Do Moss Balls Need Light? Moss balls, also known as marimo balls or lake balls, are a type of aquatic plant that has become increasingly popular in recent years. They are made up of small pieces of moss that are bound together to form a ball.

However, because this type of Marimo moss spends most of its life underwater, it is often asked if it needs light? Well, the short answer is yes! All types of moss, even moss balls, need some sort of light to thrive.

Most people who use these plants have them in an aquarium for decoration and will usually place them near a window where the balls can get some sort of indirect light from the sun.

In most cases, normal lighting for your house or indirect sunlight can often provide enough light for moss balls to photosynthesize

But, for some reason, if you are not able to do that, you can use an artificial light source, such as a plant light or LED light which will have the same effect.

Furthermore, moss balls like cold water, and trying to get the perfect balance between the lights and water temperature can be tricky.

So in this article, not only we will explore why moss balls need light, but also what the light requirements are for marimo balls and how you can provide them with the right amount to help them grow correctly.

Why Do Moss Balls Need Light?

Moss balls, like all other types of moss, need light to photosynthesize. It does this by absorbing the light to produce energy that helps the moss balls grow and stay healthy.

However, this moss only needs a low to moderate amount of light! Direct sunlight is not good! In fact, too much direct sunlight can be harmful to moss balls and cause them to dry out and die.

The best way to provide light for moss balls is by placing them near a window where they can get indirect sunlight or using an artificial light source.

Moss Balls Need Light For:

Growth
Photosynthesis
To Produce Food
Reproduction

So, while they don’t need a lot of light to survive, they do need some sort of light in order to grow and reproduce correctly.

If you can’t place your moss ball near a window, then you can use an artificial light source such as a plant light or LED light. Just make sure that it emits both red and blue lights if you want the moss ball to photosynthesize properly.

Change In Color: If you’ve noticed that your moss ball is losing its color and turning pale then it’s a good chance it’s not getting enough light! If the moss ball is receving to much light then it will turn brown!

In order to get the best results, try placing your moss ball near a window where it can get some natural sunlight or use an artificial light source.

What Kind Of Light Is Best For Moss Balls?

So now that we’ve answered the question do moss balls need light, we should probably talk about which light is best for this type of plant.

Natural Light Sources:

If you can, try and place your moss ball near a window where it can get some natural sunlight. Sunlight is the best type of light for moss balls because it provides them with stable light levels and the right amount of light.

However, too much direct sunlight can be harmful to moss balls so make sure that they are getting indirect sunlight instead.

They can also photosynthesize from the light in your house! For example, just turning on the lights in your house can provide your moss balls with enough light for them to grow!

But if your tank is located in a place where it cant get natural or household light then you will need to provide an artificial light source.

Artificial Light Sources:

Using artificial light sources is a great way to provide your moss with the light they need if you can’t place them near a window.

However, high-intensity LED lights can have the opposite effect which can cause black spots or algae growth on your moss ball.

To avoid this, it’s best to either place the light source further away from the tank or get a lower intensity light.

One we do recommend is the “Spectrum Fish Tank Light with LCD Monitor” which is not only good for your fish “but” perfect for plants including moss balls. Click here to check out the price on amazon.

How Much Light Do Moss Balls Need?

Providing the right amount of light is important for marimo balls, as too little light can cause them to grow slowly or not at all. Too much light can also be harmful to the moss

The best way to figure out how much light your moss ball needs is by trial and error. Start with a low level of light and increase it gradually until you see the moss ball start to grow.

Once you have found the perfect balance, stick with that level of light and your moss ball should do well!

Can Moss Balls Thrive Without Light?

Hopefully, by now you should know the answer to this question, and that is NO! Moss balls cannot thrive without light as they need it to photosynthesize.

If you don’t provide your moss ball with enough light, it will start turning a light pale color and will eventually die if you don’t take action!

So make sure that you provide your moss ball with the right amount of light, whether it’s from a natural or artificial source.

If your moss ball has started to go pale just increase the light for a few days just until it has regained its color.

Top Tip: If your moss ball has faded in color take it out of the tank clean it and place it in freshwater then put it in the fridge for 24 hours. This process basically shocks the moss ball back to life!

After 24 hours you should notice that the moss ball has its vibrant green color back. At this point, you can then return it to the fish tank!

Final Thoughts

So now you know the answer to the question, do moss balls need light? The answer is YES! Moss balls cannot grow or thrive without light as they need it to photosynthesize.

If this is your first time adding a moss ball to your fish tank just make sure that you provide it with the right amount of light from either a natural or artificial source and it should do well!

If you want to know more don’t forget to check out the rest of our articles about moss. Thanks for reading!