Moss Balls

NickT · 4th May 2012, 15:12

Anyone have any moss balls in their tank for nitrate control? Do they actually help keep nitrates down? Thinking of getting some.

Many thanks

ddam19 · 4th May 2012, 15:18

Moss balls are great they do help with water quality and look great, but never relie on them to get you nitrates down.

Remeber to do weekly water changes and you cant go too much wrong.

NickT · 4th May 2012, 15:26

Great thanks. I do a weekly water change anyway. I will get them as extra.

FelixM · 4th May 2012, 20:43

I have lots of them and they are really easy to propogate. Buy three as they are really expensive, off ebay and then cut them in half and tie some string around them to help them keep the ball shape and hey presto! from three balls, you get six!

GSLCorry · 5th May 2012, 13:31

Do you squeeze them out during water change? (sorry to hijack)

lemontetra · 5th May 2012, 17:55

Moss balls are fab and do assist with Nitrate removal just as any plant does, just don't expect to see a massive fall in tank water water readings, they are not the miracle cure some sites make out lol! Yes, just give them a squeeze each week for maintenance. If higher levels of nitrate are an issue then either the partial use of RO or some Sechem De-Nitrate added to the filter in lieu of hard media works a treat within a few weeks. Needs to be in 'slower flow' though.

http://www.seachem.com/Products/prod...denitrate.html

Another fab plant for all tanks is Hornwort. Also effective at removing nitrate a little but has a natural algacide that discourages algae growth. It doesn't have to be planted as such just a few stems wafting around in the water current should help. I've used it in all tanks.

Matt the Insane · 6th May 2012, 16:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSLCorry

Do you squeeze them out during water change? (sorry to hijack)

No, that's peat balls, they're completely different.

FelixM · 6th May 2012, 17:14

Moss balls do tend to pick up debris in the aquarium but the only bad thing is it doesn't look nice so a quick wash in old tank water during a water change will leave them spick and span

Supernovarolla · 6th May 2012, 18:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSLCorry

Do you squeeze them out during water change? (sorry to hijack)

I always give mine a gentle squeeze in old tank water during a water change. I just find that it helps them to keep nice and in shape. Not sure if you're supposed to or not, but it doesn't seem to do mine any harm. You might find that they may float for a short period of time when you first pop them back into your tank, but they will settle back down onto the bottom.

I've got six at the moment. They grow fast. They were only small when I first bought them (approx. three months ago), now they're huge. The largest is bigger than a tennis ball. The smallest is slightly bigger than a golf ball. I've been thinking of buying a few more.

FelixM · 7th May 2012, 08:31

Is it normal for big moss balls to go hollow inside? two of mine have but i didn't think they di go hollow.

4th May 2012, 15:12	#1
NickT Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leeds Posts: 126	Moss Balls Anyone have any moss balls in their tank for nitrate control? Do they actually help keep nitrates down? Thinking of getting some. Many thanks

4th May 2012, 20:43	#4
FelixM Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,256	I have lots of them and they are really easy to propogate. Buy three as they are really expensive, off ebay and then cut them in half and tie some string around them to help them keep the ball shape and hey presto! from three balls, you get six! __________________ 45l biorb, Jewel Rio 125, TMC microhabitat (8l), converted cricket box (7.3l). 330l APS tank. In October, 315l tropical marine tank. royal python!

5th May 2012, 13:31	#5
GSLCorry Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 328	Do you squeeze them out during water change? (sorry to hijack) __________________ 180L Juwel Rio marine set up 64L tropical community ---- wanting upgrade to 125L

6th May 2012, 17:14	#8
FelixM Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,256	Moss balls do tend to pick up debris in the aquarium but the only bad thing is it doesn't look nice so a quick wash in old tank water during a water change will leave them spick and span __________________ 45l biorb, Jewel Rio 125, TMC microhabitat (8l), converted cricket box (7.3l). 330l APS tank. In October, 315l tropical marine tank. royal python!

7th May 2012, 08:31	#10
FelixM Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,256	Is it normal for big moss balls to go hollow inside? two of mine have but i didn't think they di go hollow. __________________ 45l biorb, Jewel Rio 125, TMC microhabitat (8l), converted cricket box (7.3l). 330l APS tank. In October, 315l tropical marine tank. royal python!

4th May 2012, 15:18	#2
ddam19 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Greater Manchester Posts: 125	Moss balls are great they do help with water quality and look great, but never relie on them to get you nitrates down. Remeber to do weekly water changes and you cant go too much wrong.

4th May 2012, 15:26	#3
NickT Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leeds Posts: 126	Great thanks. I do a weekly water change anyway. I will get them as extra.

5th May 2012, 17:55	#6
lemontetra Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 591	Moss balls are fab and do assist with Nitrate removal just as any plant does, just don't expect to see a massive fall in tank water water readings, they are not the miracle cure some sites make out lol! Yes, just give them a squeeze each week for maintenance. If higher levels of nitrate are an issue then either the partial use of RO or some Sechem De-Nitrate added to the filter in lieu of hard media works a treat within a few weeks. Needs to be in 'slower flow' though. http://www.seachem.com/Products/prod...denitrate.html Another fab plant for all tanks is Hornwort. Also effective at removing nitrate a little but has a natural algacide that discourages algae growth. It doesn't have to be planted as such just a few stems wafting around in the water current should help. I've used it in all tanks.