What is this??

[juzz 10]

Hey guys!

Yesterday I bought complete setup second hand.

Most of it was in pretty good condition and only really bought it for the tank, canister and accessories.

My main concern is that it came with some plants that I know nothing about as ive never had live plants before....

The tank never ran an air pump but had a co2 kit that was empty but hadn't been used for god knows how long.

I want to know what this crap is on the leaves???

I don't really want to run co2 as my main focus is my fish, not plants.

Apparently they are needle java fern......its all attached to driftwood

Thanks

Edited July 11, 2015 by juzz

[juzz 10]

ive got 2 co2 regs and some other stuff for them.

the previous bloke was using a sodastream co2 bottle with a bottle adapter.

The regs have solenoids and also a coil and plug....similar to the one in the link below

Aquarium CO2 Magnetic Solenoid Regulator Valve With Bubble Counter FOR Planted | eBay

[juzz 10]

So no one has a clue what this form of algae is or how to treat it????

[PETFISH 11]

not easy to see but it looks like blackbeard, we sell (no more blackbeard) for treating it @ The Techden. myself, i would remove all leaves that are affected and treat with no more blackbeard and maybe spot dose with glutaldahyde

Edited July 12, 2015 by PETFISH

[Donny@ageofaquariums 855]

Firstly its very nice java fern.... go easy on it as its worth a fair amount of cash and is gonna look wicked once its all healthy.

I usually hit black beard like that with an azoo product called brush algae killer. Or as above glut dose the tank at a reasonable high dose. Easycarbo is my pick because concentration and price.

Nice score on the java fern.

Dont freak out on the black beard. It aint that bad.

[juzz 10]

ive got some "no more black beard" from the previous owner....almost 2 full large bottles.

Ill give that a crack....will it harm any fish in there with high dosages??

Whats something like this fern worth Donny??...

cheers

[Donny@ageofaquariums 855]

Never used that product. Ensure you have lots of oxygenization before trying to kill lots of any sort of algae.

I would experiment with dosage using a small bit of fern in a bucket. Use the minimal dose that is effective..... always safer for fish...... but yea can also test with a single fish in bucket if you have spare filter/heater.

Edited July 13, 2015 by Donny@ageofaquariums

[bluebelle 79]

It's a very nice Java fern, the piece in the middle alone could be worth up to $30 or more.

Unless you can take a close-up pic of one of the dark leaves, it's hard to say if it's an algae and which one.

Old leaves on Java fern will turn black like in your photo. Simply snip off at the base.

It looks like the new growth is not affected?

[Donny@ageofaquariums 855]

Yep try buy some java fern on driftwood..... it aint cheap man.

[juzz 10]

Thanks for all the help,

ill remove it from the tank and treat it bit by bit and trim the black off.

It had been poorly maintained in my opinion. Ill try and get it back to good health.

Does it require substrate or anything for longterm health?...previous bloke had it in some eco soil/gravel.

[bluebelle 79]

You can plant it into substrate, but it will do much better if tied to wood or rock.

Some fertilisation will help it to recover

Go easy with whatever you're using as treatment, if the black stuff is just old leaves, you mightn't even need any chemicals.

[juzz 10]

Thanks,

Does the plant go into shock if too much is trimmed off?

[bluebelle 79]

There could be some setback, but looking at your pics, it seems to have heaps of new growth.

I would cut back the worst affected bits first, see how it reacts.

Java ferns are slow growers, so don't expect a miracle.

[juzz 10]

thanks bluebelle

I wont be butchering it, as you said ill just cut the worst off from it

Are there any water additives that promote plant growth?

[Donny@ageofaquariums 855]

Heaps of them!

Another thing to keep in mind. New plants grow from old java leaves that go all black and holey.