Hyophila involuta AKA Cement Moss

[gemo82]

Ok, I am overwhelmed by the vast amount of information when searching about this moss, and am here to verify if my understanding is correct. Since photographs are not that much critical in ID of moss (and given my photography skills sucks, and I do not have a proper camera), I hope fellow hobbyists would not mind if I reference the pictures in their threads.

Sometime back, I took some moss off from a canal wall and tried to cultivate them submerged. They looked pretty much similar to the first picture posted under this thread by bro "flashsilva". Tried to ID the moss, but armed with only my naked eyes and inadequate knowledge, I gave up.

Anyway, after a few months, I had to admit I failed as they browned a little and were overtaken by algae. Still, I am working on a second attempt at this moment.

1) Is this moss I gathered likely to be Hyophila involuta AKA Cement Moss? I realised this kind of moss likes to grow along canals and in spaces between bricks. Another kind I usually see in our urban environment prefers tree barks and hard damp soil, which I presume to be Singapore moss.

2) If it is Cement Moss, does it mean there is no way I can succeed in keeping them submerged and growing? Seems like some hobbyist have success in doing so, although it is hard to tell if they are the same moss.



Regards,

Kok

[timebomb]

The amount of information on the net on aquarium mosses is not vast but it's highly disorganised. That is why hobbyists often have difficulties finding the information they are looking for.

Anyway, to answer your 2 questions:

Although it's hard to tell the identity of a moss from just a picture; without one, it would be impossible. There are many species of mosses in Singapore. The one you found and are trying to grow now could be any one of them. I would suggest you take a look at this thread and see if your moss is similar to the ones there.

The professor is pretty sure that Cement Moss will never survive in our tanks for long. The professor is probably right but then again, we must understand that although the prof is an expert on mosses, he isn't quite as expert when it comes to growing them. I would say there is a fair chance Hyophila involuta can grow underwater but it will take a lot of patience and some tweaking of the water parameters.

Loh K L

[gemo82]

Hi, thanks for your reply.

I have actually looked at the thread you started many times, and other threads in this forum, before I posted my question. Armed with only my camera phone, I believe I am unable to produce a picture sharp enough for identification, and that was why I reference another forumer's picture instead. Yes, the moss looked to me like Hyophila Involuta that you have posted, but then I am only guessing it with my naked eye. I thought the source of it may help, as I took it from our local canal wall.

I am also hoping that this moss can grow underwater, as they looked really pretty and neat for nano set-ups. There seemed to be some success with this moss underwater by some hobbyists, but then we cannot be sure it is the same moss. I remember reading somewhere that someone succeeded submerged growing of the moss sold as starmoss on ebay, which you have identified to be Hyophila Involuta AKA Cement Moss. So even though the professor claimed otherwise, I am still struggling with a tinge of hope that I could succeed.

However, as an amateur, I highly doubt I will. Right now, I am having them on pieces of granite rocks, and on my substrate in a dry set-up, trying to get them to attach themselves 1st before I flood the tank. I think I'll go slow and leave them as it is for a few more months. When flooding the tank, I'll try injected CO2 this time with lowered lighting level, in case they got attacked by algae again like the previous time I tried without CO2, just excel.

If I fail again this time, at least I know how they do in a dry setup, and can use them for vivariums next time. I will then replace the aquatic tank with Fissiden instead.

A side question: Can Fissiden be grown emersed?

[timebomb]

A side question: Can Fissiden be grown emersed?

There are many species of Fissidens in the hobby so I'm not sure which is the one you're referring to. But generally, Fissidens mosses should be able to survive out of water. In fact, I would say they will do better and it's also easier to grow them emersed. A couple of years ago, I had a clump of Fissidens zippelianus growing above water on a piece of driftwood. I keep it wet by aiming the spray bar at it. Here's a picture:



Loh K L