Is my Java Fern dying or okay?

I've had this Java Fern for over a month now. It's brown in some spots. Should I be cutting off the leaves that are more brown? I just have one real plant in my tank and I don't use anything else to grow it. Should I be? I heard Java was pretty good about growing on their own. Will it spike anything in my water if it is dying?

 

Looks pretty healthy to me. The plant will focus all its energy into growing new leaves once the old ones are ready to die. All those little leaves poking out is a sign the plant is doing well, or at least growing. I usally just remove the new fernlets and cut off the old leaf when I feel it becomes too much of an eyesore. The old leaves dying should not spike your parameters.

 

My java fern used to have a lot of black/brown holes in the leaves. It looked pretty unhealthy.
But after a few months, new leaves have grown and the unhealthy leaves have been propagating like crazy.
If you just got it, it is probably acclimating, just give it some time

 

My java ferns all get little dark spots on them. I find they're truly dead leaves when the leaves are fully dark brown and yellow. That's when I remove them. I've attached two pics. One is a healthy java fern with some black spotting. The other is a leaf that's starting to die (brown and yellow) to give you a better idea of what to look for.

 

Update on my Java. I feel like I should toss it? Or does it look okay?

 

Is it attached to anything or just floating above the substrate? I wouldn't toss it I'd just snip off a couple of the badly discolored leaves. It has some young plantlets on it that you could pick off and attach elsewhere.

 

Is it attached to anything or just floating above the substrate? I wouldn't toss it I'd just snip off a couple of the badly discolored leaves. It has some young plantlets on it that you could pick off and attach elsewhere.

It's floating above. I was told that it might not grow in the gravel. But that's a good idea!

 

It's floating above. I was told that it might not grow in the gravel. But that's a good idea!

You're right it shouldn't be buried in the gravel though normally you would anchor it to some decor until the roots attached. If it's staying in place it should be ok though.

 

You're right it shouldn't be buried in the gravel though normally you would anchor it to some decor until the roots attached. If it's staying in place it should be ok though.

Everytime I do a water change I need to push it back down, but it usually stays put. Maybe I should try to attach it. Thanks!