Aquarium moss: varieties, selection, care and breeding

Various plants are used to decorate aquariums in dwellings, offices or public spaces in conjunction with marine and river inhabitants. Among the variety presented, used today, aquarists prefer to purchase different types of moss to decorate their tanks.

Among the flora that can be used to decorate modern aquariums, not the last place is occupied by various types of mosses.

Such features allow you to easily implement any, even the most creative ideas for the design of containers with marine life or without them, creating unique compositions of attractive greenery.

It is believed that the first species of mosses appeared over 400 million years ago. At the moment, experts classify such plants into 3 main classes, namely:

• Hepatic;
• Mossy;
• Anthoceretic.

All types of mosses are used by aquarists to create compositions. They are distinguished from lichens or algae by the following characteristics:

• aquarium moss has a reproductive system for reproduction;
• in the natural cycle, cultures can develop several morphological generations at once;
• they have no root system.

Unpretentious green culture has a number of undeniable advantages, thanks to which it is in demand for decorating open artificial reservoirs and aquariums.

• Moss is a plant that rather quickly goes through the process of adaptation to various conditions, so even a beginner can cope with its cultivation. In addition, most of the species are quite unpretentious in terms of content.
• For mosses, it is not at all necessary to maintain year-round 12-hour lighting in the tank, they do not require the obligatory use of fertilizers. That is why the plant can be planted even in shaded areas of the aquarium or when there is a lack of heat. The culture is capable of extracting all important micro- and macroelements from the environment, and the process of absorption occurs through the entire surface of the moss, and not only the underground or above-ground part.
• The external natural attractiveness of such crops makes it possible to make a reservoir or reservoir close in appearance to natural conditions. This feature has a positive effect not only on the harmony and integrity of the composition, but also on the health of the aquatic inhabitants contained in the aquariums.
• The process of renewal of mosses occurs quite quickly and independently, since old crops die off, leaving new plants in their place thanks to spores.
• Various types of mosses provide excellent refuge for many small fish species or fry. In addition, many aquatic inhabitants use it for spawning.
• If necessary, the moss, together with the material or object on which it is fixed, can be easily transferred to another place, which is not always possible with plants that have a root system.

More recently, not many types of moss have been used to decorate aquariums, however, in light of the increasing popularity of this decor option, more and more varieties of it are currently being used. Among them it is worth highlighting the following.

Fontalinis is the second name of a culture that is spread almost all over the world. The plant has curly stems with many small leaves. The color of an ornamental culture can vary, to a greater extent it depends on the intensity of illumination, as well as the type of soil in the container. There are variants of deep green and red moss. It can be kept in aquariums and outdoor artificial reservoirs. As a rule, it is customary to plant this species in the foreground.

The name is due to the external features of the structure of the branches that grow downward, repeating the structure of the weeping willow.

Not picky in terms of temperature for content, therefore feels good in the range from +15 C to +28 C.

The culture owes its name to the original shape of the leaves that form on the stems of the moss - when viewed, they will resemble needles from a coniferous tree. The variety stands out for its high level of attractiveness, therefore it is quite in demand for the design of aquariums and artificial reservoirs. According to the description, the plant develops extremely slowly, not demanding on the conditions of detention, if the water temperature in the tank is less than +22 C, then the moss will stop in its growth and development.

The culture consists of many shoots that are formed at a great distance from each other. The stems grow in a strictly vertical direction, thanks to which it will be possible to create a beautiful living composition in the aquarium, which stands out for its airiness. This variety can be grown in soil, on stones or wood, it thrives in stagnant water or in liquid with minimal flow.

The moss will be light in color, in the wild it is common in Asian countries, as a rule, aquarists prefer to fix it with a thread or net to the driftwood at the bottom, which allows the culture to adapt as quickly as possible and take root in the container. Japanese moss grows slowly, so it won't need to be tweaked too often.

A popular option that is suitable for placement in an aquarium with most ornamental fish species. Outwardly, it stands out for its thin stems, covered with a large number of small leaves located very close to each other.

In terms of structure, such mosses are distinguished by their round shapes, they can have various sizes, while the color of the crops is remarkable for its rich tones. Moss is devoid of root system, stems and leaves, the thickness of the branches is only 10 mm. In order to reduce the growth rate of the culture during breeding, it is recommended to cover the aquarium with transparent glass. You can correct the color of the moss by the level of illumination; some conditions will make it white.

The list of mosses used for breeding in aquarium conditions is not limited to the above species; today, equally attractive options such as sphagnum are also used. Also popular:

• String;
• Bubble;
• Phoenix;
• Cameroon.

To create a beautiful and comfortable composition of mosses in the aquarium, it is recommended to adhere to the following guidelines.

• For an artificial aquatic environment with river or sea inhabitants, it is allowed to use species of such useful and beautiful crops that are different in their structure. Most of them perfectly and quickly adapt to the prevailing conditions, so the owner of an aquarium or artificial reservoir does not need to make much effort to care for the plants.
• The moss does not grow too rapidly, so a composition created once in the tank will retain its original shape and appearance without frequent corrections for quite a long time. This moment will allow even beginners to use it. That is why the creation of decor inside the container should be approached thoroughly.
• This type of culture can be considered universal because it can create a beautiful and natural setting that is in perfect harmony with other aquarium cultures and inhabitants. That is why varieties can be selected based on personal taste preferences.

To achieve this goal, concerning the cultivation of moss at home, it should be borne in mind that such crops independently and rather quickly attach to any surface. The owner of the aquarium will only need to additionally secure the plant in the chosen place, using a nylon thread or any other material for this. The use of fishing line or medical superglue is allowed.

The place for growing moss in the tank is selected based on the overall composition. In general, this culture is undemanding to lighting conditions, therefore it can be grown even in corners where light penetrates to a minimum.

You can attach the moss directly to the bottom to create a living carpet. In addition, it is permissible to use the culture for placement on driftwood, wood and other objects inside the aquarium.

Despite the fact that today there are a large number of species of a similar aquarium culture, the general growing conditions will be the same.

• The optimum temperature for the development and attractive appearance of the moss will be in the range from +18 C to 28 C. Taking into account the peculiarities of the maintenance of other crops and inhabitants of the aquarium, these indicators can be adjusted.
• In order for the plants to grow well, special attention should be paid to the cleanliness of the aquarium. This applies not only to the state of the water, but also to the presence of various garbage, fish waste products, etc. Garbage must be removed in a timely manner.
• In order for the composition to be harmonious, it is recommended to remove new shoots from mosses in a timely manner, since the appearance of young branches will contribute to the death of old ones.
• It is best to grow moss in aquariums that contain soil. Since its presence is regarded by cultures as a natural filter that cannot be replaced with anything else. However, the amount in the tank should be considered in order to avoid excess accumulation of nitrites and nitrates.

It will be possible to get a new culture at home by dividing an adult plant, using not only shoots, but also the thallus. Usually, overgrown moss is divided in half, then the new culture is fixed in any convenient way in the chosen place, providing dim lighting there. After a while, it will adapt and release the rhizoids. Also, to obtain a new plant, it is used a natural spore method that does not require human intervention.

Spores germinate on a new surface, after which a new aquarium bush is formed there, which can be left in the same place or rooted in another.

Some aspiring hobbyists may encounter the following maintenance problems.

• It is worth refraining from growing giant algae and mosses. This is due to the fact that such crops are direct competitors.
• To avoid eating mosses by the inhabitants of aquariums, you should not grow a culture with shellfish, since this plant is food for them. This also applies to herbal fish.
• Lack of soil can be detrimental to the development of mosses. Despite the fact that plants do not have a root system, beneficial bacteria live in the soil, helping to decompose organic matter in the reservoir into safe elements that will not harm the flora and fauna inside.

See below for a master class on fixing moss on any surfaces.