Java Moss: What You Should Know
A good aquarium setup requires so much more than a tank and a couple of gallons of water.
If you want to truly recreate a natural environment for your fish, you’re going to have to fit your tank up with caves, a gravel or sand substrate, and some quality aquarium moss.
We could write thousands of words on each of the aforementioned aquarium additions, but today we want to focus solely on aquarium moss, specifically Java Moss.
Java Moss is one of the most popular moss types among aquarists old and new and boasts benefits that extend far beyond the realm of aesthetics.
In this article, we’re going to be discussing the many perks of keeping Java Moss in your aquarium, as well as detailing the various areas of aquarium plant care in which many beginners – and even some veterans – fall down.
Photo Credit: Kevin and Gregg’s Fishtank 2120
Java Moss Quick Summary
Difficulty: Beginner
Growth Rate: Medium
Temperature: 15 to 30C (59-86F)
PH: 5.0 to 8.0
Classification: Taxiphyllum barbieri, Vesicularia dubyana
Contents
What Is It?
Even if you’re a total fishkeeping novice, you’ve likely heard Java Moss mentioned at some point.
But what exactly is it?
Officially known as “taxiphyllum Barbieri,” this aquarium moss can be relied upon to liven up a bare tank, making your fish feel more comfortable by mimicking their natural environment.
Java Moss can be attached to all sorts of aquarium accessories, including caves, driftwood, and novelty decorations, so it won’t be restricted to the floor of your tank.
Furthering its appeal, it is one of the easiest strains of aquarium moss to grow, so you’re unlikely to run into any trouble growing it in your tank, regardless of your level of experience.
If for whatever reason, you would prefer to purchase Java Moss as opposed to growing it yourself, you should be able to find some in your LFS (local fish store). If they are all out or simply don’t stock it, Java Moss can be easily found online.
What Can I Use It For?
Over the years, there has been a rise in interest in aquascaping among aquarists.
Aquascaping, as you likely guessed from its name, is the process of decorating your tank and can be just as rewarding as tending to your own garden (although it mercifully requires much less time).
Java is useful when it comes to aquascaping as it can add to the look of a tank, adding a touch of nature that is not provided by caves, stones, and statues.
It can also be used to cover wires from filters and lights, which are both unsightly and dangerous.
Make A Java Moss Carpet
A Java Moss carpet can also prove useful when it comes to breeding as it provides fish with the perfect spot in which to lay their eggs.
It will continue to prove useful after the eggs have hatched as the resulting fry will be able to hide within the moss when feeling threatened by larger fish.
Java Moss Care and Maintenance
Java Moss is often recommended to beginners as it is a particularly hardy plant and can not only survive but thrive in the majority of water conditions.
It is capable of withstanding the most common mistakes made by newbie aquarists and requires relatively little maintenance, giving you more time to focus on your fish.
That being said, there are a couple of things you should keep in mind if you want to keep your java green and glowing.
While Java Moss can adapt to temperatures all the way up to 30° Celsius, it is most at home in soft acidic water heated between 21° and 24° Celsius.
Java does not stop growing at a certain height or width, so you may want to maintain a regular trimming schedule to prevent it from clogging up your aquarium and blocking your fish from view.
However, trimming Java, while preferred by the majority of aquarists, is not essential.
There are some who prefer to let their Java Moss grow wild, arguing that it better recreates the natural environment of the fish and gives them more places to hide.
While this is true, it is also worth noting that thick moss growth will likely limit the movement of your fish, so if you have large, active breeds in your tank trimming may be the way to go.
How Fast Does Java Moss Grow?
Java is not the fastest growing aquarium moss out there and it’s impossible for us to give you a specific timeframe for full growth.
That being said, there are a couple of things you can do to speed up your Java Moss growth rate.
Temperature:
As mentioned above, Java Moss can withstand temperatures up to 30° Celsius. However, the warmer the water in which it is housed, the slower it will grow.
Experienced aquarists have observed that it tends to develop fastest in water of about 24° Celsius and grows particularly rapidly when C02 has been added.
Lighting:
The lighting of your tank will also play a role in the development of your Java.
This moss can be grown in both low and high lighting, with the level of illumination influencing its color.
If you want a dark and long plant, the kind that would be preferable in a smaller tank, you should grow your moss under low lighting.
High lighting will make for a brighter and thicker plant, which is more effective when it comes to breeding and maintaining fry.
It should be noted, however, that high lighting facilitates the growth of algae and may necessitate the addition of a tank cleaner, such as a bristle nose pleco, to your aquarium.
Where To Plant?
Java Moss can be grown or placed in your aquarium in a number of forms.
If you want to go the simplest route, you can just place some store-bought Java Moss in your aquarium and leave it to roam the tank as a floating plant.
For those who wish to be a little more attentive in their aquascaping, there is the option of growing a Java Moss carpet.
As mentioned above a Java Moss Carpet makes the perfect home for eggs and fry and can be added to an aquarium by placing some Java between two pieces of mesh and sealing them off to ensure the plant does not come loose.
Once you are certain the sandwich is secure, you can place it at the bottom of your tank and watch as it grows into a hypnotic swaying safe space for smaller fish.
You may also want to consider adding a Java Tree to your aquarium.
You can make a Java Tree by adding the moss to a small piece of driftwood, ideally one that has some branches and bears some resemblance to an actual tree.
The moss can be secured to the driftwood using glue, but, of course, you’ll need to find aquarium safe glue to ensure it stays in place once the tree has been completed and submerged in the water of your aquarium.
Why is My Java Moss, Turning Brown?
Because Java Moss requires so little effort on the part of the aquarist to maintain, problems are pretty rare.
That being said, they do occur and adequate measures should be taken to rectify them when they do.
One of the most commonly experienced problems with Java Moss is discoloration, with many aquascaping novices reporting their Java turning brown despite having seemingly followed all necessary steps to ensure a healthy plant.
Moss may start turning brown if it has grown too dense as all water will be absorbed before it has the chance to reach its inner layers.
As well as discoloration, this can cause aquarium moss to become loose and drift away from objects it has been fastened to.
This is one reason why you should consider trimming your java as opposed to allowing it to grow freely.
You may also experience problems with algae developing on your moss.
Should this happen, there are few things you can do besides removing the infected moss from your aquarium and replacing it.
If you have grown your moss from scratch and would rather avoid discarding it, you may be able to rid it of algae using a toothbrush, but you’ll have to catch it in its early stages if this method of algae removal is to be effective.
Final Thoughts
It’s difficult to imagine a tank not being improved by the addition of Java Moss.
When used in an aquarium, Java Moss makes it more pleasing to the eye while simultaneously enriching the lives of the fish stored within it, so everybody wins.
Although it may take a little bit of patience to grow, Java Moss, be it in carpet or tree form, it requires very little effort and can be mastered by aquarists of all levels.
As the perfect introduction to aquascaping, Java Moss may even help you discover a new hobby within your hobby.
Featured Image Photo Credit: Patrick Hopf
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