Has anyone tried introducing ground moss?

So, stuck in all day and what else is there to do but stare at the tank and make some aquascaping plans. I've boiled up some coconut husk today and attached some of my baby java ferns to one and will be getting java moss this week that I hope to grow on the other. Whilst watching endless YouTube videos I stumbled across someone using ground moss. So obviously the first thing I did was go outside and pick some moss off the old stone wall. Its swan's neck thyme moss. It's been washed and is sitting in a tub of dechlorinated water for a while to see what happens to it before I try adding it to the aquarium. I imagine my British moss probably won't like the warm water but who knows, worth a shot. Has anyone had and success with this? And what moss worked?

 

As a matter of fact yes, have tried with various mosses I've found outside. Most have just melted away but I have one right now that looks like it is adjusting to growing under water. I have no idea as to what kind of moss it is but it looked like tiny Christmas trees about 1/4 inch tall. It isn't as compact now as it was growing on the ground, meaning it is looking kinda spindly. It has survived much longer than any others I've tried so I am still holding out hope that it will continue to grow. Right now it is in a tub out in my plant room that I keep extra plant cuttings in. No heater so the water is pretty cool. I'm not sure what will happen to it when/if I move it to a heated tank. It is always fun to experiment so I say go for it.

 

I have some moss in my backyard that I’ve been considering giving a try. I’m not sure what type I have though. My only concern that has stopped me so far is worrying the moss might introduce something negative to the environment that would crash my tank.... decisions decisions. Also curious if anyone has had success with this!

 

I have some moss in my backyard that I’ve been considering giving a try. I’m not sure what type I have though. My only concern that has stopped me so far is worrying the moss might introduce something negative to the environment that would crash my tank.... decisions decisions. Also curious if anyone has had success with this!

I wouldn't recommend you move it straight from back yard to tank. I would want to find out what is going to happen with it before taking a chance on it melting in my tank. A small container of water should give you an idea as to whether or not it will survive being under water.

 

I wouldn't recommend you move it straight from back yard to tank. I would want to find out what is going to happen with it before taking a chance on it melting in my tank. A small container of water should give you an idea as to whether or not it will survive being under water.

Awesome! Thank you for the advice! I’ll give it a go why not! And I have plenty of it!! Looks like I’m in for a new plant project!

 

As a matter of fact yes, have tried with various mosses I've found outside. Most have just melted away but I have one right now that looks like it is adjusting to growing under water. I have no idea as to what kind of moss it is but it looked like tiny Christmas trees about 1/4 inch tall. It isn't as compact now as it was growing on the ground, meaning it is looking kinda spindly. It has survived much longer than any others I've tried so I am still holding out hope that it will continue to grow. Right now it is in a tub out in my plant room that I keep extra plant cuttings in. No heater so the water is pretty cool. I'm not sure what will happen to it when/if I move it to a heated tank. It is always fun to experiment so I say go for it.

Great! That's encouraging. I'm hoping it works as the moss looks really interesting.

 

Great! That's encouraging. I'm hoping it works as the moss looks really interesting.

Please let us know how it is doing

 

Very interesting for sure. I would like to see the underwater forms if they survive!

 

I tried multiple pieces of moss from various places locally. I didn't have luck with any of them.

Then I went to a local creek, you know one that barely has knee deep water anywhere during summer. I found some fabulous moss growing on the stones in the water.

It is growing amazingly. I do recommend if you go that route to do a better job of rinsing it off any quarantining it than I did. I picked up hydra from it and it took forever to eliminate them.

 

So the moss has been in water for a week now. The water is clear and it seems to be growing. I'm wondering how long I should leave it before adding it to the tank. Thinking about tying it to a small terracotta pot for the shrimp.

 

I would hate to say go for it and it harmed your shrimp but you aren't going to know until you try. Have you looked into this particular moss to see if it could possibly emit any kind of toxins. Some plants do to protect themselves. I don't know if any kinds of mosses do that but it would be worth looking into it. I have some ramshorn snails thriving in the container I have mine in. So far they seem to be well.

 

I've done some research and the moss seems harmless. I don't know if or how it will affect water parameters though. I've also expanded my research and now have added silky forklet and glistening wood mosses. The glistening wood moss looks very similar so java so I'm intrigued to see what that one will do.

 

I'm wondering how long I should leave it before adding it to the tank

i like to experiment things myself, great way to learn and improve knowledge.
but never on "our" main tank.
the word "quarantine" comes from 40. back in the past they figure out that 40 days was a good number to keep things in check.
i guess if it worked for them it might work for us.

 

Mindelo I have never noticed the 40 in quarantine! In all my (nearly) quaranta giorni. Blown my mind . 40 days it is then.

 

I've done some research and the moss seems harmless. I don't know if or how it will affect water parameters though. I've also expanded my research and now have added silky forklet and glistening wood mosses. The glistening wood moss looks very similar so java so I'm intrigued to see what that one will do.

If you've not done so put these mosses in tank water. Run the nitrate test just before pouring it in there. Keep an eye on the nitrates to see if the moss pulls it out. It wouldn't be a bad idea to keep an eye on all the parameters in the bottles. If all the moss does is clean the water then I would have to think it will be safe in the tank.

If you are not seeing any kind of microscopic life swimming around in the bottles by now then I have to think there isn't any living in the moss. Is the water in the bottles close to the same temp as your tank? Some tiny life needs certain temps to thrive so we want to prevent something hatching out in the tank once it gets in warmer water. We want to know if the seeds of life are there before we put it in the tank.

 

My only personal experience has been with Wabi Kusa. When I built my substrate ball, I put ground moss on the top and java moss on the bottom. I only submersed it halfway. It all did great at first but started to get issues with melting and mold growing. I moved it to a larger container, increased the airflow and it's on the mend. The java really took off, but both mosses are starting to grow together.

 

It tried growing some sphagnum moss, I found in a bog, in a high tech tank once. It sort of worked. The moss grew tall and lanky, green on top and brown underneath.

 

So the moss has been in water for a week now. The water is clear and it seems to be growing. I'm wondering how long I should leave it before adding it to the tank. Thinking about tying it to a small terracotta pot for the shrimp.

That's really cool! I'm going to try this later in the Spring. I have an extra tank that I can play around with. Thank you for the pics, too!

If you've not done so put these mosses in tank water. Run the nitrate test just before pouring it in there. Keep an eye on the nitrates to see if the moss pulls it out. It wouldn't be a bad idea to keep an eye on all the parameters in the bottles. If all the moss does is clean the water then I would have to think it will be safe in the tank.

If you are not seeing any kind of microscopic life swimming around in the bottles by now then I have to think there isn't any living in the moss. Is the water in the bottles close to the same temp as your tank? Some tiny life needs certain temps to thrive so we want to prevent something hatching out in the tank once it gets in warmer water. We want to know if the seeds of life are there before we put it in the tank.

Great Advice. Thanks!

 

If you've not done so put these mosses in tank water. Run the nitrate test just before pouring it in there. Keep an eye on the nitrates to see if the moss pulls it out. It wouldn't be a bad idea to keep an eye on all the parameters in the bottles. If all the moss does is clean the water then I would have to think it will be safe in the tank.

If you are not seeing any kind of microscopic life swimming around in the bottles by now then I have to think there isn't any living in the moss. Is the water in the bottles close to the same temp as your tank? Some tiny life needs certain temps to thrive so we want to prevent something hatching out in the tank once it gets in warmer water. We want to know if the seeds of life are there before we put it in the tank.

That's great advice, thanks! I hadn't even considered testing the water. I'll add them to tank water at the next water change and monitor it. That will be interesting. They are definitely not at the same temperature as the tank but again, that is a good point. I will try and find somewhere warmer to see if anything emerges.

 

It's been a month since the first moss sample was put in water. I added old tank water just over a week ago and we now have an impressive algae bloom and lots of oxygen bubbles (terrible photo below). Also, I found a mini Ramshorn snail in my tank yesterday that must have hitchhiked on my new plants. I couldn't bring myself to kill it so put it in with the moss. It's having a lovely time today! I think I may have started something....

 

This is how we end up with a snail only tank. Mine happens to be a 2.5 gallon jar. The snail(s) should help control the algae.

 

This is how we end up with a snail only tank. Mine happens to be a 2.5 gallon jar. The snail(s) should help control the algae.

I was thinking this morning that it (they!) might need a bigger home soon!

 

I have a big pickle jar coming. That's probably what it will end up being.....lol

 

It’s something I’ve always wanted to try but was thinking more of a terrarium or paludarium set up.
Now think I need to go walk the stream and see what I can find.