Java Moss growing in brown.

[rsanz]

I'm having trouble with my Java Moss. It's growing in brown. Here's my setup:

20 Gallon Long tank
- Eco-Complete substrate
- Medium/Heavy bioload (see stock in signature)

System
- 20w t-8 fixture (soon to be 2x18w T-5 fixture coming in the mail tomorrow)
- Lighting stays on for 10 hours per day on a timer
- Low-tech, dose Excel every other day (will soon be dosing Flourish Trace as well).
- Flourish root tabs

The Java Moss itself is tied to a rock. It's about halfway up the depth of the tank. It's just not doing well at all. Here's a photo. Maybe you can tell me what's going on? I can see that the tips of new growth are green, but everything below it is browned completely. As a reference, the Cabomba in the background is brand new, so it's nice and green.

Thanks!

 

[Hooked Newbie]

Ok, this may sound strange... have you tried vaccing it? I found that mine was trapping alot od detritus and food and since I began "gravel" vaccing it it is dark green and thriving. It takes a little finesse to not suck the moss itself up the tube, but you'd be amazed at what may come out of it.

 

[DAVIDFBT]

Has it been in a low light environment for a while? I had my moss in about .75 WPG, but after I upgraded to 1.7 WPG, the new growth started to turn green and after I vacced it like HN said, it turned green again.

 

[rsanz]

Looks like I have some vac'ing to do this evening! And currently the light is at 1wpg, but will be up to 2wpg once my shipment comes in tomorrow.

So I'll vacuum the bugger and install the new light fixture and see how it goes.

Are the browned parts of the plant salvageable? Or are they a lost cause? Will they "turn" back to green, or are they already past the point of salvation?

 

[Hooked Newbie]

Looks like I have some vac'ing to do this evening! And currently the light is at 1wpg, but will be up to 2wpg once my shipment comes in tomorrow.

So I'll vacuum the bugger and install the new light fixture and see how it goes.

Are the browned parts of the plant salvageable? Or are they a lost cause? Will they "turn" back to green, or are they already past the point of salvation?

If not completely dead, they should green back up. At least mine did. Forgot to ask... are you adding any ferts?

 

[rsanz]

I add Flourish Excel, Flourish Root Tabs, and I'm going to start adding Flourish Trace tomorrow.

 

[Hooked Newbie]

Should be more than fine. Let us know how the vaccing goes.

 

[blissskr]

Gravel vaccing it does require finess too much for me lol, I take mine out and put it in a spaghetti strainer and just run it under some water for a minute to clean it off. Works like a charm.

 

[Hooked Newbie]

Gravel vaccing it does require finess too much for me lol, I take mine out and put it in a spaghetti strainer and just run it under some water for a minute to clean it off. Works like a charm.

LOL, nice. Mine is attached in all my tanks so I can't do that, but it's a great idea!

 

[DAVIDFBT]

I have all of my java moss attached to driftwood. Except when some of it gets knocked off by an ADF dive-bombing back to the ground.