Moss Balls/Marimo Balls (Cladophora aegagropila)

**lmm80** · 05-11-2007, 12:58 PM

Anyone have any experience with these? I have always been intruiged by them, and I think it would go well in my 20 gallon tank. I think they look neat and from the research I have been doing, they "help" control algae by using up the same nutrients as the other kinds of algae that grows in tanks.

Thoughts - good, bad, etc?

Thanks!

**cocoa_pleco** · 05-11-2007, 02:23 PM

i have about 10 now. Theyre really easy to grow, and filter alot. Shrimp and bottom feeders get the food that sticks to it, and the moss balls are almost impossible to kill. When they grow, you can split them in half and have 2!

**Chrona** · 05-11-2007, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by lmm80

Anyone have any experience with these? I have always been intruiged by them, and I think it would go well in my 20 gallon tank. I think they look neat and from the research I have been doing, they "help" control algae by using up the same nutrients as the other kinds of algae that grows in tanks.

Thoughts - good, bad, etc?

Thanks!

Most plants outcompete algae, but moss balls grow pretty slow. You'll have better luck if you are trying to suck nutrients out by using fast growing stem plants like hygrophila or anacharis.

**Fishguy2727** · 05-11-2007, 09:25 PM

With moss balls, do you need to rotate it to maintain the ball? I have seen one book say yes and one say no.

**cocoa_pleco** · 05-11-2007, 09:31 PM

no. Mine have always stayed 100% still and they form 100% fine. You should flip them over once every 2 weeks though since the side facing down gets brown from no light.

**Fishguy2727** · 05-11-2007, 11:19 PM

What lighting do you have on your moss balls?

**cocoa_pleco** · 05-11-2007, 11:24 PM

Theyre all standard 15W's. I once kept them in tanks with 0 lighting and they were fine. Theyre really hard to kill.

One time, when my 20g long had fish, there was a REAL disaster and the tank got 5ppm ammonia, and the moss ball had no problem

**Fishguy2727** · 05-12-2007, 12:25 AM

Cool. I will probably get the owner to get one in at work for me. I have thought about it before but I think the rotating them and the lighting held me off. I remember them being a little more expensive than other plants so that may have discouraged me too.

**cocoa_pleco** · 05-12-2007, 01:01 AM

10$ canadian here.

Theyre no work at all. I remember reading the same stuff as you that they need to be rolled and all that, and its bull. The moss balls are really strong and can survive fish pecking at it and being washed out. They grab waste and food well, and fish often peck at it and it is a really good filtration device.

Wonder how much bacteria they hold?