As Java moss is a hardly aquarium plant, it loves stagnant water with heavy nitrite level. It survives well in a wide range of pH and temperature, but what we are interested here is to study how nitrate affects the growth of Java moss, as well as how java moss change the water quality?

Is that a truth or myth? Let’s do an experiment!

Step #1: Get ready two jars of water (1/4 gallon will be perfect for Betta keeping)

Step #2: Place one betta or similar-size fish into each of the jar

Step #3: Put some java moss into one of the Jar. Propably you will need only 1″ x 1″ of Java moss

Step #4: Do a nitrate test (see photo below), it should be pretty much similar =) Both test should result with a light blue color - it is safe with low nitrate level.

Java moss grows well in betta fish aquarium tank

Step #5: YAWN… wait for 4 to 5 days (The fish could well survive for 5 days without food - but as we are against animal cruelty, please feed minimal but same amount of food for the fish to each jar)

Step #6: On day 5, do the same nitrate test. Wao! It nitrate level shoot up in the tank without Java moss! The fish could have been died if we don’t do anything to it (it’s time for a water change)

Java moss grows well in betta fish aquarium tank

Consultion:
- The jar without Java moss got it’s nitrate level shoot up to the roof. With a purple color from the test, indicating high nitrate level, it is definitely giving extra stress to the fish and making it prone to diseases.

- Java moss is excellent as a ‘nitrate absorber’, but it is never mean to replace water change completely - it is only mean for a

- Java moss is best for stagnant water and heavy nitrite. It will grow well in water with high nitrite levels and you do not need to worry about left over food, as well as the fish fecal matters. It makes it perfect for Betta jar

- Java moss has no root, so it will not attached to the glass jar, unless you tied in with a net or driftwood.

- Java moss is heavier than the water and it could sink to the tank bottom by itself without any additional weight

- This aquarium plant has no thorn or pointy or even hard part, so it is perfectly safe for the Betta or other fish to play hide and seek in it

- The plant byproduct (e.g. oily surface) is minimal with the amount of moss that we are putting into the jar. With a regular water change, we do not need to worry about it - even with the dead plant leaves or branches as they could be taken out from the water surface with any fish net.

- If the Java moss is growing too fast for you, take it out and gentle ‘tear’ it apart with your finger tip.

- Do not mix the water and also the Java moss from a jar with sick fish, into another healthy one. Germ and virus from the sick fish hide well in the moss.

Source of info: writer from Bettatalk.com

If you are interested to Buy some Java moss for your aquarium tank, please click here.

David