Java Moss is takeing over...

Calmwaters

Can anyone tell me how to get rid of it? I have tried pulling it off when I see it on the decoration and plants but it keeps comeing back. I wish I had never bought it. LOL

Byron

The only method is to manually remove it. I've never known JM to appear on anything but wood--are you sure it is JM and not one of the brush or hair algae? Sounds more like algae to me if it is on decor and plant leaves.

Byron.

Calmwaters

I am sure it is Java Moss, I bought it to put in my tank in my 10 gallon tank in the bedroom for the fry to hide in then I took it out but some of the pieces must have broke off. It is growing on the plants, decoration, and in the filter pipe. I take it out but one of the decorations has little crevises that I can not pull it out of. Do you think I am going to have to get new decorations/plants to get rid of it? Or do you think if I take them out for a few days and srub them with a toothbrush it would get rid of it? I would show you a picture but I am at work and the tank is at home. LOL

ironside

Perhaps Byron is right. Looks like algae. Can you put some photos?
Java Moss is a very slow grower and very easy to remove. In fact the majority of aquarists here are fond of them and would never take them out, except for pruning. I have a shallow tank with nearly a full kilo of it, water excluded. Very fine decorative plant over wood and rock alike. Just an initial fixing and soon they "glue" and become very pretty.
Good luck, Calmwaters!

Calmwaters

I googled Java Moss and it looks just like it. I can get pictures tonight and post them tomorrow but I am 100% sure it is. I bought it at a LFS.

ironside

We almost posted at the same time...rssss
In that case maybe you will have to brush them out.

Calmwaters

Do you think brushing and leaveing out of the water a while will work?

ironside

I don't see other way. They are not responsive to algae removal treatments, as far as I know.
best regards
John

Calmwaters

Thank you I will try it tonight when I do the partial water change for the week.

Byron

This is very interesting. I honestly have never had, nor ever heard of, Java Moss growing inside filter tubes or on plant leaves like you describe, and as ironside said, it is basically slow growing. Hair algae can look like moss, at least to me. I have that on some plant leaves in my 115g.

For clarification, the top two and lower left photos are Java Moss, lower right is hair algae.

Byron.

Attached Images

	java moss1.jpg (15.1 KB, 77 views)
	java moss2.jpg (115.4 KB, 76 views)
	java moss3.jpg (23.4 KB, 76 views)
	hair_algae.jpg (29.4 KB, 77 views)