Help Java Moss not growing

I got different plants and they're alive, but not growing. Here's a pic of my sad lighting. Plan on getting better lighting when I can

Java grows slow anyway so don't worry. Are you using any ferts for your plant? If so what type?

I've had it over a year and it seems to be shrinking lol. I used seachem once. A cap full each of the Flourish and Flourish Excel

Use the excel like once a week and that will put some growth on your plants.
What K rating are your light bulbs? It should say on them.

No clue the rating..will look tomorrow before I turn the lights on so they're not hot.

Ok sounds good, you are after 10k or 65k or anything in between.

well one bulb is only 5.5k. It's a zoo med T-8 Flora Sun Max Plant Growth. Only 15 watt cause it's only 18" No wonder there isn't enough light...lol

so that is a 5,500 color light. decent.
I see you have 3 fixtures? One 4' one 18" and another little 18"ish?

How often are you doing water changes? Any more than once a week will take too many nutrients away from the plants. Less than once every 3 weeks is bad for them too.

I need to make the time soon to come see what you have going on

lol yeah my fixtures are sad... As for WC I need to do one..been bad and haven't done one in a few weeks

I've heard some people have had bad results using excel with Java Moss.

I doubt the lighting is the prob I have a 20 gall tank with just a 15 watt bulb and its only 3200 k ..and my java moss grows like crazy! Anything on the bottom of the tank doesnt get much light so you can put your moss up higher or just buy a clip on light and clip it on the side of your stand if theres enough overlap to clip it.

5,000 to 10,000 k will grow plants.. java moss is a really slow grower but will grow.
also keep up with the water changes and ferts....

1/2 dose a week of the excel is all that is really needed for any plant.
Java moss does take quite some time to get going....

I couldn't find much on the other 2 bulbs. The big one is 35 watts that's all I could find.

Fern let me know what time and day is good for you if you would be able to come look at my tank. I'm always home lol

I can't plan anything till my mom is out of the hospital.... I will let you know.

Looks like you've got clear glass/plexiglass over your tanks. Go get some 24" undercabinet strips from walmart. Change the bulbs to daylight bulbs - or growlight bulbs, either will work.

I get a good 1/4-1/2" of growth on my java moss. Greens up very fast and starts growing when a tablespoon of MgSO4 (epsom salt) per 5 gallons is added. Also does better when I'm feeding more shrimp pellets - most likely needs the phosphates. I use Flourish by Seachem once a week, and FloraMax substrate. I'm always cutting/harvesting it to make more every time it gets to 2.5"

I'm even getting 1/2" growth from my other mosses just 2 weeks after receiving them from Malasia, spreading them thinly in the growing mats and tossing them in my tanks. The tank I'm getting the fastest growth in is a 5G lit by one growlight bulb and a reptile daylight bulb (50W total) - and it's in a window.

As for the other plants - wish I'd remembered to bring my camera home to download pics. I've got a 29T lit by one walmart strip growlight and a 24" daylight spectrum bulb. (both sit on top of a piece of plexiglass) I'm literally getting 4-5 leaves per day on a bronze water lilly I started from a bulb and 2-3 leaves per day on some Amazon swords. Again, using the FloraMax substrate, once-per-week Flourish/Seachem, and MgSO4.

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Just went and got a new light



Makes the tank a ton brighter, but now one of my EBJD don't seem to be acting normal :(

That puts you in the mid light range

Let me get things settled down with my mom and stuff and I can toss you together a bag of plants if you like? Just let me know how much you want to spend and I will bag accordingly

The ebjd is just spooked by the light more than likely, if he isn't normal within 2-3 days then you worry.

Don't worry about the EBJD. My two young ones freak out for a couple days whenever I change anything to do with their tank. They were even afraid of an apple snail for a few hours.

Sounds good Fern. I'm picky on plants lol what plants do you have?

My ebjd was acting off before I changed the light :( I think he may have internal parasites as he has white stuff hanging from his rear

If you are picky you can come shopping in my tanks and sump

You treating with general cure?

OOoo shopping for plants sounds fun :) Get everything settled with your mom and all and then we can go from there. I'm not in a big hurry.