antwan Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 Hey there. I have never been able to keep java fern for some reason. This is a picture of what always happens to it. I have tried keeping it in my planted tank, with strong lighting, CO2 and ferts, but this happened. So now I've tried putting it in my discus tank with moderate lighting and no CO2 and ferts. pH is 6.4. Any ideas? After very generously being given this plant I would hate to see it die... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat692 Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 hey ant Ive had one go like that in my community planted tank with no idea why as well but the one in my small tank grows well (8000K bulb no ferts no co2 just fish plants and gravel) I wonder if they dont like too much ferts sounds odd but ???????????????????????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jude Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 I find java fern grows really well when there are no other plants in the tank with it. I have no idea why this is, perhaps it doesn't like competing for nutrients etc. Cheers Jude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwan Posted September 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 The plant is in with just a very small sword plant, but the lighting on top is pretty mediocre; two "daylight" bulbs which are pretty yellowish (that'll teach me for buying cheap bulbs). Any idea where to get "white" bulbs in Tauranga for cheap (opposed to $30 ones from the fish shop).? Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meesheelly Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 i have a problem with java fern as well. Its the only plant in my tank that looks sad. Mine goes all holey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jude Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 I don't think it likes a lot of light so the lighting should be ok. It doesn't like its roots buried but you seem to have it on driftwood so that can't be it either. Reading up on the net it said some plants seem to melt but that they recover again. This link talks about the need for nutrients to avoid melt and points out that the fern can't get nutrients from the gravel - so needs it in the water. http://www.aquariumfish.com/aquariumfis ... 04&search= Hope that helps Cheers Jude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwan Posted September 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 That's a good link, thanks Jude. I'll try adding some ferts to the tank and see how things progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 Good lighting is the key IMHO Our planted tank has 7 CAEs, so we wanted to grow a bit of algae, so I opened the curtain. The Java Fern gets 4 hours of sunlight a day, and since then growth is substantial, and all the leaves are bright bright green, before this (even with ferts) half of the plant always looked dead and only the new growth was green. It seems to strongly benefit from good full spectrum lighting. My tank has alot of plants, and I've stopped using ferts. Ph 7.0 - 7.2 temp is high at 28-29C, and its got around 2000L/hr filtration and DIY CO2. Friend of mine also suggested that it prefers clean water. If you are shopping for fluoro bulbs, get Phillips Colour 86 '6500K' Cool Daylight. If you're using those eco-saver bulbs, Budget make a 6500K bulb, and Switched On Gardner will have something for you too. If your light is yellow (even just a tint of yellow) its the wrong temperature. Bulbs should be bright white. It must say 6500K on the box, eco bulbs are normally 2700K. Edit: just realised what I posted is the exact opposite of the advice above sorry! but this is what I have found it could be a fluke maybe? perhaps my tank matured around the same time I opened the curtain *shrug* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 I threw my ferns out and left them all winter in a plastic container behind the garage where there is hardly any light and they survived.I took pity and brought them back in and they are starting to thrive again. cheers Jim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 Don't forget that it is a fern and is not feeding from the roots. only from the nutrient in the water. The harder the water the more light is required I find. If you are doing frequent water changes you may be stripping the nutrient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 I usually recommend Java fern as a good beginner plant as it survives anything! Perhaps mine does so well as I rarely do water changes :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwan Posted September 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 That would make sense because this tank gets a 50% water change every day...so I imagine it would be stripping the plant of its required nutrients. I'll get those ferts into it and see how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
me love fishy Posted September 27, 2006 Report Share Posted September 27, 2006 You could be right there Caryl My java fern grows like mad and I only do a 30% water change every two weeks. Is there a specific reason why you do such large and frequent water changes in this tank? If so then maybe java fern isn't the best plant for the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwan Posted September 27, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2006 Yea, I do the water changes because I have young discus in the tank that are still growing. By doing frequent water changes it means there are little to no nitrates in the water which are ideal conditions for growth. I'm not exactly sure why nitrates inhibit growth, but they do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 27, 2006 Report Share Posted September 27, 2006 Most things with fish are a compromise. Nitrates inhibit the growth of discus and lack of nitrate inhibits Java fern it seems. Plants need phosphate also (to build protein) so the water changes will be stripping everything including micronutrients. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magenta Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 We had Java ferns initially that weren't really Java ferns - they looked a lot like them (well to us as beginners), but they were apparently bog plants and once completely submerged they slowly die. Same thing happens to some plants sold as amazon swords I think... Anyway, we replaced our with some that are definitely Java ferns, and they have really flourished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat692 Posted January 28, 2007 Report Share Posted January 28, 2007 BUMP Put a few Java ferns in my planted, and my 1000L and both lots have turned brown-like the leaves are rotting :evil: the only place I seem to be able to get the stuff to grow is in the planted part of my 1000Ls sump and the tank I have setup for my baby amazon swords to grow out ---no ferts lots of fish anyone got any more ideas/experiences Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted January 28, 2007 Report Share Posted January 28, 2007 My Java Fern stopped getting the nasty brown holes, and started producing gorgeous bright green leaves when I started dosing Flourish (normal Flourish, not Excel or Iron). I know its a deficiency, just can't remember what nutrient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shiuh Posted January 28, 2007 Report Share Posted January 28, 2007 my Java fern turn yellow, look like crap. i dont do water change either.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paekakboyz Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 I was under the impression that water changes (weekly - 20-30%) actually replenish trace elements that plants require? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 i only do a wc on my s.e asian tank 1ce a month and have low lighting and the java fern loves it... i have to get some camboda ib ther as well sometime as the tank looks pretty plain with only one species of plant in!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle.g Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 I find that Java ferns grow very well in my community tank. There is only a couple of other types of plants in the tank (which might help) and not many fish. I am often getting baby plants growing off the old leaves of the adult plants. Some of them are growing on logs and others planted in the gravel and they seem happy in either place. The lighting is not very good in my tank. So, I would try some plant fertiliser, because I have never found the lighting to be a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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