What's Wrong With My Java Fern? Pics Included

[marieukxx]

I have a small planted tank containing one Betta and an apple snail. It's fully cycled and been set up a good while now. The light is a long tube light and it's only 6W. I have it on from about 4pm to 12am. My anubias is doing well but my Java fern seems to be turning black on the longest leaves. I've tried wiping the leaves but it won't come off. It's looking a bit rubbish lately because of this.

Here's a pic, I just cleaned it so it looks a bit cloudy still from the water change an moving everything around.

I also have another small Betta tank an the Java Fern in there is starting to go the same way. The light is on for 8 hours. Maybe I should have the light on in the day for 8 hours instead of the evening? I usually start off about 4pm to 5pm and leave it on for 8 hours from then.

Does anyone have any ideas? Should I reduce the light?

 

[marieukxx]

Please help anyone. Would reducing the light be an idea? Also does it matter what time I put the light on? What about liquid ferts?

 

[Nick16]

yes, reduce the light to a photo period of 6 hours. morning, day or night wont matter as the tank knows nothing else! just do the 6 hours when it suits you, then once your problems heal, you can slowly up it towards the 8 hour mark.

it looks like the early signs of BBA to me, which can be treated by adding some carbon. (easylife easycarbo). however, that will not sort all your problems...
you can spot dose it onto the affected areas, or start dosing the tank in general, which will help your plants by raising the co2 levels...

however, READ THE LABEL, as it is harmful to fish in high cooncentrations. (have you any shrimp as you need to be careful of these)

i would recommend getting some Tropica plant nutrition plus, and some easycarbo and dosing DAILY... ( 1 hour before lights on )
if you just dose the carbon and ferts willy nilly then you will do more damage than good as the levels of ferts in the water fluctuate..

is your tank in direct sunlight?
what is your water change routine like? how much? how often?

is the java fern attached to something and not just in the substrate? - i can see wood?

 

[marieukxx]

yes, reduce the light to a photo period of 6 hours. morning, day or night wont matter as the tank knows nothing else! just do the 6 hours when it suits you, then once your problems heal, you can slowly up it towards the 8 hour mark.

it looks like the early signs of BBA to me, which can be treated by adding some carbon. (easylife easycarbo). however, that will not sort all your problems...
you can spot dose it onto the affected areas, or start dosing the tank in general, which will help your plants by raising the co2 levels...

however, READ THE LABEL, as it is harmful to fish in high cooncentrations. (have you any shrimp as you need to be careful of these)

i would recommend getting some Tropica plant nutrition plus, and some easycarbo and dosing DAILY... ( 1 hour before lights on )
if you just dose the carbon and ferts willy nilly then you will do more damage than good as the levels of ferts in the water fluctuate..

is your tank in direct sunlight?
what is your water change routine like? how much? how often?

is the java fern attached to something and not just in the substrate? - i can see wood?

Yes it's attached to a rock the anubias is attached to wood. I clean 50% once a week. That tank is by the window but it gets very little light.

Are there any small al eaters that will eat BBA?
I've bought some waterlife tropical plant food i liquid form and will but easycarbo too. Is it safe for use with snails?

 

[ian]

if it's black spots it can be one of 2 things, as Nick states, it could be the beginning of BBA. It could just be the old leaf, it's difficult to see from that pic TBH. If it as old leaf then it need pruning as the same as any plant.

 

[This Old Spouse]

How long have you had the ferns? Mine do the same thing, but after they start turning brown/black then they'll form new plantlets. I wait until several of them do this, then pull off the plantlets and Super Glue them to a nice piece of driftwood. It's how they propagate.

Any plant would benefit from some ferts IMO. And a shorter photo time, so I'd suggest not having your lights on for more than 4-6 hours.

 

[marieukxx]

So I should chop em off? Do I do this at the base or just chop the black bits?

 

[flix_cw]

As close to the rhizome as possible.

Where did you buy the java fern? I've bought plants off the internet and realised they were in their emersed form (grown out of water). The leaves then begin to die off and then re-grow in their aquatic form. In which case def worth a prune.

 

[marieukxx]

As close to the rhizome as possible.

Where did you buy the java fern? I've bought plants off the internet and realised they were in their emersed form (grown out of water). The leaves then begin to die off and then re-grow in their aquatic form. In which case def worth a prune.

ebay, and what' the rhizome

 

[tanksalot]

It's the bit the leaf stalk and roots grow from:

Just trace your leaf stalk down to where it joins the rhizome and cut it there.

 

[This Old Spouse]

But save any little plantlets and Super Glue them to a rock or piece of driftwood or bogwood. Those generally grow into nice plants that are adapted to your water parameters.

 

[marieukxx]

ahhh thanks guys I'll do that tonight after work.