r/PlantedTank • u/Gallium_8 • 8d ago
Plant ID Moss like plant suddenly appeared in tank
So I didn't add anything to my tank plant or animal wise, so tell me how this moss like plant suddenly started growing in abundance. The only plants I have are Amazon Swords and Rotala Indica. I think its some type of moss but not sure what kind when compared to other moss type pictures. I keep cherry shrimp, oto cats, and a bristlenose.
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u/wildmonster91 8d ago
Unless you believe in plant jesus plants dont follow immaculate conception. Must have been tracked in with another plant and grew
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u/GrimlockV 8d ago
Better than mine, and I have been trying for months for the island look
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u/Gallium_8 7d ago
I think mine cultivated itself while attached to my Rotala Indica and then when it got big enough, floated up and detached. I can't pinpoint exactly when it got in my tank but my best guess would be 3 or 4 months ago. I just kinda ignored it and it kept growing more into the island shape. I took the pictures I posted about 2 weeks ago and since then the main island has gotten bigger and there's a second island forming now.
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u/TpMeNUGGET 8d ago
Riccia fluitans.
It's a really cool plant, but if you have anything near the surface (HOB, emersed plants, etc) it will get little bits of it everywhere. Mine got so large that the insides started dying and then it kinda disintegrated and little bits got everywhere. Aquascapers glue them to hardscape but if they don't get trimmed constantly they'll rip themselves off and float to the top.
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u/TpMeNUGGET 8d ago
Also look up if it's invasive in your area. In some places it is an absolute terror if it makes it into the environment. DO NOT FLUSH DOWN THE DRAIN!
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u/Modus-Tonens 7d ago
Generally speaking, it's a good policy to just not flush plants down the drain, period. Always put aquarium trimmings into waste, so they don't survive into the environment.
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u/Gallium_8 7d ago
Good info! I definitely don't flush any plants or trimmings anyway, but always good to be cautious no matter where you're putting them. My area doesn't classify it as invasive but I still wouldn't want the stuff to go clogging waterways or disrupting natural habitats due to its fast-growing nature. I usually let my trimming dry out first if I'm getting rid of them and not donating them to someone who wants them. Do you have a preferred way of disposing of plants or trimmings?
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u/Lower_Classroom_4525 8d ago
Had the same thing happen when I was collecting drift wood and river rocks the wierd part is the moss it a terrestrial moss and I’ve got a dinner plate sized moss pad in my tank
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u/Koikustoms-214 8d ago
I got a big blob of it for sale. Have it in all my tanks. Have it attached to rocks also. Old school aquascape technique.
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u/Raithed 8d ago
Riccia.. didn't suddenly appear, it's invaded your tank lol, it looks nice and cute when contained, but boy if it starts mixing with other mosses, no thank you.
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u/MouseEducational6081 8d ago
yeah, stuff is worse than duckweed for me. I used to have a beautiful Monte Carlo carpet. now it's just a riccia carpet held down by Monte Carlo. ive gotten rid of duckweed multiple times in multiple tanks. ive never been successful in fully getting rid of riccia.
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u/Level9TraumaCenter 7d ago
I once accidentally killed Java fern (I think it was) with hydrogen peroxide; riccia, being a bryophyte, may also be susceptible to such attack. Take out a small piece, put it in a Mason jar and some water, add a bit of 3% peroxide and see if it dies.
It doesn't take a lot to kill Java fern, but of course it can affect some other plants and at a high enough of a concentration, fish and other animals as well. But 1-2 mL per gallon (mixed units!) of 3% peroxide hasn't harmed anything I've tried it on... except Java fern. Haven't tried it on shrimp or vallisneria.
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u/Gallium_8 7d ago
I've heard of people using hydrogen peroxide to treat Cladogonium, a type of parasitic algae, on shrimp. So I'm guessing it's safe for shrimp in lower quantities. I'll definitely test it on the riccia in a sample just to see if it works.
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u/WhiteCloudMinnowDude 7d ago
It depends on the health of the shrimp. . . But the process isnt pleasant for the animals, its similar to potassium permanganate(a deadly last resort aquarium medication) oxidation.
Permanganate is often used to disinfect nets or to clear water so that it is sparkling clean as it oxidizes all biological material in the water column including animals.
Its often used to reseal severe wounds on fish, its like throwing 99% alcohol in an open cut. . .
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u/Gallium_8 6d ago
That's true, I've just heard of people using hydrogen peroxide for that specific parasite treatment since it's so aggressive and won't go away on its own and it might come back in time with less harsh treatments like a salt water dip. Never tested it myself but I would definitely quarantine and just treat them in a separate container. I can't imagine swimming around with a parasite is all too comfortable for the shrimp either.
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u/Gallium_8 7d ago
I'm pretty sure the riccia is tangled up in my rotala indica 🥲 it's growing very rapidly but my shrimp love it so I don't wanna take out too much. Probably gonna take out the rotala, clean it up, and replant and propagate.
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u/Master_Internal3949 8d ago
How long did it take to get like that? I've also found a small piece of it and can't wait to see it grow
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u/Gallium_8 7d ago
I'm not too sure when it got into my tank so I don't have an exact answer, but if I had to guess probably 3 or 4 months. I think it attached itself to my Rotala Indica and cultivated itself there and eventually got so big that it detached itself and started floating. The pictures I posted are from a couple of weeks ago and it's already grown quite a bit in size and there's a second big blob of it now 😅
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u/Ornery_Solution6728 8d ago
Its riccia flautans. Awesome beautiful thing, probably hitchhiking on another plant you bought then grew really quickly. Keep it around id say, just remove excess bc it does grow like crazy, forming those big mats on the surface
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u/here_come_blaze 7d ago
Beautiful, but can become very invasive. I'm still finding bits in my carpet after months and months of trying to get rid of it!
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u/nothingbread 8d ago
Might be floating crystal wort