Riccia in Hillstream tank

[mikev]

Did anyone try it?

Would it even grow in a river tank? Would the hillstreams use it?

[TammyLiz]

It would float so I doubt the hillstreams would use it much. You can hold it down with hairnets and let it grow out through it so it looks like its growing on rocks or driftwood, but it doesn't actually root. I've been told it really needs CO2 in addition to high light in order to do well, but I've never tried it myself before since I don't have either one. The hairnets seem like they would be a hazard for hillstreams. The current might also dislodge it from where you were trying to keep it.

If you're looking for something to cover rocks then some type of moss, such as java moss, would probably be a better choice, but if you're looking for a floating plant I don't see why not riccia. The only problem I could see with floating plants in a hillstream setup is that it would block the light from the lower portion of the tank and algae would instead collect on the plant at the top. The plant would all collect in the area with the least amount of surface agitation so if you removed excess as it grew, you could keep it from covering the whole tank.

Food for thought.

[shari2]

Java moss on a piece of wood will hold on pretty well once it is established. You'll want it in an area where it's not in direct flow, and will need to tie it down with fishing line at first. It will even attach to rock. In fact you'll have to pull some once a month or so...Makes a nice bed for collecting all kinds of detritus.

However, if your dithers are egg scatterers the likelihood of fry surviving will be much greater if they have that type of mat to hide in and it's propensity for collecting all things that swirl around in the water means they will have a ready supply of food.

[mikev]

Thank you ! -- sorry for not being clear /specific.

What I had in mind was riccia-covered stones, a store around here sells them. It is rather expensive ($10 for a small stone!) but if the hillstreams can use them, I'd certainly like to try.

(Hmm...if I get a couple of stones, maybe I can grow it myself to more?)

Shari: yes, I was thinking about fry protection too....danios are probably already spawning or will be some time soon...but these are pretty small stones so I don't know if they will make much of a difference.

[Emma Turner]

Just keep an eye on it to make sure significant amounts don't end up being blasted off the stones by the flow of the river tank, as it can block up filter intake tubes quite easily.

Emma

[Jim Powers]

Be careful of that stuff as it will spread as quickly as java moss. Loose bits can clog filters and pump impellors. I had a small bit of the stuff that came in with another plant practically take over a ten gallon. It even grows on algae patches on glass.
It is nice looking, though.

[mikev]

Thanks for the warnings!

I'll be careful and try this in one tank only.

[TammyLiz]

What do they use to hold it down onto the stones? Is it something the adult fish could get caught up in? I've heard of a bristlenose having trouble getting caught in some mesh that was holding down riccia.

[adampetherick]

it's normaly fishing line or hair nets.

I've given up on the stuff, to much of a pain in the ass for my liking!!

Did read somewhereabout somone using it between 2 sheets of fine metal mesh

[angelfish83]

Java moss on a piece of wood will hold on pretty well once it is established. You'll want it in an area where it's not in direct flow

Flow doesn't matter as long as its anchored. I've seen java moss grown IN a waterfall, on the back walls, under the weight of falling water. Looked very happy. It likes to be kept clean too, so IMO, it might actually do very well provided it is tied down properly.

The best way to tie java moss so it will thatch over itself

like so, is to pull apart your moss into individual strands, and lay them across a rock/wood/whatever all in the same direction. Then you literally wrap the whole bit in fishingline, like you would tie a roast. Very very tightly and firmly, and tie off. As the moss grows it will cover the fishing line. Once you get a thick chia pet thing going on, the tricky part is to trip it properly to keep it the shape you want, like a bush.

[angelfish83]

What do they use to hold it down onto the stones? Is it something the adult fish could get caught up in? I've heard of a bristlenose having trouble getting caught in some mesh that was holding down riccia.

Yup that can happen. Because Java moss is so weak in terms of pulling it apart though (Just strong enough to be safe from almost any amount of water pressure but not fish) I wouldnt worry. Its that mesh you want to worry about. The Java moss isn't something I've ever heard of a fish being stuck in. Its simply too soft, stretchy and the individual strands are easily pulled in half. It is strong as a whole, like a spiderweb, but the little bits a fish gets caught on are insignificant.

[TammyLiz]

I wasn't worried about the java moss creating a problem. I have that in my tanks and its no problem. In no time it anchors very firmly. But with the riccia the hairnets seem like they'd be a hazard in an aquarium. Even from planted tank people who keep their tanks mainly for the plants and love the look of the stuff I have heard comments about how its not worth the trouble of having to constantly redo it.

[angelfish83]

I wasn't worried about the java moss creating a problem. I have that in my tanks and its no problem. In no time it anchors very firmly. But with the riccia the hairnets seem like they'd be a hazard in an aquarium. Even from planted tank people who keep their tanks mainly for the plants and love the look of the stuff I have heard comments about how its not worth the trouble of having to constantly redo it.

I've boycotted any mosses, babytears, riccia etc myself for that reason.