One of the most popular plants to keep in the aquarium hobby would be Java Fern. It’s hardy and super easy to grow.
Even though there are many other popular moss species out there, Java Moss (Taxiphyllum barbieri) tends to win hands down for ease of care and minimal requirements to succeed well in your planting.
Native to the Java island in Southeast Asia, it can be found in most tropical climates that have a decent amount of rainfall.
A perennial favorite for aquascaping enthusiasts, it can be used in a variety of ways that produce outstanding results that not only benefit water conditions but your tank inhabitants too.
Not only does it thrive underwater, fully submersed, but it grows on forest floors, tree trunks, and riverbanks in moist climates. It can be placed just about anywhere in the tank and be happy without much protest.
Let’s sink into the pillowy beauty of this moss type and find out why it’s such a beloved species for the hobby.
Java Moss Characteristics
Moss doesn’t have roots. Instead, it employs rhizoids which are like little adhesives that anchor the base of the moss to whatever surface it happens to be growing on.
So if it doesn’t have roots, where is it getting its nutrients from? Moss will use its stems and leaves as vehicles of nutrient uptake for the plant to survive and thrive.
The stems of this moss can grow up to 3 – 10 inches long and are in an irregular pattern with delicate little leaves that protrude from the stem stalk. The leaves are oval-shaped and no longer than 2 mm long, which overlap, giving it a real dense feel and look.
Land growing moss will have larger leaves, while submersed moss will have smaller leaves.
New growth is usually a brighter, more vibrant shade of green, while the older growth deepens in color over time.
Uses For Java Moss
Java Moss Helps With Filtration
In addition to helping oxygenate your tank, it will absorb and remove fish waste, excess food, decaying matter, and sometimes metals too.
For the basic hobbyist, the primary reason for having this moss is to benefit the tank community by helping keep nitrates low and to provide some live plantings for fish to hide in as well as newly hatched fry.
But for experienced keepers and aquascapers, Java Moss is high on their checklist for creating dreamy underwater landscapes that look lush, rich green, and highly desirable.
The filtration in these setups is a bonus to helping keep clear water to admire the design.
Java Moss Creates Ideal Breeding Zones For Certain Types Of Fish
The moss can often substitute for a spawning mop for fish species who like to lay eggs on flatter surfaces. Considering it will help protect the fry, it’s no wonder that it’s a sought-after turf for breeding pairs.
It’s the perfect plant to incorporate into separate breeding tanks as when the fish spawn, even adults can end up consuming their own eggs. Java Moss will help protect and hide the eggs as they fall gently into the mossy lair.
Java Moss Acts As A Food Source For Newborn Fry And Smaller Organisms
If you embark on any breeding of fish or invertebrates as part of your hobby, Java Moss will become your best friend. Not only is it dense enough to protect your newly hatched fry and other tiny creatures, but they will consume algae off the tiny leaves.
Baby shrimp and infusoria microorganisms will feed off the delicate-looking moss with gusto in breeding tanks, too, so they will be another invaluable source of nutrition for tiny fry until they are old enough to consume larger food items.
Ornamental Shrimp Love Java Moss
Any type or smaller shrimp that are used to keep algae in check love this moss and will constantly hide in it, gleaning all it can off the stems and leaves. Biofilms and algae won’t stand much of a chance if you have a team of these critters in place!
Create Carpeting In Your Tank With Java Moss
An entire tank carpet can be created using plastic grids specially made for this purpose. By placing moss between two layers, eventually, the moss will grow over this grid, completely concealing it, while the rhizoids anchor the moss firmly to the grid.
Great for tanks that don’t have bottom-dwelling fish that needs open areas but do have shrimp or mid to high tank layer swimming inhabitants.
Create Dramatic Back Walls With Java Moss
The same method as for carpeting the floor of your tank, but you can also use it to create lush green walls, which work particularly well at the rear face of the tank too as a dramatic backdrop.
Create Trees That Look Like Bonsai With Java Moss
Yes, you read that correctly. You can have underwater trees that create epic aquascapes for your tank with a little ingenuity.
Try tethering Java Moss to driftwood pieces that resemble trees in shaping, and attach away. You can have densely planted branches, greenery on the trunk like in forests, or bundles on the extremities of the branches.
Get creative and create your own masterpiece underwater!
Tank Requirements For Java Moss
The tank size you choose will be suitable for Java Moss. Since it can grow on land or submerged, it won’t matter how much water you have in the tank.
Lighting doesn’t need to be anything special, and they can thrive in low-light setups too.
The best pH range is around 5.5 – 8.0, with water hardness between 6 – 20 dGH as they do well in soft or acidic water conditions.
No special filtration is required, and they don’t need special substrate or supplementation for healthy growth. In fact, if you are aiming for a substrate-free plant, this plant is the one.
This is a plant that can handle most temperatures successfully, from cooler water right up to the most tropical of conditions. But their sweet spot hovers around 70 – 75ºF (21 – 24ºC) for maximum happiness and growth. They can handle, however, 59 – 82ºF (15 – 28ºC) quite comfortably.
It will usually grow faster in cooler water conditions, not to mention denser.
Keep water changes to around 25% each week, which suits most fish species, and adjust accordingly if you have testing kits to hand.
Java Moss Planting And Maintenance
Not much in the way of maintenance is required for this type of moss. It’s usually best to plant it and leave it alone to grow.
Removal of dead leaves is advisable to avoid water fouling as they rot, but beyond that, not much else is needed.
Dead leaves are a natural part of the plant life cycle, so unless your entire plant starts turning brown, there isn’t anything to worry about.
Planting Java Moss
Pick any surface! As we already identified, they don’t need soil or substrate. They don’t need to be planted at all, and many like them to be partially submerged as they cling onto various surfaces. A little superglue made for aquariums or fishing line or thread to keep in near the surface you want it to attach to is all you need to get the ball rolling. Once you’ve done what you’re aiming to do, put the decor back into the tank.
Trimming Java Moss
The occasional trim with scissors is all that is needed once in a while, and removing dead leaves is good practice too. Trim back perhaps half of the leaves, and don’t remove all dead leaves at one time if you’re removing those too.
Many people let it grow wild, floating even, but most do prefer to locate it for aesthetic’s sake. Regular trimming will help it look neater.
Propagation
There is little difficulty with propagating more Java Moss for the hobbyist.
All you need to do is tear off a few inches from a larger piece and adhere it to the new surface. It takes around 3 – 4 weeks to fully attach to a new surface, so it’s best to leave it alone for that amount of time before trying to fiddle with it any further.
Compatibility Of Java Moss In The Tank
Almost any freshwater fish is suited to inhabiting a tank with Java Moss.
You won’t need to worry about most fish decimating your Java Moss population, either.
Fish that love living alongside Java Moss include (but are not limited to):
You’ll want to avoid Cichlids or Goldfish, who will eat Java Moss happily. Silver dollars and Plecos like eating this plant too!
Troubleshooting Java Moss
High Algae Growth
If you have carpets or walls of Java Moss, it’s typical to have high algae coverage on these surfaces. Weak design with hydrogen peroxide can help kill algae, but using too much can kill off your community too.
Avoid having algae problems in the first place by keeping lighting low and for set times during the day. If you still have algae problems, reduce the time of lighting and reduce the intensity at the same time.
Including algae-eating species into the tank to keep it under control is almost essential. Amano Shrimp, Nerite Snails, Otocinclus, and Plecostomus Catfish all work wonders as long as your tank size permits housing these species.
Plant Melt
Plants can react poorly to a change of habitat and exact water conditions.
In this case, your moss may look like it’s shrinking, dying, and some parts will do exactly that. But just remove those dying and rotting parts until it adjusts to keep water quality high.
It will adapt eventually but may appear to be dying. New leaves should develop within several weeks.
Not Growing
If it doesn’t seem like your Java Moss is growing at all, you might need to supplement with CO2 or try some fertilizer. Avoid using too much, or you will risk an algae problem.
It’s always best to fertilize in moderation.
Is Java Moss A Good Idea For Your Aquarium?
There are just too many great reasons to have Java Moss in tanks these days.
With a wide range of options for designing your perfect landscape, as well as providing valuable cover for smaller, shyer species, its versatility is what makes it so useful.
A huge range of parameters make this plant suitable for most carnivorous freshwater species tanks, and it’s truly got something for everyone.
Low maintenance, beautiful to look at and add flow, plus super straightforward to propagate; it’s no wonder everyone has a little Java Moss in their tank (unless we’re talking Cichlids).
Start designing the aquascape of your dreams, or just dedicate your tank hobby to providing the most natural habitat you can for these Asian tropical fish species. Either way, your fish will thank you for it, and that’s pretty rewarding.
This humble moss can offer great things to you and your tank community.
Just drop a little Java Moss in the tank and see what happens!
