growing moss - need plenty of light?

**tetrafreak** · 23rd Jan 2010, 22:01

I plan to grow mosses (with shrimps) in my east-facing balcony tank. good idea?

what do mosses need? i have got java and a stringy mix.

**fishbuger** · 24th Jan 2010, 21:52

java moss can do with low light no problem. for java moss the amount of light mainly affects how nice nicely they grow.

**Fuzzy** · 25th Jan 2010, 08:29

Light wise you should be ok.

The problem aside from possible algae growth from too much sunlight is maintaining temperatures below 30C in the tank.

What shrimp are you rearing in this tank?

**tetrafreak** · 2nd Feb 2010, 22:56

i am keeping cherries and malayans.

what are the optimal conditions for rapid moss growth ie volume.
my moss don't seem to grow at all! do they need fertilizers?

**Shadow** · 2nd Feb 2010, 23:14

you want it to grow fast? give more light, give more CO2 and give more fertilizer

**vernonlcm** · 2nd Feb 2010, 23:42

Originally Posted by Shadow

you want it to grow fast? give more light, give more CO2 and give more fertilizer

More light and more fert but without co2 can?

**Shadow** · 3rd Feb 2010, 09:36

You basically need carbon source, does not necessary to be CO2. Without it plant will stop to grow because carbon is the basic building block

**Blue Whale** · 3rd Feb 2010, 21:22

Shadow, you must tempt them to the dark side.

Now if CO2 tank, price is a concern, consider a DIY CO2.
Just look under the subject of DIY CO2.
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...splay.php?f=99

And viola, cheap CO2. Welcome to the dark side...ha ha...

**Shadow** · 3rd Feb 2010, 21:45

yeah, dark side can grow faster

**Slash** · 6th Feb 2010, 01:03

Originally Posted by Blue Whale

Shadow, you must tempt them to the dark side.

Now if CO2 tank, price is a concern, consider a DIY CO2.
Just look under the subject of DIY CO2.
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...splay.php?f=99

And viola, cheap CO2. Welcome to the dark side...ha ha...

Thanks for the heads up bro!

**gyjd** · 6th Feb 2010, 11:23

it'll definitely be difficult to control temperature rise in the morning which can be harmful to shrimps and algae will probably grow fast...

**tetrafreak** · 6th Feb 2010, 19:25

Well, i experimented with the tank.

On my first try, the tank turned green within a few days. Some of the plants, like hornwort, melted. The shrimps survived though.

On the second try, i taped off one corner of the fish tank with silver foil to reduce about 30% of the sunlight (and perhaps tank temperature as well). I also introduced several nutrient-hungry plants such as crypts and elodea to help absorb any excess nitrates. It worked; no more green water. :0

But the mosses don't seem to be growing much.

**eugene_syh** · 9th Feb 2010, 22:00

Originally Posted by fishbuger

java moss can do with low light no problem. for java moss the amount of light mainly affects how nice nicely they grow.

hmm I'm on a 24W t5 lighting[i have two bulbs but i think 2 is too much; so i alternate between them] 2 feet tank ~8-10 hours a day. how come my java moss on a stainless steel mesh closest to the ground is turning a little brown? not enough light? but on the other hand my moss tied on a rock say about 6cm tall is doing perfectly well.
any idea what's going wrong? my fissiden also on mesh is doing well at the bottom though, i always thought java moss was less demanding?

anyway,

PH 7
gex red packet
26-27 degrees
2 by 1 by 1.5 tank
~50 shrimps
4 tetras 2 ottos 1 nerite

any solutions? Thanks.