When it comes to aquarium plants, Java Moss is among the best ones to keep in an aquarium. Aside from the natural and gorgeous look that this plant can give your aquarium, they have multitudes of benefits.
They don’t just benefit the aquarium but will make life easier for your fish as well. These mosses are freshwater plants and grow on the land and the waters of mainly Southeast Asia.
The Java Moss is a popular plant among the aquarist, and you might have seen them in every tank you have visited. They can adapt themselves to any surface and can grow without any hindrance. Their growth rate might be slow but you can enhance the growth rate by increasing the amount of light you give them by a bit.
Benefits of using Java Moss in an aquarium
Java Moss brings out and enhances the natural look of your aquarium. Aside from this the Java Moss is able to balance out a lot of things in your aquarium. They help with the oxygenation, algae growth control, perfect for breeding and many more.
1. Oxygenation
The presence of oxygen in a tank is crucial. With the presence of Java Moss in your aquarium, you don’t have to worry too much about oxygenation. As it is with every plant, Java Moss releases oxygen with the process of photosynthesis. So with Java Moss in your tank, your aquarium gets oxygenated almost every time.
2. Limits the growth of algae
Believe it or not, Java Moss can control algae levels in your aquarium. But for them to limit the growth of algae, care for the plant is required.
3. Perfect for Breeding purposes
The Java Moss is the perfect plant to keep if you want to breed. The Java Moss brings lays down the perfect setup for the fishes to breed. It makes an excellent place for spawning and is a good place for fishes to reproduce.
Within the Java Moss, the eggs will be safe as well. The Java Moss is a soft plant so the eggs don’t have any chances of breaking. The eggs are well hidden in these plants and therefore can remain hidden from the fishes.
4. Provides hiding place for the fishes
Keeping plants to provide hiding places for the fishes is an excellent idea. Java Moss is the ideal choice to provide hiding spots for your fishes. These plants are soft, and fishes will not have any problem hiding within these plants. These plants are perfect for timid and non-aggressive fishes.
If these fishes are startled by something or are shown aggression by other fishes, Java Moss serves as a perfect place for them to hide. If they find a place to hide, they will not get stressed and therefore have no chances of them catching diseases.
Not just the timid fishes, the fish fry, or babies can use them to hide. The fish fry finds the Java Moss a good place for safeguarding themselves. Although, we recommend you keep the fish fry in a separate tank specifically for them.
5. Keeps the aquarium clean
The Java Moss to some extent can clean your aquarium as well. These plants can take in some dirt. In addition to it, a lot of dirt accumulates in the Java Moss therefore, cleaning becomes easier.
6. Serves as a substrate as well
The Java Moss can be used for carpeting as well. These are great plants that you can spread in your substrate. It is easy to do so and can cover the whole substrate. So there are low chances of the substrate being disturbed and giving a hay look to your aquarium.
7. Is perfect for fishes that prefer low light
If you have a community tank with species having different light preferences, then the Java Moss is perfect for the ones that prefer low light conditions. These plants can be used as floating plants and create cover to block light.
What Are Some of the Most Common Issues With Using Java Moss In Your Aquarium?
Everything has got two sides to itself. The Java Moss as well has some downgrades in using it in an aquarium. They benefit the aquarium in a lot of ways but can create certain problems if not taken care of.
Java Moss can jam up your filter
The substances that the Java moss can release have the potential to block the filter. If this happens, as simple as it sounds, you simply need to clean the filter more frequently.
As the plant grows, you won’t be able to prevent serious clogs. It decomposes quickly and loses a lot of material.
Plant Debris
Plant debris is a problem with the Java Moss. Not just java Moss this is an issue with all the aquarium plants. The plant debris can make your aquarium dirty and therefore your water appears as clean as it can be.
For the clearance of the plant debris, you can add snails to your aquarium. The snails love to munch on the plant debris therefore they will not provide any chance for the plant debris to increase.
Algae
The java Moss helps with the growth of algae and helps in controlling the level of algae as well. These plants can promote the growth of algae if they are not taken care of properly.
If algae growth is accelerating, you probably are not providing the right amount of light to Java Moss, and if the nutrient levels are high. So you have to maintain the tank parameters and keep the water clean.
Melting
Because of the continual water and heat in the aquarium, plants begin to melt. Don’t be concerned. It is a dilemma that most aquarists confront.
Although, the Java moss is simple to come by in this section, as you can pick off the dead bits as it melts. Furthermore, make sure you do it before they decay. Then watch as the new growth appears almost instantly.
Accumulation of Debris
The Java Moss is shaped in such a way that the debris becomes accumulated in them. With the debris collected in their leaves, they can make the aquarium messy with a little movement.
As it is a given that debris gets collected in them, your tank water is bound to get dirty. So for this, you will have to add snails that eat up the debris.
Why to use Java Moss in aquarium?
Java Moss is one of the easiest and hardy plants to keep in an aquarium. On top of being easy, it brings a lot of benefits to the tank. It is perfect for beginners as well and they are easily available.
Gives a good look at your aquarium
The way that Java Moss is shaped and grows and spreads in an aquarium, gives an aesthetically pleasing look to your aquarium. You can easily cut it and give it the shape you desire. You can even carpet your aquarium with these plants. So because of all of this, the java Moss is capable of giving your aquarium the best look.
Easy to care for
Java Moss comes across as a hardy plant and doesn’t demand too much care. They are easy to clean as well. You can attach these plants to any surface using glue or thread and they will grow happily and trouble-free on any surface.
Aquascaping is easy with Java Moss
With Java moss, you can quickly aquascape your aquarium. It may function as a floating plant as well as a carpeting plant. A little trimming goes a long way toward giving the aquarium a regal appearance. The plant benefits from the trim since it has more room to flourish.
So Java Moss is the manifestation of the perfect plant for an aquarium. It is the best for beginners as it is not difficult to care for. They help your aquarium in various ways, therefore cutting off a lot of work for you. Although, you must take care of them properly and keep them with fishes that nip plants too much. You can aquascape with them as well. So if you are thinking of getting this plant, you should go for it.
