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I dont know how i did it but my java ferns have been a mess to look at the last few months. Heres my problem and what i need someone to solve- Java fern has what seems to be about alot of 1/8 inch long brown lines on leaves and what seems to be parts that have just been torn out on the leaves. Here is the long list of things i have tried to resolve this problem.-
1- Stop fertilizing everyday
2- cut fertilizing by half as much everyday
3- fertilize once only after a water change
4- increase lighing period
5- decrease lighting period
6- put them in shaded position
7- put them directly under full light
8- do water changes twice as much
Everytime i think i resolved the problem and the new leaves come up, the symptoms reoccur. Can somebody please help me! By the way, here is tank conditions- 1 watt per gallon, 78 degrees ferinheit, ph-7.0, nitrates 20-40ppm.

Wow, they're pretty high nitrates.

How big is the tank, and to be honest I think that 1wpg isn't really enough to get things happening.

You might want to consider upping your lighting horsepower.

Clownloachfan:

Java ferns are pretty tough-leaved plants. Not sure why they're ripping on you. Do you house any fish which are known vegetarians? 1 watt/gal is not a lot of light, but java ferns survive well in low-light conditions, so I don't see that as a problem. Java fern take in their nutrients from the water column, so the nitrates in your water are good for them. Once you have happy, healthy plants, in abundance, you will find that you'll eventually have 0 nitrates.
Java fern do best when they're growing on something. The root system they evolved is for clinging to submerged wood and rocks - not planted in the gravel. If you have them planted in the gravel, that may be the cause.
After reviewing the list of your changes, you are obviously using a scientific approach in resolving your problem. I admire that. However, plants are slow to respond, and you should wait 3 months after making some change. It's easy to get impatient, but you should wait until the plants fully adjust to the change. Java ferns are very slow-growing plants, so they will be particuarly slow to respond. Whatever regimen you have in place now, I recommend you leave it unchanged for a few months before trying something else.

-Wayne

Yes, i have NO vegetarians in my tank. I used to have a rtbs which started to become one but i got rid of it. The javas are the only ones doing bad. These are the other plants i have-Ancharis, hornwart, anubias congensis, anubias coffeefolia, a moss ball, Bolbitis fern and cryptes which arent doing good probaly not good ground fertilization. All of these plants are doing good exept the ones i stated. I think i may put my java fern on top of my rock like i did when i started out. I had no problems then.
Thanks WayneTA

I have 1 wpg in my 29, well, 30 watts.. When the Java Fern was in there it did just fine. Lighting isn't your issue. I have a timer set for 10 or 11 hrs/day. CO2 not necessary, but is still beneficial if you add it.
(even in 1wpg)
Ferts can't hurt them but it's not really necessary.. 15ppm is an ideal nitrate level for a planted tank.. Higher than that, algae occurs, also excess nitrates can damage plants as well as fish. If clown loaches are in your tank, I have heard that they damage plants (in this site somewhere) but I don't know for sure, I have one clown loach in my planted and either him or the platies (or both)are nipping here and there.. Any medications in there lately ? That can also do a number on plants.
Good luck !

The Amazon Nut...

i seem to be having an extremely similar experience with my new java fern. when i bought it not long ago it look healthy but now chunks are missing from it and little scratches are appearing. I've read that CL's don't like to each java fern so it's an ideal plant for a CL tank.

What do you attach you java fern to a rock with? I was told to look at a particular website but it was useless for java fern.

Hope they get better soon!

i have just been on to a few java fern websites and they have all said that unlike other plants you should NEVER bury the roots, but instead attach them to a rock or piece of wood.

You should NEVER burry the rihzome. Roots dont matter if the are in the gravel but the prefer to be out(as mine are).

Which part of the java fern is the rhizome? I've always had my ferns buried, and they've done fine thus far.

The rhizome is the part of the plant where the leaves and the roots come out of.

i have now attached my fern to a piece of wood with a rubber band. It's been like that for the past week now and already I can see the roots creeping their way around the wood.

seems like the best way to go!