Make sure you change the water every few days, or sooner if it gets cloudy. If your container is large enough so that the seeds are not layered on top of each other, then it should be sufficient

John, I can't imagine what you are doing wrong. If you use clean water and change it every 5 or so days, kept room temperature but not hot and out of the sun you should have no trouble. Lets take a look at your seeds, were they completely black to brown black or did some of them have white spots on them?
Fresh viable seeds should start germinating in about 1 week to 10 days; longer for older seeds and look like this in about 3 weeks.

These seeds were fresh from the seedpod and have been germinating for about 3 weeks now.

This is an aulicum x papilio cross.

Donna

Thanks for the information. Upon review of my method, I need to change the water more often in a larger container. Thanks

I don't change the water, but I put a few drops of H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) in the water. I have good success....
K

Kristi,
How often do you add peroxide?

Just a few drops right at the start. I even just cleaned out some containers where I didn't get 100% germination from April to June 2013 and the water was still clear. I use a closed container with lid, so evaporation isn't an issue.
K

I boil the water for 4 minutes in the microwave before I use it. I change it every three or four days and have very good luck with this method.
Maida

Wow! I must just be extremely lucky, I don't think I have ever changed the water in my containers. I pull the sprouted seeds out as soon as they have a leaf at least half an inch to an inch long and plant them in soil. I let the seeds remain in the water for weeks after the first one sprouts. Sometimes I don't clean the containers out in till late summer. And the water still looks good.

A great thing about this hobby is you can do whatever works for you!!
K

Does the seeds in the water need light initially .

Mine just have regular room light but they are not under any grow lights until they have their first leaf and have been planted in soil.

Mine aren't under grow lights either. Only seedlings growing in soil go under lights.
K