Java Fern

[ergo sum]

What is it that causes Java Fern to turn black?

[Swimfins]

If its little black circles on the undersides of the leaves, it means your plant is pregnant and you should see little plantlets soon. :) If it has darkened tips on the leaves, this is normal for this plant.

[ergo sum]

Thanks. I have seen that, but this stuff really doesn't look healthy. I have been cutting off some of the old leaves that are now turning brown. I just raised the temperature of the water this plant has been growing in. Maybe it is just that. I will watch it.

[WinterWind]

My java fern also has some leaves that are really black. I think it is just dirt and algae, b/c it comes off when you rub them. I just pluck some really black ones off and let new ones grow.

[reiverix]

If it has darkened tips on the leaves, this is normal for this plant.

I was always meaning to ask about that. Now I know, thanks.

[ergo sum]

Reiverix
I noticed you guys talking about adding Ca the other day. What do you use for that?

[reiverix]

If there's a calcium deficiency it causes leaves to go twisty and cupped. This is very noticable on broad leaf plants such as java fern and swords.

[ergo sum]

How do you supply it?

[reiverix]

I bought some CaCl2 from gregwatson.com and dissolved it in a 2 litre bottle of distilled water. I added enough so that 5ml would raise Ca by 1ppm.

Now, I wouldn't go adding calcium to your water just for the sake of it. That's just money down the drain and also something in the water column that is not needed. It took me a fair amount of research to take the calcium route and even then, there was some hesitation before taking the plunge.

I would reckon that most people do not need to dose calcium but an extreme deficiency is kind of obvious. White shelled snails are a good secondary indicator.

[happychem]

Last summer when the temperature in my tank soared (over 86F, that's as high as the therm. goes) I lost all my java fern. It all turned black and started melting. When the temperatures cooled, it all grew back.

I also noticed some turning brown and sickly a while ago, it looked very similar to when the temperature was rising but the temp. was only 76. Increasing circulation helped a bit, moving the Egeria densa out of the tank seems to have helped as well, although it could just be coincidence.

[ergo sum]

Don't worry. I am not about to start pouring things into my tanks I don't understand. I am much more likely to go low tech than high tech. Like throwing in a clam shell or something.
I have a hard enough time just convincing myself to raise the KH in the 30g which for some reason is almost zero. (I think this must be the turface in that tank)

[ergo sum]

I am really tending toward thinking it is the temperature. I have been moving a lot of things and I just raise the temperature from room about 68, less at night to about 78, even higher in one of the tanks. I will try lowering one in the next few days.