Newbie to Moss

BM · Post by BM » Wed Jan 11, 2006 1:39 pm

Hello,
I have a 10 gallon tank with a 96w light. It contains medium sized gravel and some big rocks (and a big blue prawn). I'm thinking about covering my bed of gravel with some kind of tall growing, messy moss. If I do, how would I siphon clean the gravel, or should I not bother? And also, what kind of moss should I use?

prawnman88 · Post by **prawnman88** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 3:05 pm

is the prawn a macro rosenbergi ? and can u post some pics if it is u are going to need a alot bigger tank then 10 gallons when it gets older

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 3:49 pm

I wouldn't do that if I were you. I'm using rocks and slate to provide "caves" for mine. Very easy to re-arrange as they grow. I'm using riccia for shade and Java Fern, but I may give up on the java.

These guys are messy eaters, so you will need to vacuum. I have loads of snails, but they can't keep up.

Shady · Post by **Shady** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 6:46 am

That's a LOT of light for a 10 gallon. Almost any plant with that much light, and no CO2 supplementation will do poorly, or at the very least, no better than in lower light.

THat said, a tall, "messy" moss...well, Java Moss is probably the easiest to keep, but you will need to lower the light considerably or else add CO2. If you have CO2, you can keep many more kinds of foreground plants like microswords, Glossostigma, Hairgrass, etc.

BM · Post by BM » Fri Jan 13, 2006 1:55 pm

Shady:
Won't CO2 lower the pH? Either way, a CO2 system is too costly for me. Thx for the suggestions, I'll just leave the tank as is.

Badflash:
Your prawn doesn't eat your snails? I use to have a community tank with 20+ trumpet snails, 20+ clams, a betta, guppies, mollies, and my prawn... now all i have is a prawn. Within a month he killed everything!!

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 1:58 pm

Prawns. I've got about 40 of them right now. The LFS is going to help me find homes for some. Right now they are only 2"-2.5" and they don't have very serious weapons yet.

prawnman88 · Post by **prawnman88** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 2:02 pm

badflash same here as they get bigger im giving 2 or 3 to a lfs when i got my 5 from u i thought isd loose 2 atleast in shipping but things in my family seem to live forever lol my wife and friends come ver and there i am mother henning over the little ones both of my tanks i have fish from 4 yrs ago so i must be doing something right ? have to love the rosenbergi's maybe rosenbergi means big gun ?

BM · Post by BM » Fri Jan 13, 2006 2:15 pm

I wish I have a camera. I'm trying to grow mine like a mad scientist. It's about 18cm long (about 26cm with claws). I named him Genghis Prawn. I'll need a bigger tank soon...

prawnman88 · Post by **prawnman88** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 2:30 pm

now thats kool i like the name i have a male i think cant quite tell yet but he seems bigger then the others i call him proteus the prawn lol