Description

Create eye-catching vertical accents in your aquascape with our premium Flame Moss, carefully cultivated and packaged in small, clear plastic containers. Known for its unique upward, spiraling growth pattern, Flame Moss adds a dramatic, flame-like texture to driftwood, rocks, or mesh walls.

Key Features:

100% snail-free and algae-free safe for any tank
Cultivated submersed in a controlled, contaminant-free environment
Distinctive vertical growth adds depth and dimension
Ideal for nano tanks, shrimp tanks, and scaping projects
Low-maintenance and thrives in low to medium light

Flame moss, scientifically known asTaxiphyllum sp. “Flame,” is a captivating and popular aquatic moss in the aquarium hobby. Its common name comes from its unique growth pattern: the vibrant green fronds grow upwards in a twisted, spiral fashion, resembling flickering flames. This distinctive vertical growth makes it a fantastic choice for adding a different dimension to your aquascape.

Here’s what you should know about flame moss:

Appearance: As mentioned, its defining characteristic is its upright, spiraling growth. The fronds are a rich green and create a dense, textured look. Unlike spreading or downward-growing mosses, flame moss adds vertical interest to the aquarium. It can reach heights of a few inches (3-10 cm) under good conditions.

Aquarium Use: Flame moss is incredibly versatile and can be used in various ways:

• Attached to Hardscape: It’s most commonly attached to driftwood and rocks using cotton thread, fishing line, or aquarium-safe glue. This accentuates its vertical growth and creates striking focal points.
• Midground and Background: Due to its height potential, it’s often used in the midground or background of the aquarium to add structure and visual interest.
• Creating Unique Shapes: Aquascapers often use it to create the illusion of miniature trees or other creative shapes by attaching it to carefully arranged hardscape.
• Shrimp Tanks: Like other mosses, it provides excellent shelter and grazing surfaces for shrimp and other small invertebrates.

Care: Flame moss is generally considered easy to care for, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced aquarists.

• Lighting: It thrives in low to moderate light conditions. High light isn’t necessary and can even encourage algae growth on the moss. Around 8 hours of light per day is usually sufficient.
• Water Parameters: It’s adaptable to a wide range of water parameters, with a preferred temperature between 18-28C (64-82F) and a pH between 5.0 and 7.5. It tolerates soft to moderately hard water.
• Substrate and CO2: Flame moss doesn’t require a specific substrate as it’s an epiphyte, absorbing nutrients from the water. CO2 supplementation is not essential for its growth, but it can certainly benefit from it, leading to denser and potentially faster growth.
• Fertilisation: While not strictly necessary, occasional dosing with liquid fertilisers can promote healthier and more vibrant growth.
• Growth Rate: It has a slow to moderate growth rate. This means you won’t need to trim it too frequently, but it will take time to establish and reach its full potential.
• Trimming: To maintain its shape and prevent it from becoming too dense, occasional trimming with sharp scissors is recommended. Trimming also encourages bushier growth.
• Water Flow: Moderate water flow is generally preferred. Strong currents can sometimes cause the fronds to look less upright.

Propagation: Propagating flame moss is quite simple. You can divide it into smaller portions and attach them to new surfaces. Even small fragments that break off can eventually attach and grow in a suitable environment.

Benefits:

• Unique Aesthetic: Its upward, flame-like growth adds a distinctive and visually appealing element to aquariums.
• Versatile: Can be used in various aquascaping styles and attached to different surfaces.
• Relatively Hardy: Adapts to a wide range of water conditions.
• Provides Shelter: Offers hiding places for small aquatic inhabitants.
• Contributes to Water Quality: Provides a surface for beneficial bacteria and can absorb some excess nutrients.

In summary, flame moss (Taxiphyllum sp. “Flame”) is a fantastic addition to any freshwater aquarium looking for a unique and easy-to-care-for moss with an intriguing vertical growth habit. Its “flame-like” appearance makes it a standout plant in any aquascaped tank.