Who Gives A Fish Forums

Are Marimo moss balls suitable for betta care, specifically in terms of water requirements like temperature, pH, and hardness?

Marimo moss balls are actually a type of aquatic algae that thrive in various conditions, requiring light and some nutrients to do well.

They don't consume a lot of nitrates in the water, so if you're looking for plants that help filter the water, you might want to consider floating plants like Water Sprite or Duckweed instead. Between the two, Water Sprite is a better fit for betta tanks.

I'd like to add a warning about duckweed - it's a nightmare to deal with. While it's easy to grow and find, it's a huge mistake, especially if you have mechanical filtration like a simple HoB or canister filters. Duckweed is incredibly aggressive, sucking up all the nutrients in the water and covering every surface above water. It'll also deplete the water of oxygen if you don't have a reliable air system in place. And to make matters worse, it gets into your filters, making it nearly impossible to eradicate - even with regular scooping, it'll just come back.

Disposing of it during pruning is also a risk, as it can easily contaminate local water supplies or ecosystems if it's not handled carefully. If it gets into ponds, lakes, or other bodies of water, it can take over and cause significant damage. Trust me, this plant is a real pest.

You can create a contained area for duckweed by making a loop with plastic hose or irrigation tubing, then securing it to a suction cup at one end of your tank. This keeps the duckweed from taking over. If it does get too out of hand, simply use a fish net to scoop it out and repurpose it as mulch in your garden.