Help With My Plants

[benthyer]

So I got some plants for my tank to help deal with the high nitrate levels that i get straight from the tap and have picked some plants which I was told were easy to keep. However I have noticed that some of them are struggling and don't know what to do. I have taken some pics so hopefully you guys can help me
 
I have also left them in the sponge wrapping that they came in, is this the right thing to do or do I need to remove it?
 

 

 
Not too sure what this is but i have two of them and one seems fine but this one is really struggling, I have noticed it's roots have come back up through the gravel is this normal?
 

 
This is sprouting some weird reddy brown growth?
 

 
Hope you can help me, also just so you know and I am sure you will realise, I also have fake plants in here as well
 
 

 

 

[NeonBlueLeon]

Yes, your live plants should be taken out of the cotton/sponge.  The plant in the second pic are cryptocorynes of some kind.  Below that is Java Ferns.  Below that looks like Spiral Vals.  Plants also need to given a carbon food source (not the carbon we use in filters) such as CO2.  Seachem Flourish Excel works for some plants as well.  Light and carbon are the two very basic necessities to keep plants alive.

 

[daizeUK]

The second pic is a crypt.  This plant likes to absorb nutrients through its roots so a root tab placed underneath may improve it.  It looks like the leaves are browning, are these new leaves or old leaves?  If new leaves are growing brown then this is normal as some crypts are naturally brown e.g. beckettii
 
The third pic is a java fern, this would be happier if you tie it to wood or rocks.  At least the rhizome needs to be above the gravel.  The roots are looking for something to cling on to.
 
The fourth pic is twisted vallis and looks like it is melting.  Vallis will often melt and then put out fresh new growth, or if it doesn't like your water then sometimes it will just melt.  Vallis can be picky about where it will grow!  There's not much you can do about that one.

 

[benthyer]

Thanks for the advice guys, I have now planted everything without the wrapping around the roots and have tied my java ferns to my bogwood.....sorta haha.
 
I'll look at buying something to add to the water to help the plants.
 
I think thw brown leafs on the crypts are the old ones