Some questions about java fern

[Jspigs]

A couple of java ferns hitched a ride with some java moss that I got at my new lfs and I decided to keep them but I have some questions about them.

1. Will java fern help lower ammonia, nitrite, nitrate?

2. Will java fern form a "carpet" across the bottom of my tank?

3. Is java fern a low light plant?

4. Will java fern die if I don't inject co2?

5. Do I need to use fertilizer in my tank to keep java fern alive?

6. Anything else I should know about caring for java fern?

[Pearl]

Java fern is a low-light plant that does best when attached to driftwood. (Don't bury the rhizomes.) It can also survive without CO2 injections, although I do add a liquid carbon (Flourish Excel) twice a week.

[tanker]

1) Yes, but very little.
2) No, it will grow up (tall).
3) Yes, to a point.
4) No, it will do find W/O CO2.
5) No
6) No--Simple plant to raise.

[TechAquaria]

ANY plant will do fine without Co2 injections. Look at mother nature, she never injects it. However, conditions in your tank should be conductive to good vegetative growth--i.e. abundant nutrients and this include dissolved organic carbon. Mother nature delivers this to plants in the form of decaying vegetable matter, fish wastes, dying microbes, etc.

Java Fern is rather slow growing, even under ideal conditions--in my humble experience.

Yes, it WILL use up nitrogen (ammonia, nitrites, urea, nitrates, etc.), just a lot slower than the fast growing plants.

It grows quite dense in my tanks. It "makes babies" on adult leaves like crazy. Most of the time, these become free floating, at some date, and I "plant" them on suitable surfaces. Frequently, a lot of the babies will naturally attach to the surface(s) the parent plant(s) are growing upon.

Java Fern is worth growing; I love the stuff. In terms of "easy to grow", desirability, and beauty, I'd give it a two thumbs up!

Regards,
TA

[FindingBlemo]

My Java Fern, like TechAquaria's produce little baby Java's from the tips of their leaves, they eventually fall off and root somewhere in the tank, or I find them all the time stuck to the inflow tube of my HOB filter. Great plant for a patient beginner!

[colematthewmala]

Java fern is a great plant, fish tend to leave it alone, it's a low light, low fert plant. It does best attached to stuff. Also it won't make a carpet on the bottom of your tank. :)

[illgore_trout]

java fern rocks. none of my fish or snails have ever eaten it. once you've had it growing for about six months, you'll be surprised at how many more rhizome stalks you can separate to form their own clump. also, the leaves growing leaves thing is wicked mutant plant power