Can you help me to improve the health on my Java Fern?

[davidao25]

Voted bla myself. I have a java fern that does exactly the same thing. It is attached to rocks in an african cichlid tank, lighting is low/mod (2 t8 bulbs over a 75 gallon tank). Java fern grows as does anubias however the java fern gets brown spots on the leaves and then they drop off after turning brown. I've tried everything from changing light bulbs to stopping water changes to see if the increase in nitrates helps, no change. I'm now experimenting dosing with iron to see if that helps.

Hi nonamesleft47

There is a big difference between my plant and yours. The leaves were not getting worse than on my first photos. They wouldn't turn brown and drop off like yours. Actually leaves on my plant rarely die. They just had the brown spots and apart from that the leaves were strong and healthy. On the diagram posted above (thanks Fyurae) my plant plant problem is still not identified or maybe could be a mild phosphate deficiency :huh:?

I think only time and eliminating possible factors one by one will tell... Or someone who had this exact problem before.

 

[RisiganL.]

I wouldn't add more fish or overfeed as a way to get more nutrients to your plants. To risky. Just look for some aquatic plant fertilizers. Also, how big is your tank?

 

[davidao25]

I wouldn't add more fish or overfeed as a way to get more nutrients to your plants. To risky. Just look for some aquatic plant fertilizers. Also, how big is your tank?

4 gal. It's a kids tank, I know... :bday: (I just love these emotions)

 

[Sigrid]

The older leaves on Javaferns tend to get spotty and looking ratty. Cut them off and things will look better....SAME GOES FOR HOUSEPLANT in any given room in the home...

 

[davidao25]

The older leaves on Javaferns tend to get spotty and looking ratty. Cut them off and things will look better....SAME GOES FOR HOUSEPLANT in any given room in the home...

Hi Sigrid
I would agree if the problem was in a few old leaves but this was affecting most of the plant. If a plant looks ratty is because their environmental conditions are not optimal i guess.

 

[gmh]

I think the plant looks really good. It's a java fern after all, and they do get those brown spots on the older leaves. I'm not sure I would change the bulb, add fish or do anything other than perhaps adding an hour of light per day and a small dose of Fourish or similar all purpose fertilizer every water change

 

[Sigrid]

Book:
Windelov's Tropica Catalogue
"Aquarium Plants" a complete introduction.

Leafes have short petioles 5-6cm wide and 10-30cm long, lanceolate, undivided, bright green and often with brown spots of necrotic tissue. It propagates in a vegetative manner by producing leaf buds on the sides of the leafes.