CorydorasEthan Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 It's leaves have slowly been browning and then dying starting a few weeks ago. Its grown really well up until then. No changes to the tank have been made, so I'm wondering how I can help it. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Zenzo Posted February 17, 2022 Administrators Share Posted February 17, 2022 On 2/17/2022 at 8:57 AM, CorydorasEthan said: It's leaves have slowly been browning and then dying starting a few weeks ago. Its grown really well up until then. No changes to the tank have been made, so I'm wondering how I can help it. Thanks! Most likely it is due to nutrient deficiencies. Java fern is a water column feeder. Do you dose the tank with liquid fertilizer? What are the nitrate levels in the tank? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorydorasEthan Posted February 17, 2022 Author Share Posted February 17, 2022 On 2/17/2022 at 11:56 AM, Zenzo said: Most likely it is due to nutrient deficiencies. Java fern is a water column feeder. Do you dose the tank with liquid fertilizer? What are the nitrate levels in the tank? I do not dose with liquid fertilizer. Nitrate levels are around 50. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Zenzo Posted February 17, 2022 Administrators Share Posted February 17, 2022 On 2/17/2022 at 10:15 AM, CorydorasEthan said: I do not dose with liquid fertilizer. Nitrate levels are around 50. Nitrate levels are good, but there may be a nutrient that the plant needs that is not being met by just the aquarium nitrates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardedbillygoat1975 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 @CorydorasEthanI have had success with dosing potassium or just a macro fert like easy green or thrive. Nitrates alone do not provide the plant with all they need. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorydorasEthan Posted February 17, 2022 Author Share Posted February 17, 2022 @Zenzo @Beardedbillygoat1975 Thank you for the advice I'll try dosing easy green. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEFREESE AQUARIUMS Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 Not sure what light you are using, but if it's too bright you can be burning the leaves causing them to die. But as others have mentioned in some cases it just a lack of potassium. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_G Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 @CorydorasEthan, a few months back I had had some Java ferns start to die back starting with the base of the leaves like yours. I dose Easy Green and supplemental Potassium and couldn’t figure out what was happening. I asked the forum and some wise member pointed out that sometimes Java fern convert from emersed to submerged growth many months after being introduced into an aquarium. This might be what’s happening to yours. In my case the plants lost all their leaves but are growing new ones and otherwise look healthy. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorydorasEthan Posted February 17, 2022 Author Share Posted February 17, 2022 On 2/17/2022 at 3:33 PM, Patrick_G said: @CorydorasEthan, a few months back I had had some Java ferns start to die back starting with the base of the leaves like yours. I dose Easy Green and supplemental Potassium and couldn’t figure out what was happening. I asked the forum and some wise member pointed out that sometimes Java fern convert from emersed to submerged growth many months after being introduced into an aquarium. This might be what’s happening to yours. In my case the plants lost all their leaves but are growing new ones and otherwise look healthy. On 2/17/2022 at 2:38 PM, DEFREESE AQUARIUMS said: Not sure what light you are using, but if it's too bright you can be burning the leaves causing them to die. But as others have mentioned in some cases it just a lack of potassium. I've had these plants for over a year, and they've grown just fine under the same conditions until now. However, I did sell off the massive guppy/endler population that had been living in the tank about a month ago. Maybe the loss of nitrates led to this? I will try dosing Easy Green to see if it might solve whatever issue it is. Thanks for the advice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEFREESE AQUARIUMS Posted February 18, 2022 Share Posted February 18, 2022 Seeing that was your only change is a good indicator of the issue. I would definitely would consider fertilizer and if you still have the issue, I would try dosing potassium or macro fertilizers and see if that helps. Good luck 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_G Posted February 18, 2022 Share Posted February 18, 2022 On 2/17/2022 at 1:43 PM, CorydorasEthan said: I've had these plants for over a year, and they've grown just fine under the same conditions until now. However, I did sell off the massive guppy/endler population that had been living in the tank about a month ago. Maybe the loss of nitrates led to this? I will try dosing Easy Green to see if it might solve whatever issue it is. Thanks for the advice! Mine had also been in the aquarium for a while, maybe 7-8 months. According to the nutrient deficiency charts a leaf dying from the base up might indicate a phosphate deficiency. I didn’t buy supplemental phosphorus but did increase my Easy Green dosing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorydorasEthan Posted February 23, 2022 Author Share Posted February 23, 2022 Finally got in my Easy Green today! Can't wait to see the results! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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