Brown Spots and tips on Lace Java Fern

pik01

pik01

AC Members
Sep 28, 2008
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San Jose, California
Hi guys, I have some lace java ferns that are getting brown spots and tips. It's been in the tank for about 7 weeks and at first I thought it just needed some time to get established in the tank. There are new leaves growing but the brow spots are persisting.

Tank Stats:
10 gallons, 8 gallons water
Substrate: 20 lbs Eco Complete
Filter: 2 Lustar Hydro I Sponge Filters
Heater: Visi-Therm Stealth 100W
Lighting: 2 x 10w compact fluorescent bulbs run from 2pm-10pm

Critters:
-Red Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina denticulata sinensis)
-2 Mystery Snails (Pomacea bridgesii)
-1 Horned Nerite (Clithon corona)
-Malaysian Trumpet Snails (Melanoides tuberculatus)

Plants:
-Java Moss (Taxiphyllum barbieri)
-Lace Java Fern (Microsorium pteropus var. Windelov)
-Rotala rotundifolia
-Dwarf Sagittaria (Sagittaria subulata)
-Sunset Hygrophila (Hygrophila polysperma 'Rosanervig')

Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 10
pH: 8.2
dKH: 20
dGH: 10

The ferns are off the substrate and currently tied to the driftwood and the moss arch. No ferts, no CO2, I wanna keep this super low tech. Is there something wrong with my lace java fern? Perhaps a nutrient deficiency of some sort? I've read that windelovs will sometimes suffer in too much light, but idk.

10g 12-06.JPG
Moss Arch B06.JPG

10g 12-06.JPG Moss Arch B06.JPG
 
You've got to get some ferts in your water column. I know you want to keep it low tech, but ferts are not high tech. You've got some pretty hard water, so I would start with micros and see how that does. You also have a small tank, so flourish two to three times a week should make some improvement. Good luck!
 
Ferns and moss like water flow. That's the first thing that jumps out at me when I look at your setup.

I have a couple 10gal tanks and very hard water too. They run 28watts of 6400k CFL's. I run the lights 12 hours consecutively.
The amount of nutrients in the source water seem to be enough without adding ferts. You could check our local water district website for a water quality report So that you have a base of what is available..
 
I've got a 29 with a freakin 18 watt bulb on it (I think) just strip light. my java fern are growing slow but they are doing fine.

there is some bleed over from a 29 with 65 watts

jave fern and java moss do not need a lot of anything.

pretty typical for java fern to have brown on the edge and in the leaf especially if the plants are new or regenerating. I recently got some in that looked dead wit a bit of green on it and it is doing great now. as long as the rhizome is intact you should be ok
 
the reason I'm a little apprehensive about dosing ferts is because of my shrimp. I've read many mixed reports about everything from massive die-offs to zero ill effects whatsoever. If I do check out the water quality report from my local water district, what should I look for?

I guess asking what I should dose (if ferts are unavoidable) is a little silly without first knowing what's in my water. Gotta track down that water quality report. I'm very new to planted tanks and I realize that adding ferts/CO2 is a huge step. Thanks for the advice so far!
 
So I think I've dug up the right water report here but I'm still unsure as to which values I should be most concerned with.

Which column do I look at: Average Local Groundwater or Average MWD Surface Water?

How do I interpret the hardness value? The report lists total hardness as ppm and grains/gal.

Which values are relevant to the plants in my tank? Does it look like there are any deficiencies?

Sorry for the barrage of questions, I don't even know if this is the right document but it does look like it.

edit: is there an easy way to increase water flow without endangering my shrimp and snails?
 
pik01 said:
So I think I've dug up the right water report here but I'm still unsure as to which values I should be most concerned with.

Which column do I look at: Average Local Groundwater or Average MWD Surface Water?

How do I interpret the hardness value? The report lists total hardness as ppm and grains/gal.

Which values are relevant to the plants in my tank? Does it look like there are any deficiencies?

Sorry for the barrage of questions, I don't even know if this is the right document but it does look like it.
Click to expand...

You will have to call the water district and ask them if your house is on the Metro supply or the Groundwater Supply.
There seems to be considerable differences on the report.

pik01 said:
edit: is there an easy way to increase water flow without endangering my shrimp and snails?
Click to expand...

HOB with a pre-filter. Or a small fountain pump.
 
HOB with a pre-filter."" I AGREE< also you can add a small powerhead or a internal filter like the fluval one, just make sure the slits are small enough , and def get the prefilter !! the shrimp LOVE it !!! the stay on mine like its there condo !!! LOL< you can buy they fluval blue sponge filter replacements for the fluval 4, they come in paks of 2, just cut one in half and use the middle pc cut it down and use it as a plug in the end and the other end fits snugly over your intake, on the HOB filter and a powerhead IF' You want that much flow, and you can out the powerhead toward the top of the tank, and using a prefilter will slow it a little, but you can put it on low speed, maybye throw a plant in front of it , and if its at the top of the tank, maybye after a few twirls :) LOL ~~ they will knoa the gym is upstairs .....LOL ~~
 
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