Java Moss is a moss belonging to the Hypnaceae family. Native to Southeast Asia, it is commonly used in freshwater aquariums. It attaches to rocks, roots, and driftwood. The taxonomy of this well-known plant is not resolved; formerly placed in the genus Versicularia as V. dubyana (Brotherus, 1908), it appears as if the plant usually known as java moss belongs into Taxiphyllum, as T. barbieri[1].
Java Moss does not require any special attention. It accepts all kind of waters, even weakly brackish, and all kind of light qualities. It grows best at 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 24 degrees Celsius), but can live in temperatures of up to 85 to 90 °F (29 to 32 °C).But don’t get excited about pH values. pH 9.5 to 10.5 fresh out of the faucet dropping to pH 7.5 in 48 hours Many killie keepers use Java moss as an egg-laying site. Java moss pulls fish wastes out of their water. It also grows in the low light small aquaria many killie keepers maintain. You still need to make water changes, however. To make a killifish spawning mop out of Java moss:
Lasso a good clump of Java moss.
Attach a cork to the clump.
Toss in your breeding tank.
Remove in ten days to hatching tank.
It is a low light plant and makes a great foreground plant. In aquariums you should plant it somewhere where there is good water current because debris gets stuck on it easily and gives it a brown fuzzy appearance. Due to its clinging nature Java Moss can also be made into a moss wall. This can be accomplished by folding a net and spreading the moss evenly across it. Then, the net can be secured together by polyester strings, and held on the aquarium wall by using suction cups. It is a slow starter until it has established itself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyAIYTH67BI
It is especially popular among aquarists raising fry (baby fish) and tadpoles, to protect them from cannibalistic adults. Java Moss can also provide food for the newly formed fry, which can be challenging to feed. Some shrimp like to tear the miniature leaves off it to eat.
Java Moss can be easily propagated via division.
well actually, I see java moss in the third picture(right bottom, dark green patch).
ReplyDeleteThe first picture portrays riccia fluitans FG and second has probably utricularia graminifolia.
"Java moss pulls fish wastes out of their water." (cited at the end of second para) - Theres no alternative whatsoever to vacuuming dust/detritus out manually.