No matter which forum I look at,there is always confusion regarding the potential of different mosses to grow underwater.

Looking around creeks and other waterways,we have all come across mosses growing in damp areas or spots that are underwater at times through the year.It is tempting and even worthwhile to take samples to see if they will grow submerse.The potential is that you may discover the "next" big moss and the crazy thing is that you may even walk over it every day on the street.

So here are some facts.

In Australia,there are NO obligate aquatic mosses.This simply means that all our mosses can grow out of water.Same goes for most of the mosses we treat as aquatic,but some definitely grow more easily than others.

Here is a fact that should get a few people into the car with buckets,nets and bags.....On the East Coast of Australia,at least 10.....yes ten.....species of Fissidens have been identified by scientists,mostly in rainforests.

If you have been bushwalking near creeks,you will have seen mosses and ferns growing in the splash area of waterfalls,or in shallow ,fast moving water,attached to rocks etc.These spots are high in Oxygen and CO2.You will probably find more mosses in cool streams rather than those exposed to full sun,[ and thus warmer water].

If you are trying to acclimatise a potential moss species to underwater growth,it makes sense to mount or place the moss near the outlet of a filter.This will help replicate the natural splash area.Remember also,mosses prefer cool water.

If you are looking for moss around your house,take an atomiser and spray any dry clumps with water.They will often respond within 30 seconds as their cells fill with water.Mosses that respond quickly have a better chance of working for you than the others.

I hope this will encourage you to seek out all the damp spots where you live....good luck.

Good tips mate. Just to clarify for new players though, submerse refers to growing the moss underwater, emerse refers to growing them out of water, but in a humid/moist environment otherwise the moss will dry out and die.

Anthony thanks for the share great useful information

Good one Anthony

There is a lot of Ferns that fall into the same bucket for want of a better word. Most grow better out of water because of the availability of CO2 compared to the lack of it naturally under water in the spots they grow.

For sure get out and look around and if it fails for you send some to some one else to try.

Bob

Is that you offering bob ?? ;)

I'm still sorting out the smartasses for special treatment.I like the way they kinda 'announce' themselves.:)

I only asked because I collected some moss yesterday if you read my thread you will see !! Not trying to be a smart arse

Mate ,I meant you were being cheeky with Bob.And I just got a pm from another smartass,apologising in case he had offended me.

I think I'm gonna like this place just fine..haha.

And BTW,I started this thread in answer to yours mate.

All good then :)

Good read mate, I go up along the great ocean rd in Vic a lot and have always wondered if the mosses and ferns would survive in my tanks.

Thanks for the thread AnthonyRae...Found it very interesting read and will definitely will be looking around the backyard and nearby areas for mosses...CJ

I mentioned an approach to adapting mosses to aquatic life.

Now I think it is worthwhile pointing out the obvious for adapting aquatic sourced mosses to life out of water.

First,the spray zone of a filter is great for keeping the moss moist as it changes.

Second....What changes take place?

As with any waterside plant,the leaves growing out of water need to grow a protective cuticle,or,thicker skin to help prevent too much water loss thru transpiration.The leaves and stems need to be stronger to hold themselves erect without the support of surrounding water.

To illustrate this,it has been shown with Riccia,that the cuticle responds to emerse conditions within five minutes,and it starts to produce a kind of protective,waxy,outer skin right away.

Ok, I'm dying here cause photobucket is down(those that know my posts will know what I mean) but I had to post on this thread, this is one of the most exciting & informative threads, I love mosses & this has got me itching to grab a spray bottle, jump in the car & go hunting up the mountains. Awesome thread Anthony :encouragement:

That would be hilarious on a knee reco lol. I have tried a moss from the backyard its amazing how they look so much different when they grow I will try and find a pic of it.

Cheers mick

Hey there,you in the bushes......this isn't the first time I have tried to incite a huge crowd of geeks to invade their waterways and send ME the fruits of their hunt.So,this time,I kept it simple but introduced some new (to the hobby) information,indeed the keys to understanding Bryology.I understand how you feel because I just got a tingle as I read through the thread again.

INSPIRATION GUYS....should be more of it passed freely around.But I know that in six months there will be new threads asking for the answers provided here in an easy to read form.The few of us smartasses who bothered joining the conversation will be rewarded by our own actions.We will also appear clumsy as we walk along the street,eyes focussed in damp gutters,exploring the miniature wonders that go unnoticed by the average bloke.

I am sometimes bemused by the research process, common to forum posters that can slow us down.

eg.....I want to learn about Bolbitis and initiate a search for info.Google gives me hundreds of options so I narrow it down.....make it a tighter look by following links to aquarium related blogs,forums etc. That was a lie because it will only give me hobby level info which is notorious for the myths that go around.

Instead,I first investigate the genus Bolbitis to see if they are typically aquatic.The info that unfurls with this approach often provides the key requirements of a species.By getting info from horticultural sources I am led straight to the best cultural techniques and so on.

ANywayyy,my smartarse tip for this post is that if you want to learn more about mosses,try MY way and word your search parameters like this eg....

"Aquatic Bryophytes australia east coast waterways" or

"Aquatic bryophyte culture"

Off you go and tell AR what you found.My Mum says,"Don't keep a dog and bark yourself"

PM me your addy Anthony as I found a mini mini Pellia on the weekend, I think it is any way, Also the Moss scientists is doing an APP on Bryophytes of TNQ, I am providing specimens and photos of them in the wild. No photos of what I found as I am not set up for still at home yet (still)

Bob

I just spent a few weeks in Apollo Bay, walking through rain forest's and swiming under waterfalls :(, I did see alot of moss, and plant's, but never even thought to grab any. Now that I'm getting back into Aquariums, I will have an excuse to head back and have a look