New to live plants, should I be worried?

[Gazhul]

Hello all, I recently planted a second set of java fern into my tank, and noticed the "roots" of my first set seem to be growing well, but there's an ominous looking film on one of them. Is this okay, or do I need to do something?
Apologies if this is the wrong thread.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Welcome to the forum!

Will you please try to get some more pictures? It could just be biofilm, which is harmless.

 

[Stan510]

You do know not to EVER plant the roots in gravel or sand? THAT would rot the plant. Otherwise,it's doing ok. The two tone leaves means it needs some potassium and or iron.
The goop looks like a Tissue Culture jell. You bought that in a tube?

 

[PheonixKingZ]

You do know not to EVER plant the roots in gravel or sand? THAT would rot the plant. Otherwise,it's doing ok. The two tone leaves means it needs some potassium and or iron.
The goop looks like a Tissue Culture jell. You bought that in a tube?

As long as the rhizome is above the surface of the substrate, it won’t rot.

According to the picture in post #1, the rhizome is well above the surface of the sand.

 

[Gazhul]

Does this help? The plants are tied to pieces of driftwood.

 

[Gazhul]

You do know not to EVER plant the roots in gravel or sand? THAT would rot the plant. Otherwise,it's doing ok. The two tone leaves means it needs some potassium and or iron.
The goop looks like a Tissue Culture jell. You bought that in a tube?

From a breeder online, came in a plastic bag. Is a plastic bag better or worse than a plastic tube? ?

 

[Gazhul]

If it helps, the tank is recovering from a flare up in detritus worms.

 

[Stan510]

Its just a warning lesson to a newbie. Also- don't take it that you can put the fine roots in gravel as long as the rhizome is above. What happens is the fine roots die and eventually the rhizome gives up. People make mistakes with Epiphytes all the time. Like with Orchids.
That fungal looking stuff could be feeding off the jell. No harm.

 

[Gazhul]

Its just a warning lesson to a newbie. Also- don't take it that you can put the fine roots in gravel as long as the rhizome is above. What happens is the fine roots die and eventually the rhizome gives up. People make mistakes with Epiphytes all the time. Like with Orchids.
That fungal looking stuff could be feeding off the jell. No harm.

Appreciated. I'll just leave it alone for now. The rhizomes appear to be growing freely, but they don't seem to be attaching to the driftwood very well.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

It looks harmless to me. I would just manually remove it.

Its just a warning lesson to a newbie. Also- don't take it that you can put the fine roots in gravel as long as the rhizome is above. What happens is the fine roots die and eventually the rhizome gives up. People make mistakes with Epiphytes all the time. Like with Orchids.
That fungal looking stuff could be feeding off the jell. No harm.

Would have to disagree with you there. I have a small Java Fern on the top of my substrate. The fine roots are deep in the substrate, while the rhizome is above it - the plant is flourishing.

I'll upload a photo tomorrow to show you what I mean.

 

[Colin_T]

either algae or biofilm, take it outside and hose it off, then put it back in the tank