Who Gives A Fish Forums

Not sure if this one's a match

It really comes down to personal preference. I've had good experiences with both crypts and Vallisneria. The Vallisneria tends to spread with runners, producing new plants. I started with a single Vallisneria and now I have a total of five, plus some extras. Both plants are relatively easy to care ...

Honestly, I'm stumped. If you can get a picture up, that might give us a better idea of what's going on.

Given the plant's requirements are pretty low, I'm inclined to rule out nutrient deficiency or co2 lack. Intense light might be causing burns, or it could be rot from a dying rhizome. Is your Java fern planted in substrate, or is it tied to decor/wood?

Got any pics? Black spots on top of the leaves is weird, usually it's the underside that gets them, and those are usually seeds. Do you use any ferts on that fern?

I have one tank where I do use fertilizer, and that's because the water's extremely soft with hardly any nutrients. My needier plants in the 75 gallon would actually get these holes in their leaves from deficiencies if I didn't add fertilizer. The other two tanks, though, I don't bother with ...