Java fern deficiency?

yeti79 · Nov 27, 2019

I use easy green fertilizer once a week and have good growth with my java ferns. The leaves eventually get brown spots then yellow and die even with the new growth after the initial submersion die off. Here are a couple pictures for reference. New to live plants and would appreciate the advice of more experienced plant growers.

Byron · Nov 28, 2019

If this link is the liquid fertilizer you are using, it would seem adequate from the ingredients listed.
https://www.aquariumcoop.com/products/easy-green-all-in-one-fertilizer

What is the aquarium light? And how long is it on daily?

Are the rhizomes of the Java Ferns above the substrate?

Back in the fold · Nov 28, 2019

My plants are all easy to grow and low light varieties. Hornwort, Java Moss, Java Fern and Frogbit. I don't fertilize at all and my plants are doing very well. I be sure to do my aquarium maintenance on a proper schedule, not over feed the fish and my lighting is adequate without going overboard with specialty plant lights. The Hornwort is doing so well that I will have to thin it pretty soon. Thanks to a lighting suggestion of @PheonixKingZ my plants kicked into high gear.

Retired Viking · Nov 28, 2019

I am also new to plants and have several Java Ferns, it is very important to have the rhizomes above the substrate like Byron asked. I use metal ties to keep my ferns in place until they attach themselves to something. I also changed my lighting to a more plant friendly light. Good luck with your ferns.

PheonixKingZ · Nov 28, 2019

Back in the fold said:
My plants are all easy to grow and low light varieties. Hornwort, Java Moss, Java Fern and Frogbit. I don't fertilize at all and my plants are doing very well. I be sure to do my aquarium maintenance on a proper schedule, not over feed the fish and my lighting is adequate without going overboard with specialty plant lights. The Hornwort is doing so well that I will have to thin it pretty soon. Thanks to a lighting suggestion of @PheonixKingZ my plants kicked into high gear.

Good!

My Java Fern is growing very well, it’s about 4 inches tall now, crazy.

PheonixKingZ · Nov 28, 2019

yeti79 said:
I use easy green fertilizer once a week and have good growth with my java ferns. The leaves eventually get brown spots then yellow and die even with the new growth after the initial submersion die off. Here are a couple pictures for reference. New to live plants and would appreciate the advice of more experienced plant growers.
View attachment 95269 View attachment 95270

Is your Java Fern buried in the substrate? If so, that might be your problem. Try tying the java Fern (Or supergluing) To a pice of lava rock.

Also, how many hours a day do you leave your light on for? (I have found that having my lights on for 14 hours a day is perfect.)

I will post a picture of my java Fern soon.

PheonixKingZ · Nov 28, 2019

Baby Java Fern (This was how big mine was when I got it.)

yeti79 · Nov 28, 2019

Byron said:
If this link is the liquid fertilizer you are using, it would seem adequate from the ingredients listed.
https://www.aquariumcoop.com/products/easy-green-all-in-one-fertilizer

What is the aquarium light? And how long is it on daily?

Are the rhizomes of the Java Ferns above the substrate?

The rhizomes are above the substrate, attached to rocks or decoration with super glue gel. Tetra Hidden Brilliant White LED Aquarium 6 Inch Stick and i have it on 12 hours a day.

Back in the fold · Nov 28, 2019

Hey @PheonixKingZ you got enough snails ?

PheonixKingZ · Nov 28, 2019

Back in the fold said:
Hey @PheonixKingZ you got enough snails ?

Lol, yeah....

I have estimated, between all 4 of my tanks, I have over 1,000 snails. :lol:

PheonixKingZ · Nov 28, 2019

yeti79 said:
The rhizomes are above the substrate, attached to rocks or decoration with super glue gel. Tetra Hidden Brilliant White LED Aquarium 6 Inch Stick and i have it on 12 hours a day.

Hmm..weird. According to your information, your Java Fern should be growing. Do you have any snails, or known pesticides in your tank?

Byron · Nov 29, 2019

yeti79 said:
The rhizomes are above the substrate, attached to rocks or decoration with super glue gel. Tetra Hidden Brilliant White LED Aquarium 6 Inch Stick and i have it on 12 hours a day.

Light may be too intense for Java Fern; it is a shade plant. Floating plants can help with this. Light duration of 12 hours is a lot, my tanks are on for 7 hours.

The above are general comments but could be part of the issue. Something else hit me, the iron (Fe) in the linked plant fertilizer is given as 0.00% on the website, can you check the label to see if this is correct? Lack of iron can cause yellowing leaves, but so can many other things, but something is not right here; I don't know why they would list iron if none is present.

yeti79 · Nov 29, 2019

PheonixKingZ said:
Hmm..weird. According to your information, your Java Fern should be growing. Do you have any snails, or known pesticides in your tank?

No snails or known pesticides.

yeti79 · Nov 29, 2019

Byron said:
Light may be too intense for Java Fern; it is a shade plant. Floating plants can help with this. Light duration of 12 hours is a lot, my tanks are on for 7 hours.

The above are general comments but could be part of the issue. Something else hit me, the iron (Fe) in the linked plant fertilizer is given as 0.00% on the website, can you check the label to see if this is correct? Lack of iron can cause yellowing leaves, but so can many other things, but something is not right here; I don't know why they would list iron if none is present.

My bottle list Iron content at 0.13% I will try cutting back on my lighting hours to see if that makes a difference.

yeti79 said:
No snails or known pesticides.

Forgot to mention the growth in the picture is after the initial melt off. I am getting good growth just losing maybe 1/3 of it to the yellowing. Sometimes very shortly after the growth starts others the leaf is more fully developed.

Byron · Nov 29, 2019

yeti79 said:
My bottle list Iron content at 0.13% I will try cutting back on my lighting hours to see if that makes a difference.

Forgot to mention the growth in the picture is after the initial melt off. I am getting good growth just losing maybe 1/3 of it to the yellowing. Sometimes very shortly after the growth starts others the leaf is more fully developed.

OK re the iron, I thought this was likely a mistake on the website.

Light change should help. Keep in mind that it takes time for such changes to "kick in," so don't expect a miraculous cure in a day or two, lol.

Search

Search

Java fern deficiency?

yeti79

New Member

Byron

Supporting Member

Back in the fold

That One Guy

Retired Viking

Fish Connoisseur

PheonixKingZ

Fish Guru

PheonixKingZ

Fish Guru

PheonixKingZ

Fish Guru

yeti79

New Member

Back in the fold

That One Guy

PheonixKingZ

Fish Guru

PheonixKingZ

Fish Guru

Byron

Supporting Member

yeti79

New Member

yeti79

New Member

Byron

Supporting Member

Similar threads

Most reactions

Useful Links