Java Fern Disease?

[Jer-]

Hi

I have asked this before on this forum but no one seemed to know the answer to it as no one replied me...

Well... the problem went away and now it is back... and even more fatal.

I have 2.6watts (approx) over my tank. I have CO2 fertilization kept at 30+ ppm. I also have Fertilizers (tetra initial sticks... not that great imo) in the substrate. I dont have a phosphates/nitrate test kit, cos i never thought that i needed one. I do 10-20 percent water changes every 4 days or so. Oh and i also dose JBL Ferropol (liquid) when i remember to...which is not very often to be honest, like once every 2 or 3 weeks.

What do u think the problem is? Could it be snails? I have some Malaysian trumpet snails in the tank with some round tiny ones that came from some plants...

Please help. Heres a photo.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/Dutchythetootle/DSC01888.jpg

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

I have 8 or 9 java ferns located in 4 different tanks. The ones I have seem to do best in the tanks where they are furthest from the light. The ferns on the bottom grow more and are healthier looking than the ones I had attached to wood in the upper half of the tank. (hence, I moved them all near the bottom.)

I have snails, too and they don't seem to bother.

Hopefully someone will come along who knows a little more about this....

 

[George Farmer]

Some of the leaves on my fern look very similar - I remove them as soon as I see a sign of the symptom. Only leaves that are almost completely shaded seem affected.

I've no real idea what causes it though I'm afraid. I have MTS and Amano shrimp but they generally stay off the fern.

Aquarium plant disease is generally quite rare so this may be why you can't find any info.

Sorry I can't help any furthur.

 

[scott67892002]

don't know if this is the answer but had this problem big black dots on the leaves and bits missing started using using tropica master grow (not to solve the problem) and the problem seems to have gone. may be just a coincidence.

 

[Jer-]

This problem is back again...

sorry to bring the post back up, but I was wondering whether I can email "TROPICA" about this problem and have them experts solve my problem?

anyone know anything about this? does tropica provide such a service? or would I be wasting my time?

Thanks

 

[George Farmer]

They are very helpful so I would definitely try. Let us know their response.

 

[Jer-]

Nematodes was their answer. and yes, they are quite helpful, the Tropica people, offering aid when its not their usual service.

heres their reply email.

Dear Jeremy,

You most probably have a problem with nematodes – the shape and colours of the plamages on your leaves of your Java fern are typical for an infection with nematodes. My suggestion is to remove all leaves with visible signs of infection – in theory, the plant should reestablish with new leaves without nematodes. However, if newly settled leaves remains infected, then next step will be to cut the whole plant down.

Good luck


Ok, now that I know that it could e nematodes, anyone know how to a tank with these things?
i have read several articles on the net bout these bad-asses, but they seem to be concerned with the fish more, and not the plant. And a search of "aquarium plant nematodes" show up results about farm and agricultural nematodes...not aquarium.

Please help.
Im in desperate need of help.

 

[George Farmer]

Interesting reply. I too have only heard of nematodes with regards animals.

 

[Ste_J]

I've got the same thing going on with my java although the planlets are fine. Just using it to produce planlets at the moment and then will go for a harsh trim when I'm feeling brave.

 

[Jer-]

Christ, I have now taken out the Whole Java Fern and put it in a bucket...I will rinse the whole plant out tomorrow. Tonight i will turn the lights on in the dead of nite and look for any weird looking bugs. If i cant find any, then I guess there is nothing i can do.

Jus a question tho, do you think that this "disease" looks as tho its been caused by bugs and pests or does it look like a nutrient deficiency to you. I have been on the net searching forever for information on Aquarium plant nematodes, but i got Nothing. nothing at all. So, forgive me if I start doubting the advice from the TROPICA staff member...

So, what do you think?

HELP...please

 

[scott67892002]

did the same research also found nothing on aquatic plants but reading some of the farm related search results aparanty fertilizers help reduce their numbers and some types do attack plant leaves and stems! what i find odd is that no other plants seem to sufer!

 

[Jer-]

did the same research also found nothing on aquatic plants but reading some of the farm related search results aparanty fertilizers help reduce their numbers and some types do attack plant leaves and stems! what i find odd is that no other plants seem to sufer!

Yea it is really weird how only the Java fern is sick...
But like I mentioned, leaves in contact with the sick leaves of the Fern also develop this symptom... but thats only minor, not as severe as the java fern itself.

 

[scott67892002]

taking out damaged leaves and using ferts is about as good as you can get then!!!