Marimo moss ball life span?

Ruslan · 06-08-2011, 01:02 PM

Whats the longest your moss balls have lived? I just bought 2

James0816 · 06-08-2011, 01:46 PM

The longest I have had them is four weeks. But then again...I just got them four weeks ago. ;o)

It's my understanding that they can last good long time and grow fairly large. That is of course in the wild.

A.J. · 06-09-2011, 11:12 PM

I've had two for nearly a year now, they both look alive still though one is a little odd shapped, though that is really my fault. I'd like to get a few more for the tank, I think they are great additions.

holly12 · 06-10-2011, 12:29 AM

I've heard they can live for years.... I've only had my 2 for a few months. One started to turn brown on one side so I moved it where it got more light and it seems to be ok.

You have to turn them over every once in a while or they start to grow funny. (It just helps them keep the rounded shape). They are pretty cool! My shrimp have a blast hanging out on them, eating little organisms off of them.

James0816 · 06-10-2011, 06:55 AM

Definately keep them rotated. I'm constantly moving them around with my handy-dandy bamboo skewers.

It is definately fun to watch the shrimp work them over. Especially at feeding time when the flakes land on them.

Ruslan · 06-10-2011, 01:48 PM

Ok thanks, Its just I was worried coz i saw on some website that they only last 2 months, I was like 'whaaat??'. And yeah they are very cool, I also heard they work as little filters too.

nasomi · 06-11-2011, 11:44 AM

They can live forever, they're a free floating moss, so not necessarily a single organism. They don't work as filters any more than plants do. They consume co2 and create o2. They don't have roots so they don't consume the waste material that drops to the floor.

ReStart · 06-11-2011, 11:51 AM

I just bought some type of moss ball thing but am not sure which one. It's about the size of a large apple and sits on the bottom. LFS lady told me it does not need or like too much light or maintenance. I got it for my Molly fry to pick at when I move half of them out of the 10g algae fry tank into the 14g plastic container in a week or two. I hope they like it. I'm not impressed with a wad of moss sitting on the bottom of my tank. Like the rest of you, I hope it lasts awhile.

snail · 06-15-2011, 04:58 AM

Marimo balls are a type of algae and often sold as 'moss balls'. The problem is there are other 'fake' moss balls that are just a ball of moss rolled up or even wrapped around a styrofoam ball so it tends to lead to some confusion about there care and growing habits. The 'real' moss balls are very tough and long lasting.

bolram · 06-15-2011, 05:06 AM

I've had my marimo ball for about 3months now, they are just an extremely slow grower lol. Mine is still healthy if not looking better than when i got it.

James0816 · 06-15-2011, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snail

The problem is there are other 'fake' moss balls that are just a ball of moss rolled up or even wrapped around a styrofoam ball

Petsmart had these for awhile. It's just Java Moss covering a pith ball which is anchored down with fishing line and a weight.

jrman83 · 06-15-2011, 06:30 AM

Would much rather have java than marimo. You'd never have to worry about how long it would last.

majerah1 · 06-15-2011, 10:22 AM

Ive heard they will last forever,and the very large ones are usually over ten years old as they are super slow growers.they have to be moved alot,and where they originate,the water has them constantly rolling about,so they stay rounded.

Again,what Ive heard,but Ive never had them.I want a few,think they would look nice in my albi tank.

bolram · 06-15-2011, 06:59 PM

cos they dont latch on and root to anything they tend to be rolling around even if only a little bit some of my fish headbutt it around sometimes as they seem to be fascinated of it moving yet scared at the same time lol. Plus i move it a bit when i do a clean of the tank its kept its rounded shape even with just small movements every now and then. The intensity of the deep rich green is such a nice contrast though and it seems to improve every week

holly12 · 06-15-2011, 07:04 PM

I've got 2 and one is a deep, rich green colour, while the other is a lighter more forest coloured green. Both from Petsmart (but each from a different location.) They are real moss balls, lol, no moss anchored to a ball here. (They are like a sponge when you squeeze them!)

bolram · 06-15-2011, 07:12 PM

Yeah thats the good thing how they seem to filtrate alot of the dirt i squeeze mine out every week or two and always get some sort of dirt of them its quite intriguing how spongy feel they are lol

James0816 · 06-16-2011, 07:21 AM

I'm curious about the squeezing out part. I'm sure there may be goodies in there that the shrimp have missed....maybe. ;oP

But if you squeeze them like a sponge...do they retain their shape after said squeezing? I just roll them around from time to time to keep them rotated.

bolram · 06-16-2011, 07:34 AM

Yeah they go back to normal after back in the water, a few sources recommend squeezing them every now and then to stop and harmful build ups occurring in the ball

majerah1 · 06-16-2011, 09:09 AM

Yeah you are supposed to squeeze them out every now and again.i wonder if they are like a sponge filter?

bolram · 06-16-2011, 10:23 AM

I wondered that, alot of sellers claim they act as an extra filter to your tank in the same way sponge filters do

06-08-2011, 01:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ruslan Ruslan Z Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 13 Location: UK Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 5 Times Was Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Marimo moss ball life span? Whats the longest your moss balls have lived? I just bought 2 __________________ http://www.tindeck.com/users/crazyruzlan

06-08-2011, 01:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
James0816 James0816's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,455 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 34 Times Was Thanked 526 Times in 454 Posts	Re: Marimo moss ball life span? The longest I have had them is four weeks. But then again...I just got them four weeks ago. ;o) It's my understanding that they can last good long time and grow fairly large. That is of course in the wild.

06-09-2011, 11:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
A.J. A.J.'s Photo Gallery Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 57 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Marimo moss ball life span? I've had two for nearly a year now, they both look alive still though one is a little odd shapped, though that is really my fault. I'd like to get a few more for the tank, I think they are great additions.

06-10-2011, 12:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
holly12 Dude.... wait..... what? holly12's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 3,074 Name: Holly Location: Canada My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 815 Times Said "Thanks" 672 Times Was Thanked 528 Times in 515 Posts	Re: Marimo moss ball life span? I've heard they can live for years.... I've only had my 2 for a few months. One started to turn brown on one side so I moved it where it got more light and it seems to be ok. You have to turn them over every once in a while or they start to grow funny. (It just helps them keep the rounded shape). They are pretty cool! My shrimp have a blast hanging out on them, eating little organisms off of them. __________________ 20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981 36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

06-10-2011, 06:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
James0816 James0816's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,455 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 34 Times Was Thanked 526 Times in 454 Posts	Re: Marimo moss ball life span? Definately keep them rotated. I'm constantly moving them around with my handy-dandy bamboo skewers. It is definately fun to watch the shrimp work them over. Especially at feeding time when the flakes land on them.

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06-10-2011, 01:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ruslan Ruslan Z Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 13 Location: UK Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 5 Times Was Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Marimo moss ball life span? Ok thanks, Its just I was worried coz i saw on some website that they only last 2 months, I was like 'whaaat??'. And yeah they are very cool, I also heard they work as little filters too.

06-11-2011, 11:44 AM	#7 (permalink)
nasomi nasomi's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 211 Name: Justin Location: Collegeville, PA Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 22 Times Said "Thanks" 14 Times Was Thanked 17 Times in 16 Posts	Re: Marimo moss ball life span? They can live forever, they're a free floating moss, so not necessarily a single organism. They don't work as filters any more than plants do. They consume co2 and create o2. They don't have roots so they don't consume the waste material that drops to the floor. __________________ 125gal - 10" bala, 10" irridescent, 6 gourami's, 2 blood parrots, 1 common pleco, 1 Blue Lobster, & 1 Morimo Ball - Rena XP3 75gal - 5 balas, 2 firemouths, 2 albino oscars, 1 common pleco, 6" firemouth - Rena XP3

06-11-2011, 11:51 AM	#8 (permalink)
ReStart ReStart's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 321 Name: SammyLee Location: Mid-South My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 37 Times Said "Thanks" 83 Times Was Thanked 63 Times in 55 Posts	Re: Marimo moss ball life span? I just bought some type of moss ball thing but am not sure which one. It's about the size of a large apple and sits on the bottom. LFS lady told me it does not need or like too much light or maintenance. I got it for my Molly fry to pick at when I move half of them out of the 10g algae fry tank into the 14g plastic container in a week or two. I hope they like it. I'm not impressed with a wad of moss sitting on the bottom of my tank. Like the rest of you, I hope it lasts awhile. __________________ 60g tall, all artificial plants, Rainbow tank; 55g for African Cichlids. 20g long for fry; 20g hex, 2 black Angels at my desk; 10g planted, with 50 Molly fry; 10 gal, 2x 13w cfl lightning, planted; 2g hex for "Buddy the Betta"; Wanting a 200g +, MTS getting bad.

06-15-2011, 04:58 AM	#9 (permalink)
snail snail's Photo Gallery Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2,646 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2,935 Times Said "Thanks" 361 Times Was Thanked 634 Times in 591 Posts	Re: Marimo moss ball life span? Marimo balls are a type of algae and often sold as 'moss balls'. The problem is there are other 'fake' moss balls that are just a ball of moss rolled up or even wrapped around a styrofoam ball so it tends to lead to some confusion about there care and growing habits. The 'real' moss balls are very tough and long lasting.

06-15-2011, 05:06 AM	#10 (permalink)
bolram bolram's Photo Gallery Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 435 Location: Kent, UK Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 93 Times Said "Thanks" 22 Times Was Thanked 98 Times in 93 Posts	Re: Marimo moss ball life span? I've had my marimo ball for about 3months now, they are just an extremely slow grower lol. Mine is still healthy if not looking better than when i got it. __________________ *"Just Keep Swimming Just Keep Swimming Swimming Swimming"*

06-15-2011, 06:30 AM	#12 (permalink)
jrman83 ....has no life.... jrman83's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,468 Name: Ben Location: White Plains, MD My location Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3,396 Times Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 2,431 Times in 2,286 Posts	Re: Marimo moss ball life span? Would much rather have java than marimo. You'd never have to worry about how long it would last.

06-15-2011, 10:22 AM	#13 (permalink)
majerah1 Wild betta tamer majerah1's Photo Gallery Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 4,296 Name: Beverly D Fincannon Location: Easley,SC My location Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2,733 Times Said "Thanks" 547 Times Was Thanked 1,127 Times in 1,012 Posts	Re: Marimo moss ball life span? Ive heard they will last forever,and the very large ones are usually over ten years old as they are super slow growers.they have to be moved alot,and where they originate,the water has them constantly rolling about,so they stay rounded. Again,what Ive heard,but Ive never had them.I want a few,think they would look nice in my albi tank. __________________ http://bountifulbettas.blogspot.com/ "Come to the dark side....we have cookies...and filters/heaters/and water changes!"

06-15-2011, 06:59 PM	#14 (permalink)
bolram bolram's Photo Gallery Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 435 Location: Kent, UK Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 93 Times Said "Thanks" 22 Times Was Thanked 98 Times in 93 Posts	Re: Marimo moss ball life span? cos they dont latch on and root to anything they tend to be rolling around even if only a little bit some of my fish headbutt it around sometimes as they seem to be fascinated of it moving yet scared at the same time lol. Plus i move it a bit when i do a clean of the tank its kept its rounded shape even with just small movements every now and then. The intensity of the deep rich green is such a nice contrast though and it seems to improve every week __________________ *"Just Keep Swimming Just Keep Swimming Swimming Swimming"*

06-15-2011, 07:04 PM	#15 (permalink)
holly12 Dude.... wait..... what? holly12's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 3,074 Name: Holly Location: Canada My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 815 Times Said "Thanks" 672 Times Was Thanked 528 Times in 515 Posts	Re: Marimo moss ball life span? I've got 2 and one is a deep, rich green colour, while the other is a lighter more forest coloured green. Both from Petsmart (but each from a different location.) They are real moss balls, lol, no moss anchored to a ball here. (They are like a sponge when you squeeze them!) __________________ 20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981 36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

06-15-2011, 07:12 PM	#16 (permalink)
bolram bolram's Photo Gallery Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 435 Location: Kent, UK Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 93 Times Said "Thanks" 22 Times Was Thanked 98 Times in 93 Posts	Re: Marimo moss ball life span? Yeah thats the good thing how they seem to filtrate alot of the dirt i squeeze mine out every week or two and always get some sort of dirt of them its quite intriguing how spongy feel they are lol __________________ *"Just Keep Swimming Just Keep Swimming Swimming Swimming"*

06-16-2011, 07:21 AM	#17 (permalink)
James0816 James0816's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,455 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 34 Times Was Thanked 526 Times in 454 Posts	Re: Marimo moss ball life span? I'm curious about the squeezing out part. I'm sure there may be goodies in there that the shrimp have missed....maybe. ;oP But if you squeeze them like a sponge...do they retain their shape after said squeezing? I just roll them around from time to time to keep them rotated.

06-16-2011, 07:34 AM	#18 (permalink)
bolram bolram's Photo Gallery Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 435 Location: Kent, UK Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 93 Times Said "Thanks" 22 Times Was Thanked 98 Times in 93 Posts	Re: Marimo moss ball life span? Yeah they go back to normal after back in the water, a few sources recommend squeezing them every now and then to stop and harmful build ups occurring in the ball __________________ *"Just Keep Swimming Just Keep Swimming Swimming Swimming"*

06-16-2011, 09:09 AM	#19 (permalink)
majerah1 Wild betta tamer majerah1's Photo Gallery Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 4,296 Name: Beverly D Fincannon Location: Easley,SC My location Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2,733 Times Said "Thanks" 547 Times Was Thanked 1,127 Times in 1,012 Posts	Re: Marimo moss ball life span? Yeah you are supposed to squeeze them out every now and again.i wonder if they are like a sponge filter? __________________ http://bountifulbettas.blogspot.com/ "Come to the dark side....we have cookies...and filters/heaters/and water changes!"

06-16-2011, 10:23 AM	#20 (permalink)
bolram bolram's Photo Gallery Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 435 Location: Kent, UK Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 93 Times Said "Thanks" 22 Times Was Thanked 98 Times in 93 Posts	Re: Marimo moss ball life span? I wondered that, alot of sellers claim they act as an extra filter to your tank in the same way sponge filters do __________________ *"Just Keep Swimming Just Keep Swimming Swimming Swimming"*

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