So, I have a 10g tank with 2WPG with java fern, java moss, and xmas moss. Java fern grows really well, but the mosses don't show any noticeable growth over about a month. It is staying green, however.. I started adding Flourish and Flourish Excel to see if that helps, but does anyone know what the reason that the moss doesn't grow when the fern grows well? Could it be the type of light I have? I have the hood that takes in 2 incandescent bulbs, but I replaced them with 2 10W full spectrum fluorescent light bulbs from Walmart at the very beginning. All it said on these bulb package was that it was full spectrum.
Java moss and xmas moss don't grow
- Thread starter lake_tuna
- Start date
It sounds like your lighting is fine. This stuff can sneak up on you. It seems to be doing nothing and then one day you realize it is taking over the tank.
Its the light.
Are they the spiral bulbs? They really suffer from tons of re-strike and without efficent reflectors most of that light is not actually getting into your tank. On top of that, 20W is really not enough to grow anything. I am surprised at your sucess with the ferns. The WPG rule breaks down for very small or large tanks- it really doesn't apply to 10 gallon tanks. See the article here:
http://www.aquatic-eden.com/2006/11/amanos-ideal-light-levels-revealed.html
Take it easy with the flourish if you've only got ferns and moss in the tank. You'll need very little trace elements for slow growing plants in a low light tank. The Flourish excel should help as a carbon source.
I am not familiar with "full spectrum" bulbs, I haven't come across that label yet. Generally the ones labeled "daylight" are appropriate, although "full spectrum" may be the same thing. Check the side of the plastic bulb base that holds the ballast, the Kelvin rating (color) should be listed on it. You want a K rating of at least 5500K, although 6500-10,000 are best.
Are they the spiral bulbs? They really suffer from tons of re-strike and without efficent reflectors most of that light is not actually getting into your tank. On top of that, 20W is really not enough to grow anything. I am surprised at your sucess with the ferns. The WPG rule breaks down for very small or large tanks- it really doesn't apply to 10 gallon tanks. See the article here:
http://www.aquatic-eden.com/2006/11/amanos-ideal-light-levels-revealed.html
Take it easy with the flourish if you've only got ferns and moss in the tank. You'll need very little trace elements for slow growing plants in a low light tank. The Flourish excel should help as a carbon source.
I am not familiar with "full spectrum" bulbs, I haven't come across that label yet. Generally the ones labeled "daylight" are appropriate, although "full spectrum" may be the same thing. Check the side of the plastic bulb base that holds the ballast, the Kelvin rating (color) should be listed on it. You want a K rating of at least 5500K, although 6500-10,000 are best.
No, it's not spiral. It's similar to this in shape: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10448675. It's basically one of of those "mini" fluorescent bulbs. By full spectrum, I assume it's pretty evenly distributed across all light wave length, and it is daylight color. I can't imagine having more than this much light. It is already pretty bright.
What happens if you have too much nutrition in the water from Flourish? I've only added it once on Sunday, but I should only add it to the tank less than once a week (recommended dosage on the bottle), huh?
EDIT: bulbs are actually Lights of America brand, model #2110AQ. I read a post someone wrote on the Internet who called the company, and it's supposed to be 6500K.
What happens if you have too much nutrition in the water from Flourish? I've only added it once on Sunday, but I should only add it to the tank less than once a week (recommended dosage on the bottle), huh?
EDIT: bulbs are actually Lights of America brand, model #2110AQ. I read a post someone wrote on the Internet who called the company, and it's supposed to be 6500K.
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I have a 20 tall, which has a footprint only a couple inches wider than your tank with a 150W metal halide. Its funny to me to hear someone with 20w say they can't imagine brighter 
for me 20W might as well be in the dark.
High levels of micro nutrients can encourage some clado algaes, and if they get high enough they can stress your fish. If you have shrimp and the trace fert you use (Flourish in this case) contains Cu, it can kill them if the levels get too high. I am not sure if Flourish contains Copper, or at what level, but it is generally included in most micro/trace additives. The most important reason to dose lightly is to save you the time and $$ of dosing more nutrients than the plants can use!
How often do you change the water and how much at a time? Without having more info (w/c schedule and an idea of how much plant life is in the tank) I'd start at about 1/4 of what they recommend (half as much, half as often).
for me 20W might as well be in the dark. High levels of micro nutrients can encourage some clado algaes, and if they get high enough they can stress your fish. If you have shrimp and the trace fert you use (Flourish in this case) contains Cu, it can kill them if the levels get too high. I am not sure if Flourish contains Copper, or at what level, but it is generally included in most micro/trace additives. The most important reason to dose lightly is to save you the time and $$ of dosing more nutrients than the plants can use!
How often do you change the water and how much at a time? Without having more info (w/c schedule and an idea of how much plant life is in the tank) I'd start at about 1/4 of what they recommend (half as much, half as often).
Flourish has copper. It contains 0.0001% water-soluble copper, and I do have shrimp in the tank that I dose with Flourish. I have read that copper is harmful for shrimp but only in large quantity. For the most part, people don't seem to have problems using Flourish with shrimp. I'll definitely follow a smaller dosage than the recommended amount for now.
So, my water change is done weekly for about 30% at least. In terms of plants, I have.. about 40 java fern leaves from 3" to 6", and many smaller ones. I have about 4"x4" patch of xmas moss, and a tennis ball size clump of loose java moss. I'm getting a lot more low-light plants soon in the mail this week. That was part of the reason I bought the Flourish supplements.
So, my water change is done weekly for about 30% at least. In terms of plants, I have.. about 40 java fern leaves from 3" to 6", and many smaller ones. I have about 4"x4" patch of xmas moss, and a tennis ball size clump of loose java moss. I'm getting a lot more low-light plants soon in the mail this week. That was part of the reason I bought the Flourish supplements.