Cladophora aegagropila
Scientific name: Cladophora aegagropila
Family: Cladophoraceae
Usual maximum size in aquariums: 2 - 10 cm (0.79 - 3.94 inch)
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Recommended pH range for the species: 6.2 - 8
Recommended water hardness (dGH): 12 - 30°N (214.29 - 535.71ppm)
0°C 32°F30°C 86°F
Recommended temperature: 15 - 27 °C (59 - 80.6°F)
Reproduction of the plant: Divisions
Origin (in the wild): Europe
How fast these plants grow: Slow
Recommended substrate: Rocky
Demands on lighting: Medium
Ideal placement in a fish tank: Middle
Common Names
Moss Ball, Lake Ball, Cladophora Ball
Origin
Europe, these are commonly found in Iceland and Estonia but they are now being grown in Japan for the aquarium hobby.
Planting Area
These plants are non-rooted mosses that are simply placed on the substrate .
Lighting Requirements
Medium lighting, if lower levels are used the plants will fade and lose some of their rich green colouration
Propagation
To produce fresh plants from the mother plant, simply divide the ball into smaller pieces. These will look irregular to start with but over a period of time they will develop into a spherical shape again, you have to be patient with these plants as they are slow growers.
Difficulty
Medium
Short Description
This plant has become very popular over recent years in the aquarium hobby but sadly many of the local areas that had colonies of these are disappearing. They are actually a form of green algae and the inside of the ball is mainly soil or mud.