Java fern is one of the more common aquatic plants that is used within the fish keeping hobby due to how easy it is to keep in the majority of tank setups.
The majority of people can integrate java fern into their tank with ease and without it causing problems with the swim space available for the fish.
That said, we have noticed a spike in people reaching out to ask about their java fern melting recently so we wanted to publish this article to try and help as many of our readers as possible.
There are a number of reasons that java fern can start to get that melting look to it so we wanted to publish this dedicated article going over as many of them as possible to try and help our readers.
Summary Of Why Your Java Fern Is Melting!
Here are the most common reasons that your java fern is melting and we will go into each of them in more detail throughout the article as well as share various ways that you can fix the problem:-
- Bad Water Quality!
- The Tank Placement Is Wrong!
- Water Flow Problems!
- Problems With pH Level!
- Water Parameters Changing Quickly!
- Issues With Light Intensity!
- Tank Mates Eating Your Java Fern!
- The Ammonia Cycle!
- The Java Fern Is Not In The Substrate Correctly!
- Algae Levels Are Too High!
Why Is My Java Fern Melting?
Most of the problems that cause your java fern to melt are based around problems with water parameters but there can be some specific parameters that are often overlooked but easy to correct.
Bad Water Quality!
One of the most common problems that can cause your java fern to start melting is due to bad water quality.
This can be caused by a number of different things such as overfeeding, not performing regular water changes or having too many fish in the tank.
All of these things can lead to an increase in nitrates and ammonia levels which can then cause problems with the plant.
The best way to combat this is to make sure that you are performing regular water changes and not overfeeding your fish.
You should also make sure that you are not overstocking your tank as this can also lead to an increase in nitrates and ammonia which can then have a negative effect on your java fern.
The Placement In The Tank Is Wrong!
Another reason that your java fern may be melting is due to the placement of the plant in your aquarium being wrong.
This can cause problems with lighting and water flow in the tank not being optimal as well as a number of other potential problems.
Thankfully though, you are almost always able to easily fix the issue in most cases by simply changing the placement of the plant in your tank.
Water Flow Problems!
If the water flow in your tank is not optimal then it can cause problems with your java fern as well.
This can be caused by a number of different things such as an aquarium filter that is too strong or a powerhead that is pointed directly at the plant.
The best way to fix this problem is to make sure that the water flow levels in your tank are as low as possible.
In some setups, java fern can do well in a tank with moderate water flow but for the most part, you should be trying to keep it in a low flow tank, especially if you are a beginner.
Problems With pH Level!
If the pH level in your tank is too high or low then it can cause problems with your java fern as well.
This is because the plant needs a specific pH level to be able to properly absorb nutrients from the water.
The best way to fix this problem is to make sure that you are testing the pH levels in your tank regularly and adjusting them as needed.
The majority of tank setups that have java fern in them will need a pH level of between 6 and 8 to allow the java fern to thrive.
Water Parameters Changing Quickly!
If the water parameters in your tank are constantly changing then it can cause problems with your java fern as well.
This is because the plant needs a specific set of parameters to be able to properly grow and if they are constantly changing it can make it difficult for the plant to adjust.
The best way to fix this problem is to make sure that you are testing the water regularly and making adjustments as needed while avoiding anything over a 50% water change if possible.
Simply sticking to a 10%, 20% or 30% water change should be enough to normalize any problems with the ammonia cycle without changing too much of the water in the tank to cause problems with your java fern melting.
Issues With Light Intensity!
If the light intensity in your tank is too high or low then it can cause problems with your java fern as well.
This is because the plant needs a specific range of light to be able to properly grow and if the light intensity is not correct it can cause the plant to start melting.
The best way to fix this problem is to make sure that you are using a quality aquarium light that is designed for the specific type of plant that you are growing.
You should also make sure that you are not keeping the light on for too long as this can also lead to problems with your java fern melting.
Not Enough Nutrients!
Another potential problem that can cause your java fern to melt is if it is not getting enough nutrients.
This is usually not a problem in most cases as the java fern is able to get the majority of the nutrients that it needs from the water itself.
However, if you are using a substrate that does not have many nutrients in it or if you are using RO water then it can cause problems with your java fern not getting enough nutrients.
The best way to fix this problem is to make sure that you are using a quality substrate that has plenty of nutrients in it or to supplement the water with nutrients if needed.
Tank Mates Eating Your Java Fern!
Another potential problem that can cause your java fern to melt is if you have tank mates that are eating it.
This is usually not a problem as the java fern is not a very tasty plant but there are some fish and invertebrates that will eat it if they are hungry enough.
The best way to fix this problem is to make sure that you are not keeping any fish or invertebrates in your tank that are known to eat plants and try to keep your fish as well fed as possible to prevent them eating your java fern.
The Ammonia Cycle!
One of the most common problems that can cause your java fern to melt is if the ammonia levels in your tank are not being properly cycled.
This is because the java fern is very sensitive to changes in water parameters and if the ammonia levels are not being properly cycled it can cause the plant to start melting.
The best way to fix this problem is to make sure that you are doing regular water changes and using a quality ammonia cycle product to help keep the levels in your tank stable.
You should also make sure that you are not overfeeding your fish as this can also lead to problems with the ammonia levels in your tank rising.
The Java Fern Is Not In The Substrate Correctly!
If the java fern is not in the substrate correctly then it can also cause the plant to start melting.
This is because the plant needs to be in a specific type of substrate to be able to properly grow and if it is not then it can cause problems.
The best way to fix this problem is to make sure that you are using a quality substrate that is designed for aquarium plants and that you are planting the java fern in it correctly.
You should also make sure that you are not using too much or too little of the substrate as this can also cause problems with your java fern melting.
Algae Levels Are Too High!
If the algae levels in your tank are too high then it can also cause problems with your java fern melting.
This is because the plant needs a specific amount of light to be able to properly grow and if there is too much algae in the tank it can block out the light and cause the java fern to start melting.
The best way to fix this problem is to make sure that you are doing regular water changes and using a quality algae control product to help keep the levels in your tank under control.
You should also make sure that you are not overfeeding your fish as this can also lead to problems with algae levels rising.
