Description: Marimo moss balls originated in Japan. They grow in shallow lakes in cold water, such as their “home” lake- Lake Akan in Japan, however, they were found native in Iceland and Estonia. They grow in shallow bodies on the lake floor up to depths of 2.5 meters. The circular shape, or should we say spherical shape, is caused by the water currents rolling, molding, and forming the ball.

The ball itself is actually made out of algae and that is been rolled around in circles and formed into these moss balls. Most people know about these little green fuzzy balls simply as moss balls, and you have probably seen them in aquariums and fish tanks. They are not exactly made of moss, as most people would assume.

Marimos are actually a type of algae that grows in partial light and eventually forms into a spherical ball under specific conditions. They are extremely popular in Japan, and now they have slowly gained popularity over here in the United Kingdom. They are used in fish tanks, aquariums, display thanks, or even as low maintenance pets.

Location: Once you prepare your kit with the Marimo ball inside, place the bottle close to a window but away from direct sunlight. Being a living organism, it will need light to make photosynthesis, but too much sunlight may produce other algae to grow in your bottle, making maintenance a bit harder.

Water: You can fill the bottle with tap water (ideally distilled water) up to the shoulder of the bottle. To replace, like any fish tank or fish bowl, you can top up weekly and once a month a full replace of water. To do so, remove the Marimo ball (you can use a couple of spoons or the wooden stick provided); squeeze the Marimo ball in your palm and put it aside; tilt the bottle carefully and remove as much water as possible. Then replace with cold water, being careful so the sand and stones stay in a nice position. Once full, put the Marimo ball back and enjoy it. When the Marimo ball is out of water is a great opportunity to roll it in your hands to keep the spherical form.



Instructions to mount your aquarium:

1. Make sure the bottle is all-clean inside and out.
2. Using a dry funnel (you can make it with paper) place the tip at the bottom of the bottle and introduce the sand careful so it doesn’t make any mess.
3. Place the stones and use the wooden tool provided to locate them nicely inside.