the steel wool of the plant world

[bettaMagenta]

I've had a bunch of Marimo algae balls, and after checking their history, I decided to create my "Stargate" topiary. My adult Tin Foil barbs, however, have pretty much ruined it over the past year. These balls are essentially wiry, hair-like algae rolled into balls. I think it's a natural flake effect in certain areas where they were first found, but I suspect the ones sold in markets like Zorchzon are hand-rolled. After my Tin Foils ripped them from the wire, I had to re-roll them and reattach them.

One thing that's interesting is that their nutritional needs seem to be extremely low. Traditionally, they're kept in glass containers on their own for generations, without fish or added fertilizers. They're unique tank ornaments for critters to crawl on, but aside from providing roughage for larger fish, I don't think they serve much purpose in an aquarium. Their oxygen output and nutritional value are minimal, given their extremely slow growth rate.

Does anyone have any more info on Marimo algae balls?

[coltin]

I recall watching a documentary on freshwater plants, and they featured Marimo moss balls in their natural habitat. It seems they do indeed form into a ball shape naturally and have an interesting way of rotating throughout the day, allowing each part of the ball to receive sunlight. This process enables them to utilize nutrients and light, which in turn produces oxygen. Their growth rate is slow, and if you have fish that feed on them, it's unlikely you'll notice any growth.

[infold]

I recall watching a documentary on freshwater plants, and they featured Marimo moss balls in their natural habitat. It seems they do indeed form into a ball shape naturally and have an interesting way of rotating throughout the day, allowing each part of the ball to receive sunlight. This process enables them to utilize nutrients and light, which in turn produces oxygen. Their growth rate is slow, and if you have fish that feed on them, it's unlikely you'll notice any growth.

I caught that documentary and found the part about Marimo algae balls really fascinating. They seem almost like a living entity, adapting to their environment in a unique way.

[graye]

In the aquarium, I view them as mere decorations - their functionality is limited unless you derive aesthetic pleasure from them. The concept of "thinking plants" is intriguing, though I recently stumbled upon an interview with Robert Plant, and he was surprisingly eloquent, which led me to ponder the complexities of plant intelligence.

During my travels in Gabon, I encountered vast expanses of sensitive mimosas along the roadsides, those peculiar plants that fold up their leaves upon contact, implying a certain level of nervous system functionality. Delving into this subject matter can be a Pandora's box, as emerging research is challenging long-held assumptions and forcing me to reevaluate my perspectives - I suspect it would have a similar impact on many others.

[bettaMagenta]

From my understanding, the Marimo balls are formed by tides or winds in their natural environment, rolling the algae into those characteristic balls. They don't seem to "self turn" when kept in glass containers, but I do notice them being gently lifted by the bubble waterfalls in my tanks. I'm not disputing the idea that some plants can react to touch, and the Marimo algae is certainly an unusual one - its unique properties are worth exploring.

[bettaMagenta]

@coltin, I'm trying to pinpoint the exact documentary you mentioned - was it from the Green Planet series, perhaps 2022?

[infold]

@coltin, was it Green Planet? That series was fantastic, I recall one episode with a water lily rising from the depths and unfurling at the surface, gently pushing other plants aside. David Attenborough truly outshines the legendary Marlin Perkins with his captivating nature documentaries.

[Burgermuncher]

Oregon's got a problem with Marimo algae balls - they're a source of Zebra Mussels, an invasive species here in North America.

[MikeyKid]

I've had my share of Marimo moss balls, and I'm inclined to agree with magnum man that many sold online might be just rolled-up hair algae. I've got a lingering issue in one of my tanks, where I kept them, and it's plagued with hair algae. I've got two identical 5-gallon tanks, same parameters, same everything, but one's algae-free and the other's got a lot. I've been tackling it with less light and a couple of amano shrimp. My Marimo balls actually grew pretty fast, and I had to trim them regularly to keep them in check.

[bettaMagenta]

mine seem to be the real deal as far as the algae type... & they do get bigger but less dense over time, which makes me think they just loosen up and actually grow slowly.