KEEPING JAVA FERN ALIVE

[velanarris]

The most commonly dosed ferts are (K2SO4) potassium sulfate, (KNO3) potassium nitrate (don't dose both, that's probably too much potassium, do KNO3 if you need nitrate and K2SO4 if you need potassium), Iron Chelate, and Plantex CSM for trace minerals.

You could also use a PMDD (Poor Man's Dupla Drops).

As for CO2 or Flourish Excel, you should actually use both in moderation. Excel isn't CO2, it's a complex of Carbon in the form of water soluble Hydrocarbons.

 

[channarox]

u may need to add some source of carbon, u can buy flourish excel which is organic carbon and/or build DIY Co2 injector. u could buy a co2 injector but that will cost a little bit.

Temperature of light is rated in whats known as Kelvin. the sun gives off approximately 5500K - 6700K around the equator. this is a good light temperature to grow plants at. the higher the kelvin rating the bluer ur light will be and the lower the rating the redder it will be.

u may not understand this, but u will with a little research.

on some lights it says the Kelvin rating...

how many watts are ur bulbs? how many bulbs in total?

u should really read the stickies and surf google...

cool thanks for the info.
i understand it.
the reason i chose java fern is because ive heard that they dont demand much.
just good water and lights.
two bulbs,i'll have to check the specs later but its really hard to remove the hood.

 

[channarox]

From the pic I'd say both too much light and too much agitation. You could try a softer bulb like Home Depot Plant and Aquarium bulb, I'm guessing your using either Power Glow bulbs or a smaller power compact bulb. The CO2 produced by the fish is being driven out of the water by the spray bar. You may or may not need a CO2 system. If you reduce the surface agitation the plants will get more CO2 from the fish, watch the tank carefully for a few days to make sure your fish don't start gasping. Java Ferns tend not to do well (at least for me) when planted try attaching them to driftwood. I also use peat in the filter which will provide some organic fertilizer.

my java ferns are actually planted to driftwood.
unfortunately that pump that im using runs the filter and i cant turn it down.

 

[channarox]

The most commonly dosed ferts are (K2SO4) potassium sulfate, (KNO3) potassium nitrate (don't dose both, that's probably too much potassium, do KNO3 if you need nitrate and K2SO4 if you need potassium), Iron Chelate, and Plantex CSM for trace minerals.

You could also use a PMDD (Poor Man's Dupla Drops).

As for CO2 or Flourish Excel, you should actually use both in moderation. Excel isn't CO2, it's a complex of Carbon in the form of water soluble Hydrocarbons.

i was thinking of trying the excel.
but i doubt i can afford it in the long run being a student.
i guess maybe i shouldve stuck to fake like i always had....

 

[velanarris]

Well you don't have to use Carbon of any type. Carbon is the last thing you need to dose, be it co2 or excel.

 

[channarox]

Well you don't have to use Carbon of any type. Carbon is the last thing you need to dose, be it co2 or excel.

so...no ferts??

 

[Deaths Sting]

so...no ferts??

java fern doesn't require fertz or carbon. if u want grow lots of different plants u may need it eventually. i suggest u check this out.

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/plantfinder/

usually Co2 is needed when u deal with plants that require high light. however, most plants do benefit from C02 and fertz

 

[jcardona1]

java fern grows great under lots of light, provided you have enough nutrients. take a look at the whole left side of the tank

dying plants is a sign of nutrient deficiency (either light, ferts, or carbon). its hard to say what youre doing wrong when you're not adding all the normal nutrients i say try a bottle of Excel and see how it goes. if that dont work, change up the lighting

 

[velanarris]

Not counting the carpet, how many individual plants do you think you have in there JC?

 

[jcardona1]

Not counting the carpet, how many individual plants do you think you have in there JC?

do you mean actual individual plants? i have no idea! individual species? i think i had:

- java fern
- various anubias
- sword
- blyxa japonica
- HC
- rotala rotundifolia
- rotala walichii
- stargrass

i think that was it