I'm a bad fishkeeper - My Java Moss is dying.

Brett Miller · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 2

My Java moss is turning black and appears to be dying. I have it in a
10 gallon tank with a few Neons, a few guppies, 2 snails and a hand
full of ghost shrimp. Also a Amazon Blade. I had a 40watt bulb but
increased it to a 200 watt fluorescent light ( or actually 2 100
watt bulb.)

There is not much green algae growing, but there does appear to be
some brown colored algae growing.

The fish are doing fine. I think some of the shrimp had some eggs
hatch and they are coming along fine. But my Moss is dying. The
shrimp may be eating some but I don't think that is making it turn
black. I also put some in another tank when I first got it, and that
bunch of moss is not doing well either.

All I use is tap water well aged and the fish food I add. Should I be
testing the hardness of the water or adding something else??

Thanks

Archived from group: alt>aquaria>tropical>fish>hobbist

Sherm · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 12

Hmm it doesn't sound like you're a bad fishkeeper, just a bad java moss
keeper! haha i bet that made you feel better. lol.
ya mine did the same. the fish ate some of it though. maybe its algae
growing on the moss. it may be the lighting. that's what i say, but the
others may give you something more scientific... they always do that...
hmmm, well good luck to your moss (and you, of course the moss may mutate,
darn moss...) and maybe tone the wattage/ lighting down a bit, it may be a
bit much for the 10 gal.

Elizabeth : )

"Brett Miller" wrote in message@4ax.com...
> My Java moss is turning black and appears to be dying. I have it in a
> 10 gallon tank with a few Neons, a few guppies, 2 snails and a hand
> full of ghost shrimp. Also a Amazon Blade. I had a 40watt bulb but
> increased it to a 200 watt fluorescent light ( or actually 2 100
> watt bulb.)
>
> There is not much green algae growing, but there does appear to be
> some brown colored algae growing.
>
> The fish are doing fine. I think some of the shrimp had some eggs
> hatch and they are coming along fine. But my Moss is dying. The
> shrimp may be eating some but I don't think that is making it turn
> black. I also put some in another tank when I first got it, and that
> bunch of moss is not doing well either.
>
> All I use is tap water well aged and the fish food I add. Should I be
> testing the hardness of the water or adding something else??
>
> Thanks
>

Koi-Lo · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 199

Moments before spontaneously combusting at
was heard opining:

> My Java moss is turning black and appears to be dying.
===============
If algae grows on Java moss it will die. I'm experimenting with "Flourish
Excel" right now because I have a problem with this algae in a few tanks.
--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ } ~~~ } ~~~ }

Brett Miller · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 2

I don't know if it is growing on the moss or not. But, if,,,,IF it
is, please tell me what I need to do?

I have a green thumb with most land based plants, but the water plants
hate me.

Advice oh mighty one???

On Tue, 14 Mar 2006 22:05:56 -0600, "Koi-Lo"
wrote:

>Moments before spontaneously combusting at
> was heard opining:
>
>> My Java moss is turning black and appears to be dying.
>===============
>If algae grows on Java moss it will die. I'm experimenting with "Flourish
>Excel" right now because I have a problem with this algae in a few tanks.

Koi-Lo · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 199

Moments before spontaneously combusting at
was heard opining:

> I don't know if it is growing on the moss or not. But, if,,,,IF it
> is, please tell me what I need to do?
>
> I have a green thumb with most land based plants, but the water plants
> hate me.
======================
I asked for advice myself, that's how I found out about the Flourish Excel
(ordered it from Foster & Smith). You can start with removing the nutrients
this algae needs to thrive. Large massive water changes with extreme gravel
vacuuming. Remove as much mulm that may be in the gravel as possible and
clean your filters. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat and when the Excel arrives with
the Flourish trace elements (make sure you order them as well) follow the
directions on the containers. You may also need to improve lighting over
the tank. Dark tanks seem to encourage these black-red algae's. Cut back
on feeding, at least until this nasty algae is gone or under control. In
desperation I bought 2 kinds of plecos and those tiny ottos to clean off the
plants before they died. The Flourish Excel doesn't kill this algae but
does slow it to a near stop. One experimental tank without the algae eaters
looks exactly the same except there is *no new* red-black algae on the
gravel or glass. There is also much less mulm in the gravel and the filters
don't need cleaning as often so it's doing something. The plants are still
covered with the black fur and sooty looking crud in this one tank.
--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ } ~~~ } ~~~ }

Capt Cook · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

I raised various kinds of algae for years until in desparation I started
raising duckweed. Every two weeks or so I skim the top of the tank to remove
almost all of the weed. No algae problems anymore.
It must be that the duckweed uses the nutrients quicker than the algae.

Billy · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 210

You might post in rec.aquaria.freshwater.plants

B

--
¼á
"Brett Miller" wrote in message @4ax.com...
> My Java moss is turning black and appears to be dying. I have it
> in a
> 10 gallon tank with a few Neons, a few guppies, 2 snails and a hand
> full of ghost shrimp. Also a Amazon Blade. I had a 40watt bulb
> but
> increased it to a 200 watt fluorescent light ( or actually 2 100
> watt bulb.)
>
> There is not much green algae growing, but there does appear to be
> some brown colored algae growing.
>
> The fish are doing fine. I think some of the shrimp had some eggs
> hatch and they are coming along fine. But my Moss is dying. The
> shrimp may be eating some but I don't think that is making it turn
> black. I also put some in another tank when I first got it, and
> that
> bunch of moss is not doing well either.
>
> All I use is tap water well aged and the fish food I add. Should I
> be
> testing the hardness of the water or adding something else??
>
> Thanks
>

Koi-Lo · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 199

Moments before spontaneously combusting at
was heard opining:

> I raised various kinds of algae for years until in desparation I
> started raising duckweed. Every two weeks or so I skim the top of the
> tank to remove almost all of the weed. No algae problems anymore.
> It must be that the duckweed uses the nutrients quicker than the
> algae.
===================
This would work but some of us with a lot of plants in our tanks or who keep
goldfish can't use duckweed. It shades out the plants below - not good. GF
will eat every last piece of it.
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ } ~~~ } ~~~ }

LaieTechie · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 10

On Tue, 14 Mar 2006 19:57:02 -0500, Brett Miller wrote:

> My Java moss is turning black and appears to be dying. I have it in a 10
> gallon tank with a few Neons, a few guppies, 2 snails and a hand full of
> ghost shrimp. Also a Amazon Blade. I had a 40watt bulb but increased it
> to a 200 watt fluorescent light ( or actually 2 100 watt bulb.)

All this for a 10 gallon tank? The standard 18" T8 bulb is only 15 watts.
Two of them should provide adequate lighting. I'm also curious how your
fish are reacting to that many candelas.

aloha,
Laie Techie

Brett Miller · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

The fish seem to love it.
In fact, they have made a little stage and have this skit they do
twice daily.
Actually, I couldn't see anything very well with 40 watt fluorescent
light I had. The tank light is usually the only light in the room.
The 200 watt fluorescent is probably overstated by the manufacturer.
With both these lights over the tank, you'd still need to turn a room
light on to read a book or something.
It may stress the fish, but unless I do something stupid, I'm not
losing any fish.
Of note, I think, think mind you, that the light is helping the java
moss.
B

On Fri, 17 Mar 2006 00:52:27 -0700, LaieTechie
wrote:

>On Tue, 14 Mar 2006 19:57:02 -0500, Brett Miller wrote:
>
>> My Java moss is turning black and appears to be dying. I have it in a 10
>> gallon tank with a few Neons, a few guppies, 2 snails and a hand full of
>> ghost shrimp. Also a Amazon Blade. I had a 40watt bulb but increased it
>> to a 200 watt fluorescent light ( or actually 2 100 watt bulb.)
>
>All this for a 10 gallon tank? The standard 18" T8 bulb is only 15 watts.
>Two of them should provide adequate lighting. I'm also curious how your
>fish are reacting to that many candelas.
>
>aloha,
>Laie Techie