Solutions to the slow growth of java fern

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dereks

dereks

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Mar 7, 2006
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I'm trying to create a java fern wall. I bought a sheet of mesh and stuck it to the back wall of my aquarium. With a ban saw, I cut a piece a driftwood into thin strips (1/2" x 1/2"). I zip tied the java fern to the pieces and zip tied the pieces to the mesh.

I've got co2, trace elements, and 2 watts per gallon of 6700k lighting.

My question:

Do you think the java fern will still grow on the thin strips? Or did I mess that up by creating smooth edges on the wood?

Is there anything else I can be doing to get this stuff to grow?

I love java fern but hate the wait!
 
tanker

tanker

Josh Holloway--Be mine!!!
Sep 1, 2003
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Jessica
Java fern is a slow grower, no matter what you do. My Java fern grew really big, high lights, CO2 and all. I had 4watts per gal with CO2. It grew big, but still grew slow.
 
Fish_Bone

Fish_Bone

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Jun 14, 2012
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I had java fern in a NON Co2 low light tank and it grew into a awesome huge bunch. but like tanker said it wasn't over night by any means.
 
FreshyFresh

FreshyFresh

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Jan 11, 2013
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Dereks, the bunch in my 10g has taken a year to look like this:


 
Byron Amazonas

Byron Amazonas

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Jul 22, 2013
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As others have noted, Java Fern is very slow growing. And at this point, a caution. If you only have JF and no other plants, I would not use CO2, high light and increased nutrient fertilization. Being a slow-growing plant, it thus does best with low to moderate light, no added CO2, and minimal nutrient fertilization. If these requirements are increased, the plant cannot make use of them and algae will. Brush algae on JF is very common, and due to excess light/nutrients. If you have other faster-growing plants in the same tank, having some floating plants to shade the JF usually works to avoid the brush algae.

Byron.
 
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