What exactly are Marmio Moss Balls?

[Hallyx]

Originally Posted by sandybottom

.... i've seen people use old pantyhose filled with sand.they trim the roots. ....

I'm having a hard time seeing that. Could you explain it more for me, Sandy? Thanks.

[sandybottom]

my buddy used those aluminum and wire caps from champagne bottles,inverted it put double layer of pantyhose around it and sowed it to the wire. fill with sand and he keeps the plants on the smaller side by pruning the leaves and trimming the roots. he's had it for almost 2 years and his swords are nice.

[Hallyx]

My potted sword is busting my 5g, so I was reluctant to add any. Now that I know how to deal with them, I'll get more.

Great idea. Thanks.

[sandybottom]

hallyx, i am going to try making some. i never liked the fact that he used metal in them,so..... i am going to use strips of flexible plastic(those thin cutting boards) make them circular and sew the pantyhose to it using either fishing or nylon thread. i love recycling.

[OrangeAugust]

One of my Marimos looks like Colonel Meow
I can't get it to be perfectly round. It's really awkward looking.
My other one is perfectly round and cute.

[sandybottom]

Originally Posted by OrangeAugust

One of my Marimos looks like Colonel Meow
I can't get it to be perfectly round. It's really awkward looking.
My other one is perfectly round and cute.

wow! thanks for introducing me to colonel meow. if the big one is lumpy it may be trying to propegate.

[OrangeAugust]

Originally Posted by sandybottom

wow! thanks for introducing me to colonel meow. if the big one is lumpy it may be trying to propegate.

LOL You're welcome.
And yeah, it's lumpy, but it hasn't done anything and I've had it for 4 months. How long does it take them to propagate?

[sandybottom]

from what i understand its more of an individual experience rather than a set age.it could take years as they generally grow 5mm per year. in the wild the mature ones become hollow over time and just break apart, due to various factors. it takes them a long time to become spherical again. i expect that if the right conditions were given to them in aquaria,you'd have a similar outcome. a bucket with flat round stones filled with clean filtered or conditioned water. supplied with a directional current perhaps. i have also seen the much easier... put it in a hamster/mouse ball and put it in the tank in front of the powerhead method too.

[Nothingness]

Originally Posted by sandybottom

hallyx, i am going to try making some. i never liked the fact that he used metal in them,so..... i am going to use strips of flexible plastic(those thin cutting boards) make them circular and sew the pantyhose to it using either fishing or nylon thread. i love recycling.

Zip ties may be a quick and cheap solution as well

[sandybottom]

Originally Posted by Nothingness

Zip ties may be a quick and cheap solution as well

nice, i can see the potential.