Moss balls

[vanalisa]

Hi everyone!
How beneficial are moss balls?
I know they must have value besides just looks, but do they grow and if so how fast? I think not very...?

They are expensive and although I love how they look I am wondering if I would be buying them for myself or my fish tanks?

I want to branch out on my plant options, but need to stick to low maintenance

Thanks in advance.

.

 

[Lajos_Detari]

I think they are not very useful except for the shrimps to graze on....

I don't see them growing....

 

[FishFinatic77]

They look cute? IDk. They don't have much use beyond that.
If you want to get some though, you can look on amazon. I got mine there for pretty cheap.

 

[vanalisa]

They look cute? IDk. They don't have much use beyond that.
If you want to get some though, you can look on amazon. I got mine there for pretty cheap.

I'm strange and don't like ording things online. Only time I did was books I needed for school.
Buuut....if they are good for shrimp I do like the looks and would consider it if they are cheap enough.
Thx

 

[FishGuest5123]

I assume you are talking about Marimo Moss balls. They are very slow growers. A golf ball size may be 5 years old. They are algae. However, they are extremely useful in lowering nitrates as they feed off nitrates in order to grow. I highly recommend them.

 

[Retired Viking]

Moss balls are actually a form of algae and do like to absorb nitrates and other waste including ammonia like other plants. I have had them for 2 years and I now have one the size of a baseball so they do grow but slowly.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

But if they grow that slowly, do they really absorb enough nitrates to be worth bothering with? I base that question on the accepted wisdom that fast-growing plants absorb the most nutrients. Do moss balls work differently somehow?

 

[CassCats]

Ive considered them, but at $10.95 for a quarter sized ball, im good lol

 

[vanalisa]

Thanks, @Deanasue @Retired Viking
@WhistlingBadger @NCaquatics
I'll check out online but will probably pass until I get more funds !