Jaide Posted December 2, 2008 Report Share Posted December 2, 2008 My java fern has developed fungus - at least I think that's what it is, it's going brown and hairy. None of the other plants in the tank are affected and are all growing well. What can I do to erradicate this if it is fungus? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted December 2, 2008 Report Share Posted December 2, 2008 probably an algae, black beard possibly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supasi Posted December 2, 2008 Report Share Posted December 2, 2008 It probably not a fungus, but rather the reproductive cycle of java fern. The brown hairy bit are most likley the roots of daughter plants that will form on the leaves. Actual plants will form shortly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaide Posted December 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2008 No, it had offshoots growing - but this fungus is covered all over the leaves and they're dying. It doesn't look like black beard, maybe the leaves are dying and going moldy? In which case, what could be causing it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 Do you have the plant buried in the media? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaide Posted December 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 No, it's attached to a log. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 Any chance of a photo Jaide? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaide Posted December 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 Yep As you'll note in the pic, only two healthy leaves left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supasi Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 Looks like its melted. Is there much water flow where it is situated?? Java fern likes to have water movement around the rhizome. How long have you had the plant?? Has there been any big changes, eg temp, water parameters etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaide Posted December 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 Looks like its melted. Is there much water flow where it is situated?? Java fern likes to have water movement around the rhizome. How long have you had the plant?? Has there been any big changes, eg temp, water parameters etc. Melted? No water flow around it, but I have another java fern doing very well in another tank and there's no water flow around that either (unless fish swimming by creates enough flow for it). I've had the plant for 3 weeks I think? Could be more - it was fine until recently. The only changes are that I added two javas that had become sick from meds added to another tank (as well as other plants in that tank) so fished them out and put them into this tank - the other plants (non java ones) are growing back since being moved to this tank, the java is not (they're still a mess) but they're not in contact with this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supasi Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Melt, Its a term used to describe what happens to some aquatic plants under stress or experiances sudden condition changes. Plants tend to turn brown, go mushy and loose all foliage. Most common in Cryptocoryne species, but also occurs in java fern and other aquatic plants. Excerpt taken from wikipedia 'Crypt melt' A phenomenon often encountered when planting new crypts in an aquarium is commonly called Crypt melt, whereby the plant loses all its leaves. There seem to be two possible causes for this. Rapid environmental changes is thought to trigger this, as these plants don't seem to adapt well to transplantion, and may need thirty days or so to become established and for the leaves to regrow. Experienced growers report that it is better to plant crypts in aquariums that have been established for at least three months Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaide Posted December 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Ok so, that's it? My javas are dead, no chance of them springing back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Sorry, I have heard of this but have never seen it happen so don't know. I would remove any dead leaves as they will break down and increase the biological load leading to algae problems. Leave the rhizome and see what happens---we may all learn something if you report back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaide Posted December 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 The half covered one leaf hasn't got any worse - it's still like that. Let's hope the plant recovers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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