Trouble with java ferns

My java ferns are yellowing, are developing some small holes and black spots. I am running t5 bulbs with a total of 78 watts. The tank itself is a tall 45 gallon dirted setup. I dose 5ml liquid carbon once a week with water changes and 5 ml liquid iron every few days. I have little or no algae, the fish are healthy. I have a large number of snails but rarely see them on the java fern. My other plants include jungle Val, crypt wendti, dwarf sag and some anubias. All are healthy and flourishing. The tank conditions have been the same for about 5 months now. The only change has been a 4 degree water temp change in the last few weeks and that seems to be the only coincidental change. Water temp has been steady at 78 degrees. Any ideas?

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Permalink Reply by Jeremy robinson on August 17, 2012 at 1:26am

More light less nutrients. I have a dirted tank and as long as its freshly dirted you don't need extra fertilizers.. They were probably over loaded with nutrients...

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Permalink Reply by seth roach on August 17, 2012 at 5:28pm

i also have terrible luck with java ferns of all types and usually have the same issue so i wont be much help solving this issue....but what ive noticed with my javas that i just wanna share and see if anyone else has some input on is that often mine die out if i put them in a new environment.. get the little black holes and deteriorate very slowly, but I have notice that eventually usually quite a while later small new leaves will form and seem to do much better even if i change nothing about the tank, and also if i do not trim the dead leaves and let them go for a very long time eventually little new root systems with new leaves grow out of the very top of the dead leaves...i dont know if anyone else has experienced this but im pretty glad i did not get rid of the ugly old leaves.......anyway i think java ferns just get very used to the environment they were started in and pretty much will not get used to a new tank with different light/co2/fert levels like many other plants do but will eventually re-grow to your tank...if that makes sense...i'd say give it loooooots of time.

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Permalink Reply by Lee on September 3, 2012 at 9:25am

java fern generally like low light. I have floating plants above where my java fern are tied down to shade them from intense light and they grow well under that condition.

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Permalink Reply by AquaNoob on September 8, 2012 at 12:26am

Liquid carbon almost kiled off my java ferns. I stopped using it for a couple months and they never recovered. All the leaves melted away, but then new healthier ones emerged and they look better than before. I am now dosing the liquid carbon in very tiny amounts once a week. So far, they are looking good.