markbravo

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...b/DSC00360.jpg

its been growing on the roots of my java ferns.. anyone have any idea what it is and what causes it and how i can eliminate it? also if you have any idea why my leaf looks like that? thanks!

Zapins

Your link is broken.

Also to embed a picture in your post type [ img ] Link here [ /img ]

markbravo

sorry about that.. here is the pic

Glaucus

The fine perpendicular strands on the roots are root hairs and these are seen very clearly on java fern roots. They can grow to be 1 mm or more in length. Thus it can be easily mistaken for some types of algae. Root hairs aid the plant in nutrient acquisition but the viability of the plant is not dependent on it. After a short period of life, root hairs die and this region becomes the mature zone of the root.

The glassy look of the leaf, i'd say, shows a leaf that is still in development stage and has yet to produce more chloroplasts. These contain chlorophyll and makes the plants' appearance greener / less transparant. This you'll see in each emerging java fern leaf and has nothing to do with deficiencies.The leaf looks healthy to me.

Hope this helps.

Glaucus

Zapins

I second what Glaucus said.

Also for the image posting, same as you had it but with no spaces. I will fix your post so it links.

markbravo

no algae then? yey! i didnt need my siamese algae eaters then.. lol.. time to get rid of hem as im gonna breed my german blue rams... dont want them eating the eggs..