Java moss is one of the most popular aquatic plants in the fish-keeping hobby. The plant is relatively small, hardy, and easy to grow, making it a good choice for a beginner.
But why is your Java moss plant turning brown? And what can you do to save it?
Keep reading to find out why your Java moss has lost its vibrant green color, and learn what you can do to fix the problem.
What Is Java Moss?
In the wild, Java moss grows on rocks, tree trunks, and along river banks. However, the plant also grows submerged, making it an ideal choice for the aquarium. You can grow Java moss as a floating plant that works well as a spawning site for some species of fish.
Java moss is an attractive plant that is tolerant of water quality and can grow in medium-light conditions. The plant looks good and provides excellent cover for fry, small fish, and shrimp. Infusoria grow on the plant’s leaves, providing food for newly hatched fry.
Java moss is readily available and inexpensive to buy, which is another reason for its popularity.
Why Does Java Moss Turn Brown?
Thanks to its resilient, hardy nature, Java moss is rarely problematic. However, sometimes the plant can lose its green color and turn brown.
There are several common reasons why your Java moss plant might turn brown, including:
- inadequate nutrients in the aquarium
- excessive algal growth
- dirty conditions
- insufficient carbon dioxide levels in the water
Let’s take a look at those problems in more detail, together with tips on how you can prevent your Java moss from turning brown.
Does Java Moss Need Lots of Light?
Java moss doesn’t require strong light to thrive. The plant will do very well under low light, just like the Java fern.
Of course, more light means that your Java moss will grow faster, but too much light also makes it easier for algae to proliferate.
Insufficient Nutrient Absorption
One of the main problems with the Java moss plant is that its roots are somewhat sparse. The main function of the roots is to help the plant adhere to a rock or tree root for support. That means the plant mainly takes up nutrients through its stems and leaves.
When the leaves become too thick and dense, especially around the central area of the plant, their ability to absorb nutrients is significantly reduced. That causes the Java moss plant to turn brown. Look closely at your plant. If the leaves are turning brown in the central part of the plant, it’s likely that the plant has become too bushy and needs thinning out.
If the plant is unable to absorb sufficient nutrients due to a lack of water flow across the leaves, it will gradually turn brown from the center outward.
Algae is an aquatic plant that grows in most fish tanks. Small algae growth can be beneficial, providing a food source for some fish species. However, too many algae take up excessive quantities of minerals, causing a shortage of nutrients for your other plants.
Many species of algae thrive in fish tanks for several reasons, including too much direct sunlight, poor water conditions, and insufficient tank cleaning.
If your tank has a large population of algae colonies, your Java moss can suffer from nutrient deficiency and will eventually turn brown. Algae also grow on plant leaves, depriving the plant of the light it needs for photosynthesis.
Java moss and other plants can help to keep your fish tank clean by utilizing organic waste in the substrate as a kind of fertilizer.
However, the plant can accumulate deposits of leftover food and other debris across its leaves. Over time, those deposits prevent the plant from absorbing the nutrients it needs and also block out light. When that happens, brown spots start to develop on the plant’s leaves, and you’ll need to clean them gently.
Lack of Carbon Dioxide
Almost all aquatic plants, including Java moss, need carbon dioxide to photosynthesize. If the CO2 levels in the water are inadequate, the plant will be unable to create the food it needs to thrive, and the leaves will begin to turn brown.
In that case, you might want to supplement the CO2 levels in the tank by using a CO2