Java Moss – Plug and Play
By Amit Brucker
There are many beautiful aquarium plants out there. Some may be hardy for our hobby while some of them need specific demanding requirements for successful growth. In this case, I have chosen to focus on one of the hardiest plants ever, that will grow almost under every condition and is suitable for the beginner as well as for the advanced aquarists as well – The Java Moss also known as Vasicularia Dubyana.
Why Java moss at all? After all this plant is not considered as a “classic”, it is not commonly used, or not as much on display tanks. It is just a simple moss that one can stick inside the tank and forget about it... Well I think Java moss has been neglected lately. But on the other way around the list of options you can deal with this plant is tremendous, and it is suitable for many applications.
Aquarium use:
Java moss is a creeping species, but it is also capable of floating, one can attach it to rocks, bogwoods or anything else you can think of attaching it to – It will eventually stick on to it – Yes this plant is extremely versatile!
The moss is made up from thin little stems and small pointed leaves coming out of them which help the plant secure it self on different surfaces.
It can be used as a dense carpet on the tank floor; it can cover woods, rocks and make a beautiful landscape anywhere in the tank. Moss is also used for breeding purposes and serves as an excellent shelter for fry. Almost in no time you might end up with a nice flourishing clump of green to dark moss.
The cool thing about this plant is that you can actually do with it what ever suits your needs, literally sculpture with it! One can make endless forms with moss; Imagine walls of moss, different shapes such as hills and valleys, just put it anywhere in the tank, and take out the most of it wherever you place it, and keep in mind that it has all begun from a small clump of moss.
How to take care of the moss?
1. In most cases you don’t take care of it excluding regular trimming. However Java moss will appreciate shaded environment other than a very bright one. The leaves under brighter light will become darker.
2. A good CO2 injection can only make it feel better but this is not a must when dealing with Java moss. Recently I was adding some drinking soda to a small glass cube and the moss started to pearl all over – this was a very cool site. However I doubt it will do so inside the tank.
3. Adding liquid fertilizers especially Iron will also improve growth. Since the plant has no roots – only liquid fertilizers will do here.
Even without adding those three basics elements, your moss will grow. Remember it is a slow grower so it might just grow a bit slower.
Trimming and Propagation:
Yes, trim your moss often it will keep it in good shape and prevents the darkening of the leaves and branches. Packing the moss to much might harm it; one should make sure it has space.
In order to propagate the plant, just pull out some clumps from it to the new location and you’re ready to go once more.
The Java Moss species:
The moss comes is widely common to the tropical Southeast Asia such as East Indies and Malaysia.
The genus contains about 130 species. Several aquatic members are also located in Africa; however note that not all of them are suitable for the aquarium use. It was also observed growing in the wild among Java ferns – Microsorium pteropus and this combination may also work well inside the tank. Given the right amount of humidity – Java moss can be even grown above water surface.
Author Personal note:
As a child, Java moss was the first plant I’ve been dealing with. I remember having guppies in a pickle glass jars filled with dark green moss and the guppies as well as their fries were swimming in and out of it till the moss took over and had to be trimmed otherwise the guppies would end up in a moss tank rather than a water tank...
Lately I’ve encountered a problem on which the Java moss has been turning black; the only remedy that worked for it was providing it with shade and lots of shade. This was done with duckweed Lemna minor and the moss is back to itself.
What ever planted or non planted tank you might have – Java moss should not be considered as ‘should I add it’, but rather as ‘how should I add it to the tank’!