Pelia Moss Ultimate Guide on Planting, Maintains, and Care

About Pelia Moss

Pelia moss aquarium plant is known for its unique characteristics. The sturdy nature of the plant makes it easily adaptable to any water condition.

It grows in low light conditions; thus, the dark place in the tank could not affect its growth.

If you face the algae problem due to bright light, the Pelia moss will be the perfect plant in the aquarium in the low light condition and prevent algae growth immediately.

Beginners who just decided to start their first aquarium with no knowledge, the Pelia moss plant will be your friend. It will be a fantastic addition to your aquarium.

Pelia Moss Ultimate Guide
Pelia Moss Ultimate Guide

Even if you make a mistake while managing the aquarium, the plant will encourage you to continue your passion without worrying about its growth.

  • Scientific Name : Monosolenium Tenerum
  • Common Names: Pelia moss
  • Origin: Asia
  • Temperature: 15– 24 degrees centigrade
  • Height: 2-5 cm high
  • Growth rate: Moderate level
  • PH Level: 5.0 to 8.0
  • Habitat: Patches in damp, sheltered places or acidic substrates
  • Care level: Low maintenance and care are required.

Pelia mos is part of the liverwort plant category. These kinds of plants don’t have the leaves structure.

Even the plant structure resembles the green leaves, and they are not biologically considered leaves. In their botanical terminology, they are called a thallus.

As the plant grows, the thallus is divided into different branches. The fork-like structure emerges from the center and spreads wider to occupy a large area around it.

When the plant is fully grown, the weight of the Pelia moss becomes heavier than water. As a result, the plant submerges in the water and remains at the bottom of the tank.

Table of Contents

Appearance of Pelia Moss

Pelia moss flourishes in all kinds of environments. It will appear as beautiful cushions of leaves spread at the bottom of the aquarium.

The surface of the plant spread evenly in all directions. Pelia moss plant is delicate; thus, hold it with care after growing.

The aquarist who grows the Pelia moss more often in the aquarium uses a nylon line with the stones to give it the necessary support.

The plant is capable of growing in all kinds of environments. Bush-like structure of the plant makes it more convincing to have in the tank for a far more extended period.

Create the green plant bed at the bottom of the tank. The leaves light green color gives it a fresh appearance and natural look, which is difficult to ignore.

Growing Methods of Pelia Moss

Pelia moss can be grown with different methods. The aquatic plant is known for its easy-to-grow quality.

The best way to grow the Pelia moss is to attach it to a substrate. Tie the small parts of the plant to the driftwood, rocks, mesh, or other common aquatic substrates.

You can even leave the plant at the bottom of the tank, and it will spread in all directions.

Providing sufficient light exposure as a light source is vital for food production in the plant. Soon you will see the leaves spread around the substrate.

The Pelia moss plant will cover the entire substrate within a few months by taking its shapes. It will look fabulous when the plant continues growing around it.

Pelia moss is a fast-growing plant; thus, you may have to prune them from time to time to avoid the plant occupying the space around. Keep the plant growth in a limited area.

Extensive development may reduce the swimming space of fish.

The background surface of the aquarium is perfect for developing aquatic plants. Either utilize the background or the bottom surface to create the aquatic forest using the Pelia moss.

Use the water condition monitoring device to ensure the water’s pH level, temperature, and chemical development are moderated.

When the water level drops significantly, the condition around the plant becomes lethal for the living creature.

Besides that, the water quality will determine the plant growth rate.

The plant will experience difficulty consuming nutrition, dusky water will reduce light exposure, and the continued development of harmful chemicals will affect marine life.

All of these translate into the chaos in the aquarium. Balance water conditions that support all living beings in the tank should be maintained.

The water temperature should be around 21-24oC. Water too cool or too warm would affect plant growth.

Although the Propagation of aquatic plants such as Pelia moss is comparatively easy because the plant can deal with the changing temperature, you still have to maintain the water condition to a suitable environment for the plant to keep them growing at the natural pace.

Maintaining Pelia Moss?

Pelia moss is one of the plants that doesn’t need much care, or no regular maintenance is necessary for the plant’s growth.

When the water condition becomes dusky where debris is flowing around the plant, they get trapped inside the dense structure of the leaves.

Most of cases, the debris trapped inside the plant causes maximum damage to the plant.

Slowly, the debris gives birth the harmful aquatic bacteria with algae.

The development will speed up as soon as the water condition meets the development of the bacteria.

Soon the Pelia moss became the house of these bacteria which eventually caused damage to the water and plant growth.

In this situation, the plant needs proper care. Cleaning is the only solution to eliminate this harmful stuff from the aquarium. Giving rinse under the running tap water will take away the bacteria.

So whenever you see a plant having trouble growing, cleaning is the only way to regain its health of the plant.

Cleaning

The Pelia moss plant grows dense as the leaves start flourishing. The structure of the plant will become flowery, where the outer part of the plant will grow faster.

When the Pelia moss plant grows larger, they require regular cleaning.

Remove the Pelia moss plant from the tank. First, clean the debris found on the top of the plant surface.

For doing that, take the container with clean water. Dip the plant in the water and gently use the scrub or unused brush to clean the leaves. Scrub the inside of the plant as well because sometimes the debris, tiny bacteria, and viruses will inhabit the space. Scrubbing unstick the debris easily.

After that, hold the Pelia moss under the running tap water. Keep the force of the water at a moderated level.

The leaves of the plant are so soft that they may break if the pressure is too high. Clean the plant thoroughly to remove the debris.

Rinse the plant for a few minutes before you move them away. If you find the sticky stuff even after the cleaning, repeat the process until the green leaves become clean.

The sticky part could be bacteria or algae. Leaving them on would allow them to grow again when you put the plant back in the aquarium.

Trimming

Pelia moss plants left alone in the aquarium will grow in all directions to cover the available space.

When the condition in the water becomes suitable for the plant, they grow quickly. As the plant extends its growth in all directions, it may start occupying the swimming space plant. It may bother the fish in the aquarium.

Less swimming space develops stress in the fish, which could later affect the plant’s health.

Trimming is part of the maintenance process. Regular trimming gives the direction to the plant.

The Pelia moss will grow set area without hurting the other living being in the aquarium. Conduct the trimming every alternative month.

If you find the plant is growing faster, then weekly trimming may require maintaining the plant growth.

Keep it in good shape until the plant covers the necessary space dedicated for them. Trimming also supports preserving the aesthetic value of the plant.

An aquarium plant that grows without any direction could appear awful.

Filteration

Proper filtration is necessary to keep the Pelia moss plant in good health. As we know, filtration keeps the water clean.

It removes debris, a waste product, bacteria, and all kinds of harmful substances in the aquarium. The internal structure of the filter consists of a sponge that traps the debris and locks them inside.

Tiny debris makes the water heavy. No debris means less effective on the water.

Also, filtration maintains the water condensate. Having a powerful filter in the tank would give the water proper cleaning regularly, making the water stay clean all the time.

Thus, get a suitable filtration device for the aquarium. Set it in the correct mode to clean the water regularly. It will extend the life of the marine and support faster growth.

Care & Cultivation instructions for Pelia Moss

Pelia moss cultivation is relatively simple compared to the other aquarium plants. When the plant reaches a significant height, they are easy to maintain because the soft leaves become stronger.

Most of the time, the problem arises while handling the Pelia moss plant because the plant doesn’t consist of a root or a stem. It becomes difficult for the plant to carry to other places.

But when the plant reaches a decent height, they gain sufficient weight, making it easy to move from one place to another.

You can easily remove the plant from the aquarium, conduct the cleaning, and put them back in the aquarium.

Care of the Pelia moss is similar to the other aquarium plant. The plant doesn’t produce harmful chemicals, so even if left alone in the plant, without the clean, they would not affect the aqua life.

Generally, the problem arises when debris and bacterial development occur on the plant.

Even though the plant is sturdy and isn’t affected by the contamination, the water condition could get involved.

Thus, maintain regular maintenance to prevent the plant from getting affected by external development.

  • Clean the plant every 2 to 3 months.
  • Use the proper filtration to take away the debris and viruses.
  • A weekly 25% water change is recommended.
  • Maintain the water temperature to a suitable condition.
  • Use the CO2 to increase the growth rate of the plant.
  • Supply balance nutrition and fertilizer to support healthy growth.
  • Keep the water oxygenated.
  • Use a heater in the cold temperature region.

Cultivation

Pelia moss plants can grow on any surface. After placing the plant on the substrate, it starts taking the shape of the underlying substrate.

Due to these unique characteristics, the growth of the plant is stable. Also, the plant doesn’t require special care.

Proper cultivation techniques will fulfill the purpose of having densely packed fresh leaves plant.

Maintain a stable environment around the plant to make it occupy a larger area. Adequate nutrition, light source, and balance water condition are the critical elements that contribute to faster growth.

Besides that, regular trimming is a part of the cultivation process; thus, you should not ignore it.

What are the primary tanks requirements for planting Pelia Moss?

Pelia moss plant proliferates while occupying the large area around it.

A small tank will make less space available for the fish, which could make the fish unhealthy.

The tank size would determine how much growth you can allow to the plant.

A smaller tank could also support the plant growth, but primarily it affects the other living being in the tank. Get at least 5 to 10 gallons of a tank for cultivating the Pelia moss plant.

If you increase the school of the fish, change the tank size to the larger one.

Tank requirement

  • Minimum 5 gallons supported tank.
  • Proper cleaning to avoid algae development.
  • Powerful filtration to prevent the build-up of debris.
  • Maintain the space around the plant.
  • Placement of the UV / LED light on the top surface.
  • Maintain the temperature to between 24 to 25 degrees Celsius.

All these factors affect plant growth; thus, you should maintain the water condition in the tank to allow plant growth.

Common Problems of Planting Pelia Moss in Aquarium Tanks

Typical problems may occur when you are cultivating the Pelia moss plant.

  1. The slow growth rate of the Pelia moss plant could occur for several reasons. It is difficult to identify why the plant is growing slowly. Proper diagnosis is necessary to find the reasons.
  2. The dying Pelia moss plant needs proper care. Leaves turn brown and slowly die. Even excellent water condition affects the growth of the plant.
  3. The development of the debris inside the Pelia moss plant will not be visible from the outside. It is only detectable when you conduct the cleaning of the plant.
  4. Fish may nibble the plant and consume it regularly, causing serious damage to the plant. The fish, shrimp, and snails in the tank most likely eat the plant’s tiny leaves.
  5. Slow growth rate due to the dirty water. Dusky water reduces the exposure of light to the plant. As a result, the plant will have trouble growing faster.

Pelia moss is the perfect plant that supports aquarium life in many ways. It provides oxygen to living beings and improves the water quality by absorbing the chemicals.

Proper caring is necessary to avoid a negative effect on the plant.

Advantages & Disadvantages of planting Pelia Moss in Aquarium Tanks

Understanding what Pelia moss offers to the aquarium tank will make it easy for you to adopt them.

There are certain disadvantages of the plant that also needs to consider when acquiring the plantation for the aquarium.

Advantages

  • Chemical absorption of the plant keeps the water condition stable.
  • Consumes CO2 developed in the water for growth.
  • Control the water temperature by reducing the pH level naturally.
  • Control the water temperature by reducing the pH level naturally.
  • Support the aquarium fish with a natural hiding space.
  • It can be used as alternative food in a difficult time.
  • The growth rate is easy to maintain with the help of light exposure.

Disadvantages

  • Sometimes the plant becomes a reason for water quality drop. The contamination starts occupying the area around the plant.
  • The fast growth rate of the plant requires frequent maintenance. Plant left without proper pruning could affect the growth rate and makes it difficult for the fish in the tank to thrive.
  • Pella moss support algae development inside the dense region of the plant. Sometimes algae development occurs on the top of the leaves, making it hard for them to succeed.

Common Difficulties (Problems) of planting Pelia Moss in Aquarium Tanks

Finding the space for the Pelia moss plant could be challenging. The reason is that extensive plant growth sometimes affects the nearby plant.

Fish will have trouble swimming due to plants’ forceful occupation in the region. Soon after you plant the Pelia moss, it will start occupying the space around it.

Another region is the plant grows on any surface. Even if you leave them at the bottom of the tank, they will spread in the area covering the maximum space.

It will hide the substrate underneath, making their usage futile. Moreover, the plant becomes the house of many living beings. Tiny shrimp will start reproducing in the Pelia moss. They get stuck inside the plant structure.

After their occupancy is reached a significant level, the tiny shrimp are difficult to remove from the plant.

Are there any similar plants to Pelia Moss?

There are many similar plants available in nature that show common characteristics of the Pelia moss. The identical plant is the Java moss.

Many attributes of the Pelia moss match with the Java moss plant. Cultivation is also quite similar; thus, you can use it interchangeably in the absence of one of the plants.

Suitable Tankmates for Pelia Moss

You can consider the plants with the Pelia Moss Tankmates.

  • Java Moss
  • Weeping Moss
  • Taiwan Moss
  • Riccia Moss
  • Flame Moss
  • Willow Moss
  • Christmas Moss
  • Star Moss
  • Peacock Moss

Unsuitable tankmates for Pelia Moss

Usually, the Pelia moss plant can share the water with almost all species.

The plant does not produce harmful chemicals, so it can easily stay with all plants around it. Avoid plants that cannot grow in low light conditions.

Pelia moss plant requires moderated light. Bright light may support the algae growth and affect the plant in many areas. Therefore, you should avoid having a tankmate that cannot live in the low-light condition.

FAQs

Is pelia moss a Subwassertang?

No. Subwassertang is mostly thinner and produces light green leaves. They are not fragile.

In contrast, the Pelia moss is thicker and may contain filaments on the outer layer of the plant. These qualities make the Pelia moss separate from Subwassertang.

Is pelia moss a very expensive plant?

No. Pelia moss is not expensive because it can be grown anywhere in moderated water. Smart cuts of the leaves are enough to develop an entire plant.

The cost may differ depending on the demand and supply. Higher demand makes the aquarist produce more plants, eventually reducing the plant cost.

Also, the Pelia moss is mainly found in the warmer region, so if you plan to buy it in the cold area, the plant may cost more because it requires special arrangements to maintain healthy growth.

How long is Pelia Moss alive?

Pelia moss plant can live for 8 to 10 years under the proper maintenance. The plant doesn’t need special care, but water conditions could affect the plant.

Also, plant cultivation is easy, so you do not have to worry about plant growth.

By Uswatta Liyanage

Hello. I'm Uswatta Liyanage from Galle, Sri Lanka. I am the founder of this website. Since my childhood I'm an aqua plant lover and I have professionally learned more about aqua plants. So I created this site for share my knowledge and experience with all of you. Now you can refer my site and feel free to contact me if any inquiry.