Where to Collect Land Moss for Aquarium

Nature’s powers of adaptation are a wonder of life.

 Growing different types of land mosses underwater is one of this type of wonder. 

And it is a great adventure full of surprises. 

Here you can see land moss growing underwater in long strings.

Growing beautifully, unstoppable month after month.

 Here I noticed hair-like strings tangling around the moss. 

Let's try to use a flashlight to highlight them... 
Aha! Here you can see it better. 
It could be rhizoids or... 

About 2 months later or more than 6 months after I set up this nursery, it became obvious that it is filamentous algae. 
Now it is visible and recognizable in daylight alone. 
Filamentous algae is extremely intrusive.
 It grows from a single hair-like strand into an all engulfing mesh.

 Let me move out fish to show what it is. 

When I try to pull out filamentous algae - everything comes with it. 

All the moss and dwarf lilies and whatever else gets caught in it. 

Basically, filamentous algae has destroyed this aquarium. 

Be assured, I did not put filamentous algae purposely into this aquarium to begin with. 
So, how did it get in?! 

I look back to the place where I collected the samples of moss for this aquarium.
 Moss grows nicely near this creek. 

Somewhere here, I picked samples of the moss. 

Notice the birds...there are squirrels, raccoons, and other animals that come to this creek all the time.

 It is a source of drinkable water for them. 

It is where filamentous algae grows all year around! 

Strings of filamentous algae get moved by animals to the surrounding area and tangled with the moss. 
And that is how it gets into my aquarium.

 So, the best place to collect land moss for aquariums is away from filamentous algae.

 Away from open bodies of water. 

The cleanest, and easiest to wash, moss grows on walls and rocks. 

Moss does not have roots.
 So, it's easy to collect it from flat surfaces. 

Clean moss grows on trees as well. 

Just avoid picking tree bark along with moss.
 Tree bark causes water discoloration. 

All you need is a small sample of clean moss to start with. 

Land moss grows underwater in aquariums continuously all year around. 
From a small sample, it has grown over 50 cm long strings in about an year.

 You can always trim it down. 

And use those cuttings for new setups. 

Check my previous videos for more details and stay tuned for new updates. 

Have fun and happy aquarium gardens :)