Question on Java Moss

[Aimee]

Howdy everyone :happy:

I have absolutely zero experience in dealing with live plants, but today an employee at the local petshop I frequent offered to give me a clump of some of his java moss.

I've heard that java moss can survive in low-lit environments...but exactly how low? My tank has no flourescent lighting whatsoever but does get some indirect sunlight. Is this enough?

Also, is there any way of "quarantining" a plant or making sure it is pest/disease free? I don't just want to plop a plant that I got from a total stranger into my little one's tank. Any suggestions?

Thanks everyone!

 

[SludgeMunkey]

The lighting requirements vary considerably for java moss, what you have going will be fine.

All live plants should be quarantined at minimum a week. I usually wait two after treating the plants with a supersaturated solution of lime and water. Lime however, is a dangerous alkaline substance that folks should not mess with unless they no what they are doing as it causes very painful caustic burns. The safe alternative (and cheap!) is alum, the stuff used to make pickles.

Make a supersaturated solution of alum and tap water by boiling the water and adding alum to it until no more will dissolve. Let the supersaturated solution cool over night. Soak your new plants in this for about an hour. The high pH of this solution will kill any ride alongs including snails and their eggs. Then rinse off your plants and quarentine them for at least a week, checking daily for the presence of snails and other undesirables. If you see any, retreat the plants with the solution and wait another week.

If the plants are critter free, rinse them well and add them to your tank!

 

[Aimee]

Thanks SludgeMunkey!

Do you know where I can get some of this alum? I just did a search and didn't really see any info as to where I can get a hold of some.

Thank you again for your quick advice :happy:

 

[SludgeMunkey]

Alum can be purchased very inexpensively at any grocery store in the "Spices" section of the baking aisle.