moss balls and moss balls buy is the topic of today's guide in the field of Aquatic plants. But what are moss balls anyway and what are they good for? Do moss balls have a special meaning and purpose? Are they even plants? Or is it moss at all? Again and again they will come with me Algae connected. How much do moss balls and balls cost and where can I buy them? These questions are answered below.
What are moss balls or moss balls anyway?
Moss ball is naturally made of moss. At least that's what you might think if you take the name literally. But that is not the case because this is one Algae one, to be precise Green algae which are scientific Cladophora names. Basically, these are tufts of algae that are arranged in a kind of ball. Often the moss ball too seaweed ball or seaweed balls mentioned.
So let's first summarize moss balls or moss balls are not mosses and do not belong to them, but to algae.
Let's now come to this special form, why we aquarists also like to keep them in the aquarium. The moss balls are shaped by certain water movements, because especially in the coastal area where they arise, they are always rolled back and forth. This creates the special shape of the balls.
The moss ball is native to Japan. But they have been in our aquarium for quite some time. The reasons are not only in the optics.
Let's get to her looks. If they are fresh, they should be rich green. In addition, they should be very finely feathered and have a certain resemblance to a moss. Presumably, these algae are also associated with mosses because of this. In the trade you usually buy the balls very small. They can then have just 3 cm. They don't get bigger than 12 cm when fully grown. They grow extremely slowly. Cutting back is not necessary. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to maintenance. But more on that later.
- Moss balls are not made of moss
- Moss balls are an algae
- Shape of the moss ball comes from the water movement
But isn't algae bad in the aquarium?
Again and again there are big problems with algae and now we say here that these moss balls are not only beautiful to look at, but also useful.
Since moss balls do not spread and they only grow very slowly, it is not a problem to keep them in the aquarium.
Are moss balls useful?
Believe it or not, this type of algae is also really useful and should find its place in the nano aquarium or shrimp tank. Now why will you ask? Lots of bacteria and microorganisms settled in the fine hairs of the moss ball. These, in turn, are often eaten by shrimp and the like. If you take a closer look at a shrimp nano aquarium, you will quickly find that shrimp feel particularly comfortable there. They eat a lot in the moss balls.
We have a video here that shows very nicely what can live in a moss ball.
Moss Balls are a decoration item
A real highlight are the various design options with moss balls. Be it placing them in the foreground or in the middle of an aquarium. Of course, these can also find their place at the back. But since you don’t have to plant them, you are quite flexible and can change them again and again. You should even do this. This is the only way for the moss ball to remain very rich in shape and colour.
Where can I buy moss ball?
Basically, there are the usual suspects here too. Be it in specialist shops and pet shops or in the online shop. In addition, there are always moss balls in different groups, which you can also buy privately. But the prices are not particularly high. That is why it should not be missing in any aquarium.
Moss ball care and maintenance
One thing right away, in terms of water parameters such as temperature or hardness and PH value the moss balls do not have any special requirements. They are fairly straightforward when it comes to water requirements.
But when it comes to care, you should pay attention to a few things, so that the moss balls grow on the one hand and keep their color on the other. As we already mentioned at the beginning, the shape of the moss balls comes from the constant movement near the coast. The current ensures that the ball is always being swept back and forth. This will usually not happen in the aquarium. That's why you should help there. We always advise putting the moss ball in a different place. In this way, it not only retains its shape, but also its lush green appearance.
Planting in the substrate is not necessary with a moss ball. It grows just by lying in the water. This gives you the decisive advantage of free design.
Moss balls can also be cleaned from time to time. To do this, take them out of the water and rinse them with lukewarm water, preferably aquarium water. They can also be expressed easily, although one should be careful here.