Drill a 0.3 mm hole about 2 cm down from the top of each test-tube.
The position of the hole allows air exchange, reducing evaporation.
Put a rock in each tube.
Put some samples of land moss that has been growing underwater in each test-tube.
Please check my previous videos for more details about growing land moss underwater.
I use three types of land moss in this experiment.
The size of the test-tubes is suitable only for tiny critters such as seed shrimps.
Here I am adding seed shrimps to each test-tube.
Close each test-tube with a cap.
Air gets in and out of each tube only through the tiny hole.
I am going to keep all tubes on a windowsill, exposed to direct sunlight, without adding water or anything else.
August 29th, 2017
The water level has dropped a couple millimeters in each tube.
The seed shrimps survived in some and multiplied in others!
The color of moss has changed from green to light green and light brown or yellowish.
September 21st, 2017
The water level has dropped a couple millimeters in the past month.
The slower growing moss stays green longer compare to the faster growing moss.
I see seed shrimps only in 3 tubes on the right.
October 31st, 2017
Seed shrimps remain active in the 2 tubes on the right.
Here you can see the remains of the moss.
The water level has dropped less than 1 cm in a 3 months period.
All tubes remain visibly algae free.
Have fun and happy experiments :)
Great Experiment. So does that mean Land mosses do not suvive under water even if provided by good light?
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI have 4 types of land mosses growing in aquariums for over 8 months at this moment - including the same types of mosses shown in this experiment. Land moss grows underwater. Not all mosses though. Here is a playlist of those that grows in my aquariums: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jdl2rdyncoA&list=PLM88hGt0AfGsixNh13_DSMfDbj0Bg6qoP
I got number of ideas from this experiment. With concern to moss: I deem it need more CO2 than was available in the amount of water of this experiment. Though, most likely it died of the heat. While moss likes sunlight - the direct sunlight comes with heat. I did not mentioned it in the blogpost :( the moss has been in water heated by sun over 90 F. The same heat killed another plant not shown in this experiment. In following months I am planing to publish follow up experiments based on this one where I set up 2 liter plastic bottles aiming on make self-sustaining aquariums ;) Spoiler - it works to certain extend :)
Best regards!