Benefits of Having Moss Balls in Your Aquarium

Your local fish store may have many lush, green balls in the same area as decorations for your fish tank. Moss balls can help bring your fish tank together. They also have a ton of benefits to them. You may be wondering if your fish would appreciate having moss balls in their habitat. Also, can you put moss balls with fish such as betta fish?

What are moss balls?

Moss balls have a variety of different names. Some of these include:

• Mossimo
• Marimo Moss Ball
• Lake Ball
• Japanese Moss Ball
• Marimo
• Algae Ball
• Seaweed Ball

The scientific name for moss balls is Aegagropila Linnaeii. These unique natural structures grow very slow, at just .2 inches each year. Moss balls can live for up to 100-years, making them an excellent investment for your tank.

These fluffy little balls resemble seaweed. However, they are freshwater species. You will not find moss balls in the ocean.

Plant or algae?

Moss balls are neither a plant nor algae. Marimo moss balls are a form of filamentous green algae that occurs in lakes in countries such as Japan, Iceland, Australia, Scotland, and Estonia. They are now a protected species in Japan’s Lake Akan and Iceland’s Lake Myvatn. The record for enormous moss balls belongs to Japan. Lake Akan is home to moss balls that reach 11.8 inches in diameter.

Moss balls have no solid core. They roll around lakes or aquariums at the whim of the current. Moss balls create nutrition through photosynthesis. Moss balls will not turn your tank water green like how other forms of algae could.

How big do moss balls get?

In their natural environment, moss balls can reach up to 12 inches in size. However, these organisms grow very slowly, only .2 inches per year.

If a moss ball grows too large for your betta tank, pinch the ball into two pieces. Then, roll each part to separate them into two more petite moss balls.

Benefits of moss balls in your aquarium

Keeping moss balls in your aquarium can have a variety of benefits, including:

• Maintenance-free – It is not uncommon for people to not have living plants in their tank due to the maintenance. Aquarium plants need the correct lighting and water conditions, and you must get rid of overgrowth and dead leaves regularly to keep the plants healthy and looking well. However, moss balls do not require intensive maintenance. All you have to do for them is turn them occasionally. Usually, the water flow through the tank will do this for you. It would be best if you also cleaned them, which is relatively simple to do.
• Beneficial bacteria – Every fish tank requires beneficial bacteria to aid in breaking down the ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates produced by decomposing fish feces, leftover food, dead plant matter ordinary tank detritus. Moss balls can provide a large surface area in which colonies of the beneficial bacteria can grow. This will help improve the water quality in your aquarium.
• Producing oxygen and removing waste – Similar to other plant species, moss balls will help remove ammonia, nitrates, and any waste inside your tank. The moss balls use those as a nutritional fertilizer. Moss balls also help eliminate some of the carbon dioxides and replace them with oxygen.
• Reducing algae in the tank – Algae is very common in tanks that do not have plants. Algae feasts on the nutrients in the water and uses light to photosynthesize. If you add some moss balls to your tank, they will get right to use those nutrients instead. This will prevent other species of algae from developing and making a massive mess of your tank.
• No waste – The biggest problem with having living plants inside your tank is that they create quite a lot of waste when they shed dead leaves. The deceased leaves end up at the bottom of the tank, waiting to decay and decompose. This will add a burden to your filtration system. Moss balls, however, create absolutely no waste. The only time they make waste is when they are dying. Dying moss balls can be extremely rare.
• Robust and hardy – Moss balls can be very robust and hardy. Moss balls can handle a wide variety of water conditions. Moss balls can survive brackish water. The only real danger to moss balls is algaecides or chlorine. These will kill the moss balls.

Do fish like moss balls?

Fish tend to love moss balls. When you add some to your tank, closely monitor your fish to see how they react. At first, the moss ball will float at the top of the water. Then, once it soaks up enough water, it will sink to the bottom of the tank. Your fish may play with the moss balls at first. This behavior can continue. Moss balls could also create a comfortable resting spot for your fish.

Other creatures, such as snails or shrimp, love moss balls. The velvety texture could gather scraps of food, which snails and shrimp feed on.

How to care for moss balls?

The rule of thumb is to have one to three moss balls per gallon of water. This will ensure that the balls usually grow, and there will be plenty of nutrition for each one. Moss balls don’t need much care, but there are a few basics you must know:

• Moss balls can lose shape if they stay in the same spot for too long. Your fish may roll the moss balls around for you, but if not, then you can do it yourself.
• Moss balls like dim lighting since, in nature, they sit at the bottom of the water.
• Sometimes, you may need to clean the moss balls. This can be done by taking it out of the tank and squeezing the water out.

Moss balls can be a great way to decorate your tank while also providing a toy for your fish. Moss balls will help keep your tank healthy. They are super easy to care for and can live up to 100-years. They are a great addition to your tank!