zeebo

Hi,

I have read many threads on this forum re Java Moss but I found everyone doesn't have a problem with it.

Mine is browning and I don't know what to do.
I have Water Wisteria and they are doing well.
My water is brackish but I read that it should not bother Java Moss.

I change my water once a week or once a fortnight depending on water test results.

I add 2 caps of Seachem Flourish after every water change.

So what could cause it to brown?

Kindly advise. Thanks.

sirdarksol

I have Java Moss in a brackish tank and it is doing fine. It is brackish adaptable, so as you said, that shouldn't be it.

What kind of lights? You say white fluorescent, is that the actinic white? If so, that is likely your problem. The actinic whites seem to be harsh on freshwater plants.

Another possibility is that it is suffering from fertilizer burn. Java Moss is a relatively slow-growing plant, and with as little light as you have, it's possible that it's not using all of the flourish you're putting in. Are there any other plants in the tank?

Yet another possibility is that the brown is diatoms. Use something like a net or a brush to "stir" the Java Moss a bit. Does some brownish stuff float away in the water, leaving the fronds greener than before? If so, it's just a diatom outbreak. Sometimes the things settle on slow-growing plants, particularly if they're not in an area of high water flow.

susitna-flower

Java moss is a low light plant, but it looks like you only have .45 watts per gallon, which just might not be enough! Your tank is about 160 gallons, and only 72 total watts!

sirdarksol

That'll teach me to not look at wpg.

zeebo

Hi sirdarksol & susitna-flower,

Thanks for the replies.

sirdarksol,
The lights aren't actinic. The other plants I have are Water Wisteria & Vallisneria. They are doing well especially Water Wisteria. I don't think its Fertilizer Burn. I "stirred" the Java Moss and see no diatom.

susitna-flower,
Yes I have very low lights. But Water Wisteria and Vallisneria are doing fine.

Its odd that Java Moss isn't doing well when the other plants are....can't figure.

I took some Java Moss out and place them inside a plastic container and put it out in the sun with a tiny bit of Seachem Fourish. I hope I can revive them with natural light.

sirdarksol

You're right that it's odd that the wisteria an val are doing okay when the Java Moss isn't.

Is the tank getting a lot of direct sunlight?
I'm kind of at a loss. Java Moss might as well be cast-iron.

susitna-flower

Is the water wisteria floating? Is the Vallisneria growing up tall? If they are blocking light from getting to the java moss this would also account for the browning.....I have some in a low-light tank, and even find when it gets too thick, it seems to brown....so I break up the mass, spread it out, and it perks up again....

bert2001

Maybe its not Java Moss at all. Some dealers pass off other kinds of mosses such as Willow Moss, which is not ment to be grown underwater, off as Java. The scientific name for Java Moss is Vesicularia Dubyana, If it is not labeled as such, you should not buy it.

Just a posibility.

zeebo

Hi sirdarksol ,susitna-flower & bert2001,

Thanks for your replies. Really appreciate this discussion.

sirdarksol,
Tank is not near windows so its not getting a lot of direct sunlight.

susitna-flower,
Water Wisteria are planted in the gravel. Vallisneria are growing up tall although growth rate is slower than that of Water Wisteria.

I have contained my floating plants to a specific area at the top of my tank so they do not block lights to the other plants in the tank. anchor live plants
Currently, all my floating plants are fake coz the live ones have died.

I have broken up the Java Moss and spread it out as much as I can.

bert2001,
When I bought the Java Moss it was not labeled with its scientific name. I have surfed the internet for pictures of Java Moss and pretty sure what I have is Java Moss and not Willow Moss.
Willow Moss looks good too. I have seen an aquarium shop created a ball out of it.

Thank You.

zeebo

Hi,

Update: The Java Moss I had placed in a container under direct sunlight has began to green. I have since transferred them back to main tank. I attach some to driftwood and some are allowed to float. Hopefully, they turn out alright.

zeebo

Hi,

Update: Java Moss is growing!!!

lilsoccakid

thats good to hear! i have heard that it will turn a little brown if the water is above 79 or 80*F. mine does every now and then

angelfish220

When I got my Java moss it was basically brown. Now it looks really funny because it is brown with bright green tips.