Java Fern Question

[ace61502]

I've got a bunch of java fern tied to driftwood and a rock. It grows. It grows by the leaves propagating new plants like crazy, which float off and then tangle into other plants. It grows like CRAZY that way. I've been fishing them out and moving them to another tank.

What it is NOT doing is growing horizontally to cover the driftwood. I thought it was supposed to do that, too? The rock looks about the same now as it did when I tied it on. The leaves are longer, and it's "had babies", but the rock is showing absolutely ZERO new coverage. I guess I got the fern like 4-6 months ago? I forget when it was. Am I not being patient enough? Does full coverage come by attaching the new plants? Hoping not, since that means an awful lot of disturbing the tank to pull that big driftwood out so much.

Any help appreciated, as well as any comments (constructive criticism welcome) on my tank as a whole...

July 10, before all the plastic came out and hornwort and Brazilian elodea added

Aug 12 - added crypts, Ambulia (ended up eaten)

Today - added American elodea and java moss (on driftwood in back left corner behind new American elodea)

WOW looking at the Aug 12 and today's pictures my crypts are doing GREAT!!!

 

[hawkdaddy]

i have had a planted 10 gallon tank with several java fern for around 10 months, and i have exactly the same problem as you. the java fern sprout new leaves and roots from the old leaves, then these break off and float in the tank. i have just finished moving a large amount of plant to my larger tank, but i haven't noticed any horizontal growth of my ferns in the 10 months. sorry for the bad news. your tank looks great tho, liking the angelfish.
Good Luck ! Hawkdaddy

 

[ace61502]

Ack! I forgot to subscribe to my own thread (is there any way to make that happen automatically?) and I'm just now seeing your reply.

My crypts are doing AMAZING, lots more growth since the picture above from a month ago...

Ferns relatively unchanged. I do love them on my nifty big driftwood "center"piece, though.

 

[GrayScale]

What kind of lighting are you using? Sometimes that can affect horizontal vs. vertical growth depending on the plant.

 

[ace61502]

I've got an el cheapo lighting setup. LOL VERY cheap. Two $8 clip on desk lamps from Walmart with 20w 6500k CFLs. I've been thinking of adding a third, but I don't want to go high tech, and I already have a bit of algae (and extremely shy otos?), so I don't want to push it. The java fern on the big driftwood definitely gets the most light, since it's elevated in the tank and one of those lamps is aimed right at it.

Should I add a third lamp? Is there a VERY CHEAP but better alternative?

ETA: If that's the best they'll do shy of going high tech or forking out a lot of $$ I'm perfectly ok with it. They are growing, just not the way I'd prefer them to. LOL I can always tie on the babies to get more coverage. I also wonder sometimes if I'd even like it as much with more coverage since I love that driftwood so much. If it was covered completely it would lose some character.