Stringy java moss without leaves

Obelisk

Obelisk

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Feb 19, 2009
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I put a couple of new bunches of java moss in my 10 gallon tank. The lighting is 1.5 wpg and I dose a small amount (like several drops) of Flourish every 1 to 2 weeks. Nitrates are around 10 ppm. I've never grown java moss so I don't really know what to expect, but I just find it odd that a bunch of "stems" are growing and sprouting "branches" along the sides, but no leaves. It's sort of like a bunch of green strings growing out of the original bundle. Has anyone had this happen? Is this how it normally grows?
 
Java moss should have java moss growth in my experience.

If its hairlike, I would think this is algae or some other type of moss that got mixed in the java moss.

I had this type of growth on a Marimo ball and i just pulled it all out until it was gone. It took a few weeks but it will disappear eventually.


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iheartbettas said:
If its hairlike, I would think this is algae or some other type of moss that got mixed in the java moss.
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That's..... a pretty good point. It's not so thin that it's hairlike, but it definitely doesn't look like the java moss that it's mixed in with.

I realized that, what I thought were rolled up branches that were about to sprout, are actually tiny bladders. I've been doing some reading and I think it might be bladderwort. It could be something else though, as there are probably other aquatic plants that also have those. Thanks for the tip.
 
By your description, it sounds as if you have Utricularia gibba mixed in there.
 
James0816 said:
By your description, it sounds as if you have Utricularia gibba mixed in there.
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Thanks, I think that's it! Apparently, it's usually seen as a weed in planted aquariums. I don't mind the way it looks, so I don't feel the need to remove it for now. I might change my mind if it gets out of control when I start adding CO2 and vermiculite to the tank.

I do have a female dwarf orange crayfish that's berried, though I doubt that the young would be small enough to get caught in the bladders. They seem to keep to the bottom anyway.
 
It is actually a nice little plant and can grow out of control pretty quick. I used to use as a floating mat then got tired of it. Has small yellow flowers too. It can be a bit difficult to get rid of though. Very fragile and can grow anew from the smallest of pieces.
 
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