Java ferns and tannins

eveliens

eveliens

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Mar 5, 2005
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NWA, USA
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I've never been able to grow java ferns well in a variety of tanks, bio-loads, and lighting. Recently, the ferns in my low-light, low-stock 29 have exploded with babies. I have about 10 plants shooting off babies and have given several others away.

What gives?

The only difference is this tank has real driftwood and is tinted with tannins. Could that be the reason the ferns are thriving? If so, why?

The other plants in the tank (swords and java moss) seem to be unaffected.
 
I don't think that's it. I have a java fern in a 10g tank that, while there's driftwood, there's no tannin stain, yet the plant has practically become a bush.
 
The reason I say the tannins is because that's the only thing that's changed. The ferns were in there before with the same stock, same light. I don't add ferts or overfeed. It wasn't until I added the driftwood I noticed a change. Weird.
 
They've been in there for at least 6 months, probably longer. They were doing okay, just not really growing. I added the driftwood about a month/month and a half ago. Now all of them are shooting out babies like crazy.

If anything, it's probably time to change the bulb. I doubt it's giving off much useful light at this point.
 
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