What is the Best Moss?

[Kurt Brutting]

What moss is the best and the easiest to grow? Java, Christmas, Taiwan, Weeping? There is a lot to choose. My water parameters are 8.4 GH and neutral ph. I got some Java Moss when I 1st started trying aquarium plants and it did not make it. I love the look and I want to try it again now that I have things a little more dialed in. 

[Fish Folk]

I like Peacock Moss. It’s shape is lovely, and it does well at adhering to stone, wood, etc.

Edited February 26, 2022 by Fish Folk

[Colu]

I have only grown Javan moss I found it very easy to grow 

[Jennifer V]

I haven't had any luck with Java moss either but my Christmas moss is growing like crazy. So much so that I have to trim it back every week. I'd love to try peacock moss too. 

[Odd Duck]

Oh, sooooo many to choose from!  It depends on the look you want, how fast or slow you want it to grow, the form you want it to take, etc.  I happen to be stupidly fond of unusual aquarium mosses.

Fast growing mosses are Java, Christmas, flame, spiky, anchor, peacock, Taiwan, willow, giant willow, sometimes weeping moss, and more.

Slower growing mosses include Camaroon, hookeracea, jade lotus, several Fissidens species (fontanus, nobilis, geppii, thailand among others), Distichophyllum maibarae, mini weeping, Java Springs, and others.

There’s a whopping list of names to search to get you started with a wide variety of appearances.  If you see one that lights you up, them read more about it.  I’ve got, or had, most on these lists, and I’m especially fond of the slower growing mosses because they’re less likely to get out of control.

In general, mosses like very clean, somewhat nutrient poor, cool water with moderate to low light, not too much flow, but enough flow to keep them “clean”.  Most important is consistency in the water parameters.  If you can give them that, they will usually do at least OK and may do extremely well for you.

Oh, and some adhere well to hardscape, some don’t.

[Kurt Brutting]

@Odd DuckThats awesome & very interesting thank you! I didn’t know there was so many different varieties of aquarium moss, very cool! 

[Odd Duck]

Hope it helps.  Feel free to ask more questions once you narrow your choices down a bit.