Algae Balls

[Abbeys_Mom]

I was upset a few months ago when my Dwarf gourami decided to build a nest out of my $12 algae ball. He did a great good of shredding it into little pieces. I have spent the last 2 months pulling the stuff off the filter intake. Now I am glad I did. Each of the little blobs have started to grow into new balls. I have gone from one ball to 5 or 6. Apparently, they are natural little sponge filters.

[Chrona]

hehe, funny image in my head :)

[willisrad]

Are they really considered to be sponge filters?
I just may have to pickup one of those this week.

[Chrona]

Are they really considered to be sponge filters?
I just may have to pickup one of those this week.

Yeah, they absorb nitrates as well, making them better than sponge filters. Just put them in an area with some water flow.

[xoolooxunny]

I've heard of/seen moss balls, but not algae balls...any links?

[Chrona]

I've heard of/seen moss balls, but not algae balls...any links?

I think that's what AM means, moss balls.

[xoolooxunny]

I think that's what AM means, moss balls.
well if that's the case, I can get them hear for about 4-5 USD a piece. I hope you can get some big balls for 12 bucks!

[Chrona]

well if that's the case, I can get them hear for about 4-5 USD a piece. I hope you can get some big balls for 12 bucks!

Not even gonna comment on that :rolleyes:

[Abbeys_Mom]

Mine was just bigger then a golf ball. They were selling them for $18, then they were marked down to $12 when I bought it. I got it for $5 on a technicality, an employee put a sale sign on the wrong tank. The are called moss balls, but they are a type of good algae. I like the name "Russian Moosballen" which is another name they go by, just because it's fun to say.

*edit, the scientific name is Cladophora aegagropila

[cocoa_pleco]

mines baseball sized and filters alot. Ghost shrimp love to eat goodies off moss balls

[bettaboy691]

i bought mine of ebay, £2 a piece.
came golf ball size, now a little bigger.
great plants in my eyes.

[Owen Stubbs]

I picked up one of these a few days ago - about the size of a baseball, and roughly the texture of a sponge. Wondering how fast they grow, and what you do with them when they DO grow - cut it in half?

[Lady Hobbs]

Not even gonna comment on that :rolleyes:

Taking off glasses, wiping eyes, laughing out loud

[Incredulous_Ed]

With the usefulness put aside, where do you put it in you aquascape?

[Abbeys_Mom]

I just let mine roll around the bottom of the tank (yes, you can laugh now). Most people just put them in a corner, but for the life of me I can't find a picture of one in a tank. Apparently, the Japanese claim it takes 200 years for them to get the size of a baseball.

[cocoa_pleco]

mine just sits and filters

[Niku-M]

With the usefulness put aside, where do you put it in you aquascape?
I have mine just lying on the substrate of the tank in the front. Because a moss ball has a nice dark color and looks cool by itself anyway I don't think it looks out of place anywhere in a tank.

They roll around though if they get into a place with a lot of flow. Doesn't really matter... maybe fish like this lol, it happens to them in the wild all the time and it's why they're round :P