Purchase a water thermometer from a pet store or online supplier if you don’t have one already. Always add ½ cup (118 grams) of sea salt per 1 gallon (3. 8 L) for saltwater aquariums. Conduct cleaning after swapping your aquarium water so you can use the excess replacement water for cleaning your moss ball.
Don’t repeatedly squeeze the moss ball in the same spot or you might damage it.
Be as gentle as you can when rolling your moss ball and don’t apply too much pressure. If you break a piece off that can’t be reattached, roll it up as a separate ball.
If your moss ball sinks to the bottom of the aquarium right away, give it another clean to remove dirty water. Just make sure to remove it from your cleaning tank while keeping a grip on it after the final squeeze to prevent it from sucking up water.
If your aquarium has algae-eating fish, shrimp, or snails, you likely won’t have to clean your moss ball as often.
If your moss ball is in a tank with fish, always use a water purifier. Use tap water if your area has low water hardness and your moss ball is alone. If you’re adding cold water, make sure the temperature is acceptable for the species of fish in your tank. For saltwater tanks, mix ½ cup (118 grams) of sea salt per 1 gallon (3. 8 L) of water.
If your moss ball is brown on just one side, it’s likely not getting enough sunlight. Rotate it so that the brown side faces the light. Once it becomes green, keep rotating it so that each side gets enough light.
For saltwater tanks, increase the salt levels in your water to help remove the slimy layer.
Moss balls can last up to 100 years with proper care.
