Java fern problems

The tank where I had the difficulties is 74-76*F at all times. I have grown Java in my other tanks in temps from 76-80*F and actually had nicer fern in the other tanks. light levels are hard to judge because the big tank is 31" high and the java fern I was having difficulty with was within 8" of the surface. Algea levels are much lower in the small tanks courtesy of the ramshorn snails.
dave
 
My java fern doesn't attach to wood--I've tried numerous times, and it just won't, even after months. I finally starting puttin it on rock, and within a week, it's attached. I wouldn't remove the black leaves--let the planlets grow, then carefully remove them and attach. I suspect that this is a type of 'shock' reaction to a change--light, temp, pH, no clue which specific feature casues it. All mine originally dropped their leaves, but the 'root' bundle seemed intact, so I left them alone. The dropped leaves all sprouted plantlets, and new leaves grew in on the original mass. The same thing has happened each time I've culled out babies to put in new tanks. The healthiest set of plants has less then 1 WPG, no supplements, around 78f.
 
I've heard that a java fern can produce new plants from dark spots on it's leaves. I'm wondering if your conditions are so favorable, based on the amount of pearling you mentioned, that the plant is reproducing to it's own demise. My guess would be that you'd end up with several new plants that would grow quite well, until they did the same thing. Just a beginner's guess!
 
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OG, thanks for the pointers, it really helps to learn from someone else's experience - if it decides it doesn't like the wood, I'll see if I can find a nice rock for it :)
CLoach, it is definitely producing plantlets, but it seems to have stopped disintigrating so hopefully it'll make it and just lose a few leaves for a good cause :D
 
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