General – Pet Fish Scout

What is Marimo moss balls? The Marimo moss balls are a type of algae that aquarium hobbyists place in their fish tanks. It is visually pleasing and due to minimum maintenance, it is popular with beginners. The moss has benefits to your fish tank and gives your pet fish a comfortable hiding place from other community fish. Marimo Moss Balls in an Aquarium Some history for Marimo Moss balls The Marimo can be found in nature in lakes in Japan, Iceland, Scotland, and Estonia. They are round in shape and their texture is fuzzy and velvet-like to the feel. The majority of the size of Marimo range from 1.5 to 2.5 inches in diameter and have known to grow up to 4 inches in diameter. The Marimo moss balls grow very slowly and the estimate growth size is roughly 5 millimeters per year. Not only can they thrive in fish aquariums, but they can also be used as a decorative element in glass bowls and vases that are filled with water. As far as price thee Marimo moss balls are cheap in price in comparison to the benefits they provide. Typically they will run around $10 for four large size balls. Once they are adjusted to your tank you have to prune small pieces and have them propagate in your tank to increase the numbers. How hard is Marimo Moss to grow? The Marimo Moss is extremely easy to grow in your freshwater tank. It will take in carbon dioxide and absorb nitrates, phosphates, algae and other waste from the fish tank water. Because of its ease to maintain it is an ideal aquarium plant for the beginner hobbyist. The Marimo moss balls require no special light or Co2 system to thrive. They can thrive in low light conditions. No additional fertilizer is required as they will receive all their required nutrients from the waste and nitrates from the water in your tank. It is best to keep them out of direct sunlight. This goes for your entire tank as direct sunlight can promote unwanted algae growth as well. At a temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit or less the moss tends to be at its best. It is recommended to take the moss balls out of the water at water changes and gently squeeze and rinse to remove dirt or debris from the plant. Is Marimo moss good for an aquarium? You should not need to quarantine your moss balls when first receiving them from your pet store or supplier. If you feel there could be some small freeloaders such as unwanted shrimp or snails, then placing them in a separate container a few days is perfectly ok. Benefits Fish When your aquarium contains Marimo moss it benefits the fish by providing extra oxygen into the water. You will see a decrease in levels of ammonia and nitrites as the moss will extract from the water. All fish species will benefit from Marimo moss and it is found in small and large aquariums. It is very popular for small betta fish tanks and its beauty and benefits add a breath of life to your environment. With the Marimo moss being round, it provides positive interaction with your pet fish as they will roll the moss balls and enjoy the entertainment. This in no way will harm the moss or the fish. Visually Pleasing The added aesthetics that it provides will have your family and friend amazed at the beauty it will provide to your aquarium environment. They provide vivid color and a clean nature feel that even your pet fish will love. It is recommended to have about 10 moss balls per 20 gallons of water. The typical size for this estimate is 1.5 inches. You can adjust the numbers of moss balls based on their size. There are no negative impacts on the water by going over this quantity and will only affect aesthetics. Improves Filtration While the moss can help with water filtration it does not replace a filter system. With a filter system in place, it does increase the water quality and provides an even healthier environment for your pet fish. After you add your moss balls to your fish tank you may notice fewer algae growth which will make cleaning easier and less often. You may observe the Marimo float in your water and this is a normal occurrence. When the moss ball becomes waterlogged it will sink to the bottom of the tank. Either condition can be expected and you should not be alarmed. Are brown spots and bad smells normal on Marimo moss? It is normal for Marimo moss to have brown spots. You will typically have these brown spots when your shipment arrives. These brown spots will disappear after a few weeks. You should place the Marimo moss under cool tap water to expedite the removal of the brown spots. You can pick out the brown spots by slightly brush off and shaking the moss balls gently If you experience a bad odor from your moss it is more than likely caused by the moss getting too hot during shipment. This is not out of the ordinary and to resolve you should rinse with cold tap water. In most cases this will go away after about a week. They are known to have brown spots appear when the water temperature gets warmer at 80 degrees Fahrenheit and over or if they are receiving direct sunlight. This will not kill them but will only turn them brown. Rinsing them in cold water and slightly decreasing the water temperature should help resolve the spots. If for any reason they do not recover and turn completely brown they will not survive at that point. If this happens in short order after receiving shipment then you should contact your supplier and they will usually replace at a discount or no cost. Can you reproduce your Marimo moss? Yes it is possible by taking pinching off a small piece and roll it into a round shape. Eventually the moss will contain its round shape and start to grow on its own. The original moss is not negatively affected by pruning a small piece from its core. With the moss ball having such slow growth you should not take off more than you need from the parent as it will take a long time to grow back. In order to better keep the round shape and option often used is to wrap the new piece with cotton thread. This will eventually decompose over time and will not negatively affect your fish tank. Will fish eat the Mario moss balls? Most fish will not feed on plants. An exception is a goldfish and Plecos since they are a vegetarian by nature. I would not place them with goldfish as this could be an irresistible food for them. Barbs, guppies, mollies and swordtail are not known to eat or affect the growth of the moss balls. z Some Recommended Suppliers