Java Moss. Experience answers please.?

Ok. I am thinking about growing Java moss but have a few questions first. Will it take over my other plants? I currently have Java fern and micro sword. And how tall will it get? Can I maintain it just by trimming it? Is there any way to get it NOT to grow in certain places? Can I still vaccume my gravel or will it be in the way or would I still have to vaccum my gravel (would the moss use the uneaten food and debris) or would vaccuming it tear the moss from its' roots?





Please answer all my questions. Thank you.

Java Moss. Experience answers please.?
It sounds like you want to use it as a ground cover, but in my experience, that doesn't work at all... Java Moss grows towards the light-- upwards-- but you want ground cover plants to grow along the gravel, so you can't really measure its height (it will get as tall as you let it). If you're gonna keep Java Moss, attach it to driftwood or a rock. It doesn't really grow that fast, and it certainly won't overtake your other plants if you simply do some trimming every month or two... Vacuum around it and you shouldn't have any issues... Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.





EDIT: Very few fish will eat Java Moss-- it's semi toxic... Also, I have grown it just fine near (and above) 80* and at 70* and the 80* Moss grew much faster, so I disagree that it does best in coldwater...
Reply:Ooooooo Java Moss! I love that stuff!





I keep my tank a warm 85-degrees F and the Java Moss does very well. Cold water? --Not sure what the girl above me is talking about. Also, Java Moss is an unusual plant because it DOES NOT have roots, and it will sink to the bottom of your tank. It will grow like weeds under the crappiest conditions (no gravel, low light, no fertilizer, warm water temp ranges and most PH ranges) and doesn't look too shabby either. A lot of people think Java Moss is annoying and try to get it out of their tanks, but I happen to like the look of it, especially attached to driftwood or rock.





Java Moss loves stagnant water and lots of nitrite. In fact, it will THRIVE on high nitrite levels and leftover food and fish fecal matters. Java Moss is great for Beta tanks. It WILL NOT take over the other plants in your tank, but it will start to grow like crazy. I trim mine about once a month and sell it to fish stores.





You asked how tall will it get? Mine has been in my tank over a year and has only grown 5 inches tall. That's it. Java Moss grows TOWARD the light, so it grows up towards the light, but it will eventually spread to other areas of the rock/driftwood. It does not grow on gravel, but it does grow on driftwood and rock. I rubber-banded mine on some driftwood until it attached itself. Now it does great and spreads easily.





I have Discus fish in my tank. Such beautiful fish! They love the Java Moss.





Best of luck to you. I have seven aquariums if you have any further questions.
Reply:java moss is grown good in clod water and bunched together and grown of there... it's kidna mard to intentioally grow it where you want it too...





you can try getting java moss balss and letting it grow from there.





the problem is that it likes coldwater., as i said before and some fish like to eat it...especially gold fish
Reply:I have java moss in my tank. It doens't work well as a ground cover as far as I can tell. It does best when attatched to some drift wood. I've had some in my 55 for about 2 months now and it's proving to be a slow grower and it's growing up, not spreading.


Your java fern will also attatch itself to some drift wood.