Black spots and leaf damage

[dougw]

I've had an ongoing problem with black spots and leaf damage on my plants. About three months ago I got more serious about controlling nitrates and started a fertilizer regiment. That's helped, but I still have the problem, as you can see from the picture of java fern leaves. I get a lot of growth, but the leaves don't do that well. Here are the particulars:

- 60-gal tank
- 4 clown loaches, 2 rainbows, 2 siamese algae eaters, about 6 swordtails (4 born in the tank), about 4 zebra danios, 2 clown plecostomus
- lots of java ferns (mainly rooted onto rocks and wood), 1 anubias nana, 2 acorus variegatus
- Coralife lighting (6700k, 96 watt)
- CO2 injection
- pH = 7.2
- nitrates range between 10 and 40 ppm (I am doing weekly water changes to control)
- phosphate ranges between 0 and 0.25 ppm
- iron ranges between 0 and 0.1
- add once a day: 5 ml Flourish iron
- add twice a week: 10 ml Flourish Trace, 10 ml Flourish potassium, 7 ml Flourish phosphorus

I'd appreciate any advice...

doug

 

[Slappy*McFish]

Black spots (spores) and 'damage' are normal on the older leaves of Java Fern. As long as the new growth looks good, don't fret. Just trim/prune the old leaves as needed. This will give the new leaves better growth.

 

[J double R]

:iagree:

 

[dougw]

Black spots (spores) and 'damage' are normal on the older leaves of Java Fern.

Thanks -- good to know I don't need to worry about it. What are spores?

 

[Slappy*McFish]

It's how the plant reproduces. These little black spores eventually will produce plantlets (baby plants).

Here's a good read about Java Fern.
http://www.aquaworldnet.com/awmag/javaen.htm