Java Moss needs CO2 (carbon dioxide) to survive and grow. It uses the CO2 available naturally in the aquarium water. You don’t need to inject CO2 separately in the aquarium. However, CO2 injection is needed if you have a planted aquarium with high-intensity lights for stimulating plant growth.
Let’s now understand why Java Moss needs CO2.
Why Does Java Moss Need CO2?
Given below are the main reasons why Java Moss needs CO2.
1. Prepare Food
Like any other plant, Java Moss uses light energy to turn carbon dioxide into organic compounds (food) through photosynthesis.
It needs carbon to carry out the process, which comes from CO2.
That’s why CO2 is one of the most critical elements for the proper growth of Java Moss.
2. Accelerate Growth
You can use CO2 to accelerate the growth of Java Moss and keep it healthy.
However, keep in mind that Java Moss grows quickly even without CO2.
You can also infuse micronutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous into the water to speed up the growth rate of your plant.
3. Develop Better Carpet
Java Moss is often used to create a lush underwater carpet. It not only enhances the aquarium’s beauty but also cleans the water.
If you want to create a Java Moss carpet, it’s necessary to infuse CO2 in the aquarium water.
In case of CO2 deficiency, the Java Moss plant will take longer to grow and spread.
How Does Java Moss Get CO2 In The Wild?
Java Moss is an aquatic plant that grows underwater and on land surrounding water bodies.
Like other aquatic plants, CO2 is one of the most vital elements for the proper growth of moss plants.
Let’s now understand how Java Moss gets CO2 on land and water in the wild.
How Does Java Moss Get CO2 On Land?
Java Moss is an aquatic plant but can quickly grow in a moist environment surrounding the water bodies.
On land, it gets the required CO2 from air and soil.
- Air: The Java Moss plant can easily absorb CO2 from the air. On land, Java Moss collects carbon dioxide through the opening of its leaves called stomata.
- Substrate: Java Moss gets CO2 from the mud and other decaying plants fallen on the forest floor in the wild. In addition, it also gets CO2 sequestered in the soil by plants through photosynthesis.
How Does Java Moss Get CO2 In The Water?
Java Moss uses rhizoids to attach itself to rocks, stones, roots, and other solid objects in the water.
It gets CO2 in the water through fish waste and microbial respiration.
- Fish Waste: Fish poop is a natural source of carbon dioxide. Rivers and other water bodies contain countless organisms that provide the mosses with a natural carbon dioxide supply.
- Microbial Respiration: Organisms use oxygen and organic carbon (food) to produce water and carbon dioxide during respiration. Microbial respiration increases the carbon dioxide levels of the water, which is then used by aquatic plants like Java Moss.
Can CO2 Stimulate Java Moss Growth In Aquariums?
Liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) is dissolved in water to increase the rate at which plants grow.
Java Moss doesn’t need CO2 to grow faster but needs clean water to thrive.
However, if you have a bright lighting setup for your aquarium plants, you can use CO2 to stimulate growth as the CO2 available from the air will be insufficient for the plants.
Since CO2 doesn’t dissolve in water at the same rate it gets consumed, there will be a CO2 deficiency and algae overgrowth in the aquarium.
So more light means your plants will need more CO2 to grow faster.
Adding CO2 can bridge this gap. Java Moss will use the CO2 from the water and absorb light through its leaves.
The Java Moss plant will then use these things to produce energy in the form of sugar molecules.
Plants use sugar molecules to stimulate growth, repair damaged cells, and reproduce.
How To Add CO2 To An Aquarium?
Given below are four different ways to add CO2 to an aquarium.
1. Add More Fish
Adding more oxygen-breathers to an aquarium increases the CO2 levels of its water.
Most fish will usually produce enough CO2 for low-light plants such as mosses and lichens to grow well.
However, the CO2 released from aquatic pets will not suffice the CO2 requirements of medium light plants like ferns and flowering plants.
2. Inject CO2
A carbon dioxide (CO2) injection system uses a pressurized cartridge or container to force CO2 into the aquarium.
It’s the most common way of injecting CO2 into the water.
These CO2 injection systems are sustainable and easy to set up.
You just need to put together the parts correctly and then turn them on at the right time to inject CO2 into the aquarium water.
3. Add Carbon Dioxide Supplements
Carbon dioxide (CO2) supplements are carbon-based substances used to increase the concentration of CO2 within an aquarium.
They are easy to use and are very effective.
There are CO2 booster products available in the market that dissolve and increase the CO2 levels of the tank water.
They come with essential directions on how to use them.
4. Use Inline Atomizer
This is another way of increasing CO2 in the water. However, it’s designed to be installed outside the tank.
It works by attaching the CO2 atomizer to the outflow tubing of the canister filter.
The inline CO2 atomizer provides a fine dissipation of carbon dioxide in the water.
This makes CO2 readily available to the aquarium plants, which they can instantly absorb.
However, it’s essential to understand when to add CO2 to an aquarium.
Adding carbon dioxide to an unplanted tank can cause algae blooms, harming the tank inhabitants.
Does Java Moss Give Oxygen?
Like all aquatic plants, Java Moss produces oxygen as a by-product of photosynthesis.
So it helps to maintain the oxygen level inside an aquarium.
The Java Moss plant also does nutrient export by absorbing nitrates and other nutrients from the water.
However, Java Moss needs clean water to flourish. So you must perform regular water changes.
Besides oxygenating the water, Java Moss also enhances the aesthetics of your aquarium.
With aquascaping, you can create a dense underwater landscape inside your fish tank.
Moreover, the Java Moss plant can grow in a low-light aquarium, unlike other aquatic plants.
So it can use the CO2 available through surface agitation, fish waste, and detritus available in the aquarium.
