How to grow moss balls

Marimo balls grow slowly: up to 5 mm per year, eventually reaching 2 to 5 inches in aquariums, or 8 to 12 inches in natural conditions.

Change the water every couple of weeks, and more often during the summer when water evaporates quickly. Regular tap water is fine, but let the water sit out for a full 24 hours first. Agitate the water occasionally so the moss balls aren’t always resting on the same side. The motion will encourage round, even growth.

Will Moss Ball Pets reproduce or split into two? Yes, Marimo will reproduce when they are kept in a large pool of water. However, it is not recommend to split up your Moss Ball Pets. Very often you may damage it and it can cause it to die.

Clean your marimo enclosure with a brush if algae begins to grow on tank surface. If your marimo turn brown, make sure they’re moved to a cooler location with less direct light. They may recover and turn green again on their own. If not, you may add a tiny amount of aquarium ocean salt.

The good news is that marimo balls are very easy to propagate. Simply squeeze the water out of your moss ball and cut it in half with a knife or scissors. Roll the new clumps in your hands to form little spheres, and tie some cotton sewing thread around them to maintain the shape.

The shape of the algae is formed due to the slow movement of waves in the lake. Marimo balls are characteristic for their fuzzy texture and velvet feeling to the touch.

Disintegrating Marimo:

If your Marimo is turning black or falling apart, it may be decaying from the inside out. This can occur when it has been covered by hostile algae for a while or when it’s too big for clean water to reach the inside. Remove the black parts and gently re-roll the Marimo.

Sucks Up Nitrates and Other Nasties

Byproducts of fish waste, nitrates are harmless to most healthy fish under 30ppm, but as their numbers increase over time, they can stress and kill your fish. Like live plants, moss balls absorb nitrates. But—also like plants—it’s usually not a large amount.

As for your question, it’s likely due to hard water buildup. It’s probably calcium and a mix of other minerals that form over time from water, or even in the lake if the marimo isn’t free to move around. This can be rectified by simply cleaning them using a pair of tweezers and picking those strands off.

(Other sites may tell you that Marimo doesn’t have any parasites, but this is not true. There are a few nasties that you have to watch out for.) Instead, prepare a cup or small, .

Packaging and Care:

The packaging of Marimo balls may be done in the simplicity of placing it in a glass jar or in a fish globe with fishes. With regard to its care, it does not require sunlight or fertilizer.

DISPOSE of the moss ball and any of its packaging in a sealed plastic bag in the trash. If vinegar, boiling water, or bleach was used, the liquid can be disposed down a household drain —never down a storm drain where it could enter and damage local waterways.

Just put Moss Balls in the aquarium and let them float around or sink to the bottom. A Marimo Moss Ball will find a spot and stay there. They can be kept alone, in small groups, or even in larger groups if space permits. They grow very slowly, and if conditions are good, they will get visibly larger over time.

Java moss and moss balls (actually algae balls) from established tanks will contain all kinds of bacteria and other beneficial organisms that will speed up your tank’s nitrogen cycle. Both do well in low light conditions and provide grazing areas for shrimp and fish. And they look great too!

For a nice looking terrarium you only need a few items: At least 2 Marimo moss balls. A glass terrarium, mason jar, or a glass vase. Smooth sea glass gravel (looks best after dark with lighted terrariums), small black river pebbles, or colored sand.