[Wet Thumb Forum]-Question on Java Fern

[Johncjy]

Hi, I am planning a tank with this plant as the main attraction and would like some expert advice..

1) Is it common that the leaves have black spots (or turn black) and appear "broken" in places?
2) I notice that it has a large root system and most if not all of it will be above the substrate... is it necessary to feed ferts directly to the roots?
3) Is it true that the water has to be soft for them to grow well?

Thanks in advance

[Johncjy]

Hi, I am planning a tank with this plant as the main attraction and would like some expert advice..

1) Is it common that the leaves have black spots (or turn black) and appear "broken" in places?
2) I notice that it has a large root system and most if not all of it will be above the substrate... is it necessary to feed ferts directly to the roots?
3) Is it true that the water has to be soft for them to grow well?

Thanks in advance

[menschenjaeger]

The water requirements for Java fern are that the water must be:

1. Wet
2. Not boiling


That plant can tolerate an unheated aquarium at room temp, or much warmer temps. It will grow in soft, acidic water or brackish water. It should NOT be planted in the substrate, however. While it will grow (the thickest growing in the gravel in the lab where I work say so!), it does best as an epiphyte on driftwood or rock. It goes absolutely APE with CO2.

The spots are fairly typical, but do indicate it is not happy, somehow. Light, or more likely nutrients...

anybody?

[Johncjy]

OK, setup the tank about 2 week ago. The Java Fern and Windelov is indeed a slow grower but they produce the finest bubbles!. Now I see signs of new shoots sprouting out so that should be a good sign... BUT .. the tip of some of the leaves are like semi-transparent green .. any ideas why this is, some sort of deficiency? Will the tips eventually be "covered" completely? My DIY CO2 ran out the last couple of days and has only recently been replace.. could this be the cause? HELP!

Thanks again

[Johncjy]

Hi, I'll remember not to boil my water..

Someone did mention about adding nitrogen to speed things up.. how do I add nitrogen? Anybody?

regards,

[Dojo]

transparent tips is a GOOD sign. It means the leaves are growing. They grow this way, and the tips will always seem transparent but you'll notice the leaf getting larger.

Good job, they're growing healthy.

[hubbahubbahehe]

if you have a lot of fish , you don't need to wrory about nitrogen. if you don't have a lot of fish, you can always feed more frequently and that will help add more nitrogen. in my experience, it's enough to get nitrogen from fish food. you will know when you lack nitrogen, when you lack it, your java ferns will melt ... trust me, i had that happen to me when i did 50% water changes every other day (overdosed copper and zinc and needed to dilute it)