A marimo moss ball is one of the most popular aquarium decoration and it’s easy to see why: they look beautiful, are super easy to care for, and are also a legend in Japan as being a good luck charm for love and prosperity. But, as with any tank decoration, marimos can get messy. Fortunately, we’ve got a couple of tips to help you clean up your marimo.

Don’t keep your marimo in direct sunlight. They appear on the bottom of lakes in Japan where it’s dark, so they don’t react well to full sun exposure. In fact, leaving them in direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time will stunt their growth. Instead, provide partial sunlight by placing them in a shaded area of your tank.

Marimo Moss Ball: The Charming and Low-Maintenance Aquatic Plant for Your Aquarium

If you do want to keep your marimo in the sun, change its water regularly. This prevents your marimo from absorbing too much sunlight and will allow it to grow in a healthy manner.

A common question is if it’s okay to store your marimo in closed containers like jars and bottles. It’s fine, but you’ll have to ensure that there’s always a fresh supply of air. This is because when the light hits them, they undergo photosynthesis which releases oxygen that needs to diffuse out into the environment. If the air isn’t being replaced, the moss balls will simply use up all of the available air and die.

Lastly, it’s best to house your marimo in a larger aquarium or tank than a jar or bottle. This will prevent your marimo from becoming a home to unwanted algae and other unwanted tank inhabitants that could destroy it.

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