How to Grow Moss & Grass in Your Fish Tank

Moss and aquatic grass add to the aesthetics of an aquarium and are functional as well. Many fish species take shelter in both moss and grass, and some species will lay their eggs in this aquatic vegetation. Moss and grass will grow well in aquariums and do not require intense lighting. They will use the nutrients contained in the metabolic waste of the fish and are not terribly difficult to cultivate. Both moss and grass, however, need to be pruned regularly, or they will become too profuse.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium
  • Fluorescent aquarium tubes
  • Small-grained natural colored gravel
  • Two or three attractively shaped pieces of driftwood
  • Three fist-sized rocks
  • Dark thread
  • Thin cable ties (optional)
  • Najas grass
  • Java moss
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place a 1 1/2-inch layer of prewashed small-grained gravel into your aquarium. The Najas grass is a floating species and your Java moss grow mainly on rocks and driftwood, so the substrate is mainly for aesthetics, as you will not be planting either grass or moss in it.

    • 2

      Place sufficient fluorescent tubes into your aquarium canopy to ensure a minimum of three to four watts per gallon. Neither moss nor grass requires very intense lighting, and this wattage is sufficient to grow both aquatic grass and moss.

    • 3

      Place numerous pieces of Najas grass on the water surface. This aquatic grass species is typically a floating plant, but may send out roots. This grass type offers cover to surface fish species and to their young. Mid-water fish will appreciate the cover offered by this aquatic grass as well.

    • 4

      Place two or three attractively shaped pieces of driftwood on a clean work surface and put a number of pieces of Java moss on each piece wood. Use dark thread or very thin cable ties to secure the moss to the driftwood.

    • 5

      Position the pieces of driftwood in your aquarium. Place them toward the rear of the tank. The Java moss will attach to the wood, after which you can briefly remove the pieces of driftwood from the tank and cut off the thread or cable ties. Java moss does not need as much light as Najas grass, and will thrive even if positioned under the floating grass.

    • 6

      Place three fist-sized rocks on a clean work surface and put a number of pieces of Java moss on each rock. Use dark thread or very thin cable ties to secure the moss to the rocks.

    • 7

      Position the rocks in front of the driftwood, so the observer̵7;s eye moves from a lower to higher elevation in the aquarium.

    • 8

      Remove the driftwood and rocks to trim back the Java moss, as required, because it will grow profusely and eventually over take the entire aquarium unless kept in check. Cut off the thread or cable ties on the rocks, during one of the early trimming sessions.