Just Wont Go Right

[daspricey]

hello!

i have a small 2.5g(i would guess) wich i have java fern and java moss in there.
but all of it's all brown???
it's coldwater.
has a few snails in there.
once the plants are sorted im cycling it and putting some shrimp in.
the light is a normal flouresent light(not made for aquarium sort from B&Q) and is 10w(also says something about t4).
anything else you need to know?
can anyone guess whats wrong with it.

many tanks

david

 

[14gtr14]

probably because it's coldwater! java moss and fern are tropical plants, so won't do well. What shrimp are you thinking about putting in??

you can also work out your volume in gallons by multiplying the height by length by depth and typing in:

"CALCULATED FIGURE" (cm or inches) to gallons---- into google

eg

"1234 inches to gallons"

 

[daspricey]

probably because it's coldwater! java moss and fern are tropical plants, so won't do well. What shrimp are you thinking about putting in??

i disagree, i have heard many people happily keeping the fern and moss in coldwater.sorry if i sound a lil rude there, if lets say it was tropical what do you think is wrong?
so my tank is 2.5 gallons(just what i thought)

i'm still looking into what shrimp would go nocely. might even get a 5g and make it tropical with crs.
thanks

david

 

[The-Wolf]

java fern Microsorum pteropus will do well in water rangeing from 17C to 30C
java moss Vesicularia Dubyana will equally do well in water ranging from 15c to 28c

I suspect the problem is that both plants do best when attached to some bogwood or slate, rather than be planted in a substrate

 

[daspricey]

java fern Microsorum pteropus will do well in water rangeing from 17C to 30C
java moss Vesicularia Dubyana will equally do well in water ranging from 15c to 28c

I suspect the problem is that both plants do best when attached to some bogwood or slate, rather than be planted in a substrate

i don't have a thermomiter in there but the house is warm, prob about 20*C.

atm some of the moss is attaching to some plastic canvus(http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230051262183&ssPageName=MERCOSI_VI_ROSI_PR4_PCN_BIX&refitem=330053668291&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&refwidgettype=osi_widget). also some are attaching to slate and it does seem to be a little heealthier and greener than the rest but not how it should be.

thanks

david

 

[dizzied]

I suppose the lighting doesn't provide the correct spectrum.

 

[14gtr14]

are you sure wolf? i have tried growing on both in a 5 gal with decent lighting (15 w) at around 18-21C, adding some liquid ferts every week. the moss started dying after about 48 hours and the ferns began blackening by a week.

....and it's not as if I can't grow them i have them in my 15 gallon with 1 wpg at tropical temps and they've been thriving.


about the shrimp. daspricey, yo would need to up the temperature to keep crs, cherry shrimp or amano/algae shrimp etc.


greg

 

[The-Wolf]

the reason java fern blackens is due to excessive light,
they really do prefer very little light

 

[14gtr14]

haha, ok, thanks wolf but it doesn't explain the moss!

 

[daspricey]

do ya think it's to much light?

i've got no co2 or ferts in there. maynbe thats the preblem. to much light but not enough nutrition.
there also a bita of algea in there.

still thinking weather im going the shrimp road. might even pack it in.

 

[jimbooo]

sorry to be blunt guys but i'm at work and have to be quick.

both will grow in coldwater perfectly well

both will work in low and very high light (sorry wolf i have both in 2.5WPG and seen it in up to 5 WPG)

is the plant/plants actually brown or is it a layer of brown dust on it (if so it's diatoms - a type of algae seen in the early stages of a new tank). pat the leaves and see if a brown cloud appears..

if so add some otto's, little guys but they love that stuff and wont really effect your stocking for the future.

good luck.

ps pic of my java fern in 2.5WPG

edit: if it's too much light but low nutrients it wont go brown, more yellow or pale but not brown.

 

[daspricey]

it's more like brown in spots. also some of the leaves are yellow.
sorry but imo the tanks to small even for ottos. i was never going to stock with fish. would a apple snail help?
tomorrow im going to strip the tank take all brown dead leaves leaving me with a small bit of java moss and the one one java fern that isn't dyeing.
if i go out i will pick up some plant substrate thiny. any recomendations for the type?

thanks very much for this help!!!

david

 

[jimbooo]

sorry forgot it was a small tank, yep no to otto's then.

it could be that the plants are adjusting to the different light they are now in. if i were you i'd leave the fern and see how it is after another week or so. as to moss that shouldn't be brown ever, are you sure it's not the dusty thing i was on about. if you wash the moss in tap water is it still the same colour?

definatly remove any dead leaves as once they rot that will add to your problems. leave the remaining plants no matter how sorry they look, they will probably regrow after a week or so.

edit: no need for plant substrate as you dont have anything rooted in the substrate!! get a small bottle of liquid fert. flourish excel will be usefull along with leaf zone or equivalent

Flourish excel (not normal flourish) - adds liquid carbon to the water (major nutrient)
leaf zone - general trace element fert (covers everything else pretty much)

last edit: "brown in spots" - java fern's reproduce by growing new plantlets from black spots on the old leaves. they are very uniform along the length of the leaf. is this what you are seeing? there either side of the main vein all along the leaf. if so this is normal when first planted. the plant thinks it's dying as the light is lower than it's used to. it goes into reproduction overdrive produces lots of new plantlets from these spots (in a few weeks) then you can replant the young'uns when they drop from the leaf. these tiny java fern would be great for a tiny tank, theyre more in scale with things. if thats whats happening leave well alone and see what appears. (still add the ferts though)

 

[daspricey]

i gave the moss a good rinse. no luck. it seems to be . alot seemed to be patchy brown but in and out of them there were healthy green bits. i've just got rid of the brown(well most fern and moss, well most). im 100% that the brown on the fern is not reproducing. it's been like it for a month. the ferns been in there since may. it seemed ok before. but it had sunlight and no other souce.
what about dry ferts? i've heard they are extremely good???
atm i'm trying to get a arc pod 9w, would that be good?

i'm realy appreiciating this help. as you can tell im a planted tank novice. although im getting a rio that'll be planted to, im keeping to the hardy species. alot of java fern and moss is going to be born.lol

david

 

[daspricey]

well so i've just done like a major prune. a bit(more like just taking the dead ones out)
there is a fair bit of space.
it's a little cheecky but could i get a couple of Marimo Moss Balls from sp00ky? http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=171525
could it even benifit?