Java fern problems

Blinky

Blinky

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Jun 22, 2004
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Something's wrong with my Java fern, wondering if anyone can help before it completely disintigrates.
When I put the plant into my tank it started pearling almost immediately, and looked happy and healthy, pearling like mad, for many days afterwards. Now the largest leaves are turning brown in the centre, it's almost as if the part of the leaf between the ribs is dying, but the leaf structure remains (it looks like a window with many panes). It's noticably worse tonight than it was yesterday, and I'm at a loss. All the other plants are doing very well, the only thing I can think of is that the plant may actually not like having as much light as it does. My bristlenose did rub some thin spots in the sword I used to have, but I can't imagine him doing this much damage, especially this quickly. Any ideas? If it's the amount of light, if I remove the plant to a tank with less light will it recover, or is it a lost cause? Thanks for the help :)
Specs:
65g tank
4.6WPG PC
DIY CO2 ~35ppm
pH 6.4-6.6
KH ~4
NH3/NO2 0
NO3 10ppm
PO4 0.5ppm
Ca 20ppm
50% pwc weekly
fertilizing with PMDD (with some CaNO3 and KCl added) & KH2PO4
 
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Blinky, I am by no means the expert on this forum (or most other for that matter) but did have similar issues with the java I put higher up in my Oscar tank, I got some new growth but not much, all of my larger leaves would desintegrate just the way you described, but pearling was always very strong. I have Jave lower down and shaded in the same tank that grows very well. I decided it had to be too much light, and eventually removed everything close to the lights. I don't consider this conclusive evidence, but do believe you are on to something. I have not re-tried the java up high since I started adding calcium, but may do so.
Dave
 
Thanks Dave, that sort of confirms the theory. You mentioned that you didn't see much growth - this plant has been in the tank over a month now, and still hasn't attached to the wood. It just doesn't seem 'happy' there. I think I'll try it in my 14g and see what happens - it can't really look much worse, and maybe it will recover and start putting out healthy growth, either way I really don't think I have much to lose. The 14g tank has 4WPG, but the bulbs are PC spirals so they're not as efficient as regular PC bulbs, so I'd say the tank is medium light. Upon close inspection, the leaves that are falling apart seem to be developing baby plants underneath. Maybe having lots of light triggers this, I'm very interested in finding out more about these plants.
 
Do you have any new growth, new leaves, and if so are they healthy?

I strongly suspect java fern transitions. It grows longer stiffer and darker green under higher light. I suspect it needs to adapt, somehow. That is what I have seen over the years. Usually the end result is new plantlets forming, along with new growth from the root tip.
Some of mine looks exactly as you describe, but it is putting on some growth. I have been cutting off the worst leaves but leaving some to see if I can get them to put out plantlets.

Back in the 80s I bought some of this from the Albany Aquarium, in CA. The guy that ran that shop told me at the time that it would grow under low light, and, that people didn't like it because it turned black.

You start with plantlets that look sort of like sword plants but in the end it gows more like bolbitis. More like this __()__()__()__()
 
I wonder if it's the temperature?!

Dave, I'm curious, what's the temperature in your tank? I posted this question over at the Planted Tank, and got some interesting advice - Javas don't like it hot, something I never thought about. My apartment stays quite warm, the tanks are all at ~80-82F (heaters are set to 79F to prevent temperature drops, but rarely kick on). Once the PCs have been on for a while, my 65g can get up to 85F. One person at TPT said their Java turned brown in a tank at 85F and then boomed after the tank temperature was lowered to 78F.
I've moved the fern to the 14g - it's lower light and stays around 80-82F, so hopefully that will help :)

[edit] Ergo sum, it actually hasn't put on any new growth (other than starting to grow plantlets) that I've seen, and refused to attach to the bogwood. It looks absolutely awful, but hopefully it will perk up in the 14g. If not, the one up side is that because I work at a LFS I get plants at a discount, and this isn't a prized plant I've had for years, so if it doesn't make it I'll do some research and if I find I can provide adequate conditions for it I'll try again :) [/edit]
 
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My java fern is not shaded at all on driftwood and some is getting close to the water surface. The only thing I've noticed is that the leaves seen to be almost more 'rubbery' under high light. Temp is 78. I do get a lot of plantlets forming.
 
As I was reading your post at the start I was thinking temp, re: being nearer the lights. (Your tank is warmer than mine. My appt. is cool since I'm paying the heating lol. My tank needs its thermometer which is set to 78. Even with my lights running, the thermometer kicks on all day.)
I've noticed that my plants, in general, do better in cooler water.

But, of course its just speculation on my part. I had java fern awhile back. It did well in my lower lighted 25g with only 2 watt per gallon and heat about 78 degrees, lots of plantlets. I put it in the big tank and it didn't do much after being moved, so I pulled it out.
 
Some of it may be temp. But I have seen this plant do exactly the same thing in low temperatures. I often keep things at room temperatures, which can range as low as 60.

Part of the point I am making is that I think the plant transitions. If it is not putting on growth not attaching to the substrate but putting out plantlets I think that is what it is doing changing its form. Keep at least one of the plantlets in the tank. Let them grow. I bet they will.

Seems like I always have at least one growing on the filter intake.
 
Very, very interesting. Just when I think I'm getting a handle on plants, I learn something completely new! I'm going to keep my eye on it and see what happens, I'll keep you posted :)
 
Update

I've attached the fern firmly to a piece of bogwood in the 14g and it seems happier. The large leaves haven't deteriorated any further, and the smaller leaves are still a nice deep green. It's pearling a bit today, I'm happy to see it settling in. The shrimp absolutely adore it, they've been playing in the leaves since I put it in the tank :D
 
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