nor do i add CO2. Both of these tanks only get monthly waterchanges

 

[aussie pride]

My java moss grows everywhere and anywhere no matter what.. I have a little bit in my blackworm colonies to soak up some of the extra nutrients, some in my frog's water bowl, some in my 15g riparium growing emersed, a bit in all 3 of my 5g, some in my sister's 2.5g, some in my 40g, some in my 20g crayfish tank and some growing on a damp piece of driftwood next to my 15g...

 

[spencerguy1]

moss is pretty easy to grow. it might be aleopathy. aleopathy is basically plant battles. plants produce chemicals that aid some plants around them, but also do damage to others. aleopathy isnt very common, but many experienced planted tank owners will just not be able to grow a certain plant in one of thier tanks because of aleopathy.

 

[Phyroath]

Thanks. Spencerguy1, it is the first time I hear about Aleopathy - I am learning something new. I am inspired by a moss tank I found on youtube video
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=My+moss+tank+in+Bangkok&aq=f http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMxzIuxCrLw

I wonder how the guy maintains such a healthy tank. Now I stop dosing EI and move to liquid fert - I am using Ferka Aquatilizer and its Balance K (Thai fert) hoping to improve the situation.

Whenever I add PO4 in the EI dosing regime, I find mosses tend not to be happy within a day or two. I don't know if this is another case.

 

[dundadundun]

allelopathy suspect? do water changes and/or add activated carbon and watch for a month/document with pictures, time stamps, etc.. if the issue doesn't correct itself then allelo-chemicals cannot be the issue.

what i'd more suspect - higher lighting creating more demand for resources. maybe some of your hardscape leaching based on the pictures. po4 limitations decreasing demand on co2, etc..

admittedly tom puts it better than i could ever wish to at this point, but keep in mind we're talking a low light, low demand plant that adjusts fairly easily and read through this post... http://www.aquariacentral.com/forum...nd-EI-dosing&p=2707698&viewfull=1#post2707698

for reference - an article referencing liebeg's law of the minimum... http://www.tropica.com/advising/technical-articles/biology-of-aquatic-plants/co2-and-light.aspx

solutions (as long as your hardscape isn't leaching out anything harmful or at harmful concentrations) - limit po4 (which obviously isn't working the greatest if i read right) - limit light (which will stunt growth but take the pressure off of your co2) - up your co2 to meet your uptake driven by the light.