moss ball question

[seuadr]

Hello, long time listener, first time caller.

I am considering a Opae tank for my desk at work - i've had quite a few planted and several reef tanks, but i just don't want to deal with the maintenance for a tank like that at work.

I've been thinking over my aquascape and since the majority of plants and macros are not recommended, nor some of the mainstays of planted tanks like driftwood i'm trying to think out of the box i'm used to looking in for this - which led me to a couple of questions mainly about the supersprimp mossballs.

1. can these be split and lain flat attached to a surface, similar to how you'd net down a carpet plant to get it established

2. alternatively, would they possibly spread out across something like lava rocks if attached without cutting them?

and a semi-related question - is there any type of coral decorations i should avoid? i've got boiled dead coral rock and rubble from building reef tanks that i assume is safe - it's been scrubbed of material with a wire brush, as well as texas holey rock but i've also been considering like maybe some little branches of (dead) gorgoina or something similar. Thoughts?

[Dch48]

All of those things would be suitable. If the mossballs behave like the freshwater Marimo ones do, you could cut them up but they will probably grow very slowly. My Marimo ball has been in my Betta's tank for almost 2 years and looks to be just about the same size it was at first.

[Mustafa]

Yes, you can do all of those things. Keep in mind, however, that the mossballs are very, very small. Half an inch in diameter at most (mostly smaller) when we ship them. So there isn't much to cut up to begin with. As for coral and coral rock, as long as there is nothing organic still attached to it, it should be safe.