Java fern growing on the rock background around one of the overflow boxes and on the sides of the rock cave. Only the plants in the foreground planted in substrate are cryptocoryne

If people had to genetically engineer an ideal plant for a cichlid tank, they would come up with Java fern. The following reasons are what make it so perfect:

• Most fish won't eat it.
• Prefers to be attached to rocks and wood, where fish can't dig it up.
• Fairly resistant against algae growth on the leaves.
• Relatively fast growing (compared to e.g. anubias).
• Does best in low light conditions.
• Tolerates a wide range of temperatures and water parameters (from black water all the way to brackish).
• Looks fantastic with several variances also being available (such as narrow leave and Windelov).

If you have never had life plants in your tank, give Java fern a try. It's like a plastic plant, just nicer and it actually grows!

A nice sized plant of the Windelov variety of Java fern growing on a rock cave.

My Java fern came from Pete Mang just like the Amazon sword plants. It is mostly the regular form, but I also have some of the Windelov variety, which in my care seems to be a lot slower growing, but does look spectacular. I got these plants about a year before the 240G was established when Pete gave a talk for the GAAS. I put them in the 29G setup in which I tested a lot of the techniques I wanted to use in the 240G. By the time the 240G was set up, I had enough Java fern in the 29G, that I did not need to buy any to plant the 240G. Attached to the rock background of the 240G, it grew a lot slower than on the driftwood I used in the 29G, but about a year after setting up the tank it really took off, and now I have some really nice big clumps of it overgrowing the rocks, just like I had envisaged.

A little plant of the Windelov variety of Java fern firmly rooted on the rock background.

For a long time I struggled to find a good technique to firmly attach the plants to the rocks, which really seems to help them grow. Initially I simply wedged the roots into cracks in the background, which worked pretty well, but occasionally the plants would get pulled out, and then they really seem to take a step back in growth. I am now using a kind of staple that I found in the arts and crafts section at Walmart among the florist supplies.

A kind of staple that I found in the arts and crafts section at Walmart among the florist supplies. Quarter included in picture for size comparison.

The prongs of the staples can be a bit too long for some locations, but they are easily shortened with a pair of pliers. Once I think they are the right length, I put the main root of a Java fern plant between the two prongs, and then push the staple into the silicone between two rocks of the background. I don't think I've had a single plant come off accidentally or pulled off by the fish since I am using this technique.

Another picture of regular Java fern growing on the rock background.

And here are some more pictures from January 2008: