christmas moss care and growing questions

[kingrise]

Hey TFF folks,

I've been eyeing Christmas moss for my upcoming Cherry shrimp setup and I had a few things I wanted to clear up.

Do they need Co2 to thrive?

Is high lighting a must for them?

Are root tabs necessary for their survival?

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Moving on to "Moss balls"...

I'm aware that the "Common" ones aren't actually moss, but rather algae. Similar questions apply here as well - do they require Co2, high lighting, and root tabs?

Thanks in advance for your input!

[coltin]

Christmas Moss/ Java Moss isn't fussy, it'll do just fine without CO2, fertiliser, or bright light. That being said, it does grow a bit faster with some decent lighting and a liquid iron-based plant fertiliser. As for the moss balls, no idea - we don't get them here.

[sSjey]

Mosses are generally attached to decor, so liquid fertiliser is the way to go - root tabs aren't an option in this case.

From what I've read, Christmas moss is actually more demanding than Java moss - it seems to require more light, and many people grow it in tanks with added CO2.

Java moss, on the other hand, is pretty low-maintenance. I tried to grow it in one spot, but it ended up spreading and attaching itself to various parts of my low-tech aquarium.

When it comes to moss balls, they're usually grown as spheres, but you can also open them up and attach them to decor. Either way, liquid fertiliser is the way to go. To keep them looking their best, moss balls need to be turned regularly.

[kingrise]

Thanks for the input, guys. So Java moss might be the easier option, then?

I'm mainly looking for something to give my shrimp a cozy spot to hang out, and I'm leaning towards the Christmas moss, but if Java moss is more low-maintenance, that's definitely something to consider.

Also, just to clarify, moss balls can be attached to decor as well? That's a great idea, I might look into that too.

By the way, do either of you have any recommendations for a good liquid fertilizer?

[sSjey]

I personally use Seachem Flourish comprehensive supplement for my planted aquarium, it was recommended by boomer and it seems to work well. Since I have a low-tech setup with low light and no CO2, I only use it at half the recommended dose.

My shrimps seem to really enjoy hiding in the roots of my water sprite plant, it's become one of their favorite hangouts.

When it comes to moss balls, I've noticed they tend to spread out over rounded surfaces like rocks, rather than attaching to wood or other decorations. However, most people just leave them as balls on the tank floor.

[kingrise]

Thanks for the info on the fertilizers, I really appreciate it.

Seachem Flourish seems like a solid choice, but I was wondering, is it significantly better than something like API's plant food?

[sSjey]

According to boomer, Seachem's got more trace elements than most others. It covers all the essential micronutrients plants need, except for one - I'm blanking on which one, though.

[angelica]

Don't bother with CO2 for your shrimp tank.

[kingrise]

I've never used Co2 and I've heard it's not shrimp-friendly, so I'll stick to that. I'll look into Seachem's stuff, sounds like it might be a good option for my tank.