Java Moss Worth Saving?

[Fahn]

Here is the current status of the Java moss tied to wood in my 5 gallon.

Is there a way to save it, or should I cut my losses and strip it out? I bought it from aquarium plants and half of it arrived as brown, woody stems.

 

[Kasshan]

give it a chance, strip the dead parts off

 

[Fahn]

It's not necessarily the brown parts, but all the brown hair algae. Best way to clean it up?

 

[BeanFish]

I think Java Moss is hardy enough to stand some heat so maybe you should look into either hydrogen peroxide dips or bleach dips to get rid of it.

 

[Fahn]

I think Java Moss is hardy enough to stand some heat so maybe you should look into either hydrogen peroxide dips or bleach dips to get rid of it.

Can you recommend a good ratio for a bleach solution?

 

[BeanFish]

I dipped my Java Moss in bleach before adding it to my tank with a ratio of 19:1 and it lived with 0 damage.

 

[goldface]

I'm pretty sure my shrimp (RCS and Amano) clean those up.

 

[Fahn]

I'm pretty sure my shrimp (RCS and Amano) clean those up.

I've heard both sides, that RCS will eat it, and that they only eat biofilm and won't touch the stuff.

 

[smee82]

If it arrived like that I would try and get atleast a partial refund but yes it should be saveable.

 

[Fahn]

If it arrived like that I would try and get atleast a partial refund but yes it should be saveable.

It was pretty brown but is starting to spring back. My biggest issue is all the darn algae.

I deliberately left the lights on too long because I wanted to promote green hair algae on the glass but got this ugly, wispy brown cotton candy looking algae instead.

Just upgraded the lighting to a Finnex Stingray so hopefully better lighting will help as well...

 

[goldface]

I've heard both sides, that RCS will eat it, and that they only eat biofilm and won't touch the stuff.

I don't target feed my shrimp, so I guess they're more opportunistic scavengers.

 

[Jocelyn Adelman]

I wouldn't do bleach, peroxide works great in algae and is completely safe. Once dipped you rcs will be all over it, they love dying plant matter

 

[Kasshan]

I would do anything ionic that keeps neutral pH so if you suggest a 'dip' using bleach or peroxide then dip after in vinegar. personally id just keep it in warm saline solution so I don't have to do any extra chemistry. the java can handle the salt, but not the algae.

 

[Fahn]

I wouldn't do bleach, peroxide works great in algae and is completely safe. Once dipped you rcs will be all over it, they love dying plant matter

I won't have shrimp in the tank for another 2-3 weeks.

 

[Herkimur]

To get green hair algae or green spot algae you need to dose with liquid Iron.

Edit: I guess I should tell you why: Iron is needed to produce chlorophyll.

 

[Cyclsnipas]

To get green hair algae or green spot algae you need to dose with liquid Iron.

Edit: I guess I should tell you why: Iron is needed to produce chlorophyll.

Did you mean to get rid of algae dose iron? Cuz I have GSA and to rid it another member suggested raising my phosphates...will dosing iron do the same?

 

[Jocelyn Adelman]

No. Iron will increase photosynthesis, but won't get rid of algae. The theory behind it is extra chlorophyll production will boast the plants growth and outcompete the algae. However, it's a temp fix. If you have iron loving plants great. If not excess iron can lead to staghorn and other types of algae.
Iron is almost like using peroxide or excel for algae, will fix temporarily but until root of issue is corrected it will keep coming back.

 

[Cyclsnipas]

No. Iron will increase photosynthesis, but won't get rid of algae. The theory behind it is extra chlorophyll production will boast the plants growth and outcompete the algae. However, it's a temp fix. If you have iron loving plants great. If not excess iron can lead to staghorn and other types of algae.
Iron is almost like using peroxide or excel for algae, will fix temporarily but until root of issue is corrected it will keep coming back.

Hi! You suggested the phosphates to me in another thread. Haven't been able to get any phosphate additive yet. I have iron though so I thought it would do the same thing. Guess not, glad l asked! Thanks again!

 

[Jocelyn Adelman]

Cyclsnipas Too funny! You can certainly try the iron until you get phosphates, just keep an eye out for any negative effects...
Remind me again what you are using as a fert? Trying to remember the discussion...

 

[Cyclsnipas]

Sure! It was the thread about my massive Madagascar lace plant, how it's growing like mad. Lol. You noticed some gsa on the anubius in the picture, suggested upping my phosphates to get rid of it.

What is a safe level of phosphates for removing algae?

 

[Jocelyn Adelman]

Don't want to hijack thread, but don't want to not reply. sorry OP.
Safe phosphates are dependent on the balance of your tank. Dosing seachem per bottle instructions should be ideal, some slight tweaking may be necessary after.
Also, thrive is an all in one by nilocg, green leaf aquariums has one called easy green. Both of these are better then flourish and it's counterparts due to the higher NPK along with the trace.
Dosing ferts of any kind won't specifically get rid of algae, but it will stop any mew algae growth. The key is to get your tank balanced between bioload, plant quantity, plant needs, ferts, lighting, co2, etc. Once everything is in balance the plants will properly outcompete the algae.
Hydrogen peroxide can eliminate a lot of types of algae currently present, but if the tank isn't balanced it will come back.
Hope this helps

 

[Fahn]

Ended up taking everything out and scrubbed it with a soft toothbrush and H2O2 solution. Threw away a lot of loose brown/algae infested moss and the tank looks much nicer. Ever since I cleaned the brown algae out and upgraded the lighting, it looks better and there is a fine coating of green algae on the glass that the shrimp should love.