Aquarium Riccia: varieties and recommendations for maintenance

Living conditions in modern cities have alienated man from nature as much as possible. In order to enjoy the greenery and the aroma of fields and forests, to look at the azure surface of reservoirs, people need to travel hundreds of kilometers outside the city.

Lack of communication with wildlife forces the townspeople to have pets, grow indoor plants. Due to the lack of free time, not all animal lovers can afford to have a pet. Experts recommend paying attention to aquariums with fish that require a minimum amount of attention, but bring no less joy and positive emotions to the owners.

Floating Riccia is an aquarium plant that belongs to the family of liver mosses and does not have standard stems and roots. Under natural conditions, this species can be found in regions with subtropical, tropical and temperate climates. The most favorable habitat is stagnant fresh water... The appearance of the plant resembles small green lumps, consisting of thin thalli filled with air.

The width of one stem does not exceed 1 mm. Long-term scientific research has given scientists reason to believe that this species originated from brown and green algae that ended up on land.

Due to the presence of a large number of air chambers, moss can constantly be on the surface of the reservoir. The height of the green carpet can be up to 30 mm. The green lawn looks very impressive and is of great importance for the aquarium. Riccia feeds on rhizoids that resemble thin threads.

Despite its unpretentiousness and ease of care, this moss does not tolerate the neighborhood with duckweed. Its most comfortable neighbors are the following plants:

• echinodorus;
• lileopsis;
• hemiantus;
• micrantemoides;
• eleocharis.

Professional aquarists recommend paying special attention to this plant, whose benefits for a home reservoir can hardly be overestimated:

• natural enrichment of water with oxygen particles;
• aesthetic decoration of the reservoir;
• utilization of carbon dioxide;
• water purification from the remains of fish activity;
• creating secluded places for small fish and shrimp;
• the formation of a darkened and cozy space for fish;
• containment of excessive algae growth;
• helping young plants to adapt;
• creation of the necessary mineral and organic balance;
• acting as a building material for labyrinth fish nests;
• providing natural food for turtles, ampullaria and crustaceans;
• acceleration of development and reproduction of ciliates, which are irreplaceable food for fry.

The color and structure of the Riccia can quickly and accurately determine the state of flora and fauna in an artificial reservoir.... If the main parameters and indicators are not violated in the aquarium, the moss has a rich green tint, but the presence of brown, dark and red spots indicates the need to check the state of the home reservoir to prevent the death of its living inhabitants.

Despite the huge number of positive properties of Riccia, experts recommend paying attention to its negative aspects:

• intolerance to salt water;
• the need for regular weeding and cutting;
• pollution of the reservoir with decomposed organic objects that get stuck between the stems;
• absorption of large amounts of oxygen at night;
• high reproduction rate;
• undesirable cultivation in the same pond with goldfish, which quickly eat this moss.

There are a large number of sand moss species in their natural habitat, but the most common are only a few:

• Japanese;
• European;
• Thai;
• Singaporean.

For artificial landscaping of home aquariums florists it is recommended to use only the Japanese species, which is either floating or sinking.

• Floating moss located in the upper water layers due to the high level of oxygen particles in the stems. The maximum distance between branches of this type does not exceed 10 mm.
• Drowning (amano) - a plant whose habitat is the bottom of the aquarium. The distance between thalli can be more than 30 mm.

Despite its unpretentiousness and undemanding conditions of keeping, water moss needs a certain amount of attention to itself. The temperature level of the water must always be in the range from +22 degrees to +28 degrees Celsius.

The level of hardness of the aquatic environment must not exceed the 7 dGH mark‎, and acidity - 8 pH. The use of aeration and filtration systems in the habitat of Riccia is optional.

When growing an aquatic plant it is necessary to pay special attention to the lighting, which should be bright and located on top. When choosing a lighting device, it is better to give preference to daytime lamps, but it is better to refuse incandescent lamps due to the fact that they emit a large amount of heat and can provoke a significant increase in the temperature of the water. The optimal distance between the water and the lamp is 10-15 cm. A low level of illumination can provoke not only stratification of the stems, but also their rotting.

To maintain a beautiful and effective appearance, florists recommend carry out regular thinning of green spaces. Densely growing thickets not only look ugly, but also impede the flow of light and oxygen into the reservoir. The moss located on the surface of the aquarium does not need additional use of special mineral complexes, but the plants at the bottom of the aquarium need fertilizing with fertilizers and carbon dioxide.

If the growing rules are not followed, as well as if the content parameters are violated, you may encounter the following problems:

• lack of growth - low temperature conditions, which can subsequently provoke the death of the plant;
• disintegration of thallus - non-observance of lighting rules;
• the disappearance of shrubs and their eating - the presence of a large number of turtles and ampullia in the reservoir.

The breeding technology of Riccia is very simple and time-consuming, so it can be used even by the most inexperienced aquarists. To get a young plant, you just need to separate a small bush from the mother bush and place it in a separate container with clean and settled water. In favorable conditions for the growth and development of moss, within a month you can see a fully formed full-fledged plant.

Thanks to the vegetative propagation method, the plant can fill the entire adjacent space in a short period of time. And small pieces of moss, torn off from the main bush, can move to a new place with the help of water flows and form young green thickets already there.

The population of this plant can be preserved even when the aquarium is completely dry. In extreme conditions, moss forms spores, which, when water appears, begin to actively develop and form new green islands.

Moss looks very impressive and beautiful not only on the water surface, but also on the bottom. You can attach the plant in the depths of the reservoir using the following devices:

• fishing line or nets;
• stones and soil;
• snags;
• parts of an earthen pot.

For fixing the bush with a net it is necessary to cover the plant with cellular material on top and place it on the bottom. Pebbles, decorative stones and various branches can be used as an attachment. After a while, the moss will grow and fill all the mesh cells.

In the case of using fishing line for deepening the moss, it is necessary to wrap the selected green lump with it and tie it in the chosen place. With this device, you can position the moss both vertically and horizontally.

Despite the variety of options for fixing moss to the bottom, aquarium decorators It is recommended to pay attention to the most aesthetically pleasing method, which consists of several stages:

• selection of the mesh required by color and size;
• forming sleeves from a mesh using a fishing line;
• laying a flat stone or pebble inside a pocket made;
• even distribution of Riccia over the stone;
• fixing the open end of the mesh on the back of the stone base;
• removal of all protruding parts of the mesh pocket;
• placement of the structure on the selected area of ​​the bottom.

Any branches, driftwood and stones can be used as a mount for Riccia. Green compositions look especially impressive in halves of clay pots and other decorative containers. If it is impossible to use all of the above methods, professional aquarists recommend simply sprinkling the edges of the green pillow with a small amount of soil.

In order to create an island of calmness and tranquility in the house, psychologists recommend setting up an aquarium with green algae, fish, turtles and crabs. A home reservoir can become a decoration not only for private city apartments, but also for educational and healthcare institutions, offices and administrative premises. Daily observation of the measured life of the underwater world will help get rid of stress, energy tension and emotional overload.

To create a beautiful and aesthetically pleasing aquarium it is not necessary to purchase expensive imported plants.

The video below will tell you about planting Riccia.