Mangrove and Macro Algae (throwing out ideas)

[nawilson89]

I have my old 29g tank sitting in my living room with no light and dying plants (was kind of like a vivarium, a center piece for my room.

Now that I am back and diving into the salty seas again I want to do something amazing with it.

So I'm milling over my current idea.

My 20g seagrass and macro algae tank is looking pretty good and I want to continue on that level of beauty.

Mangroves are something different that I would love to play with. So I drew this up in paint (ok i'm terrible at paint, but work with me)

So the plan is to grow a few mangroves on one side of the tank in a raised area.

As you can see, I want to separate the left side containing refugium mud and some seeded mud from florida pets with some glass.

My first question is. Can I leave about an inch at the bottom to make my mud spread to the bottom of the entire enclosure, or would gravity slowly make that area empty out ( I'm assuming that i should just enclose the entire are). The plan is to make that area go to about a few inches from the top of the tank. That way my CuC and fish can access the mangrove area and shallow water.

It would be capped with sand and I would plant two or three mangrove pods.

The right side which would be the largest of the tank would have a few pieces (if any) or live rock. Or possibly some reef rubble. I plan to have that area covered with macro algae. Fern caulerpa, caulerpa prolifera, dragon's breath, just about anything easy to get my hands on.

No stock planned for fish as of yet.

 

[143MPCo]

IMO, as long as the density of the mub doesn't become fluidized, I see no reason a one inch gap will cause a problem, you're capping the area on the side with additional mud and sand creating a force that the first chamber would have to push through. over time (not so in the near future) the first chamber MIGHT push down some but adding a layer of coarse calcium carbonate rock will help to hold it a bay.

 

[nawilson89]

IMO, as long as the density of the mub doesn't become fluidized, I see no reason a one inch gap will cause a problem, you're capping the area on the side with additional mud and sand creating a force that the first chamber would have to push through. over time (not so in the near future) the first chamber MIGHT push down some but adding a layer of coarse calcium carbonate rock will help to hold it a bay.

Thanks.

If both chambers are connected by the bottom or not doesn't really matter to me, as both sides will have its own layer of mud.

Something else that comes to mind that i would like to add is that both layers of mud will have macro algae (probably mostly chaeto from a local reefers tank) grinded up in a blender and mixed into the mud for more nutrients to be released.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

Mangroves really are just for aesthetics unless you had a grip of em.

 

[143MPCo]

Something else that comes to mind that i would like to add is that both layers of mud will have macro algae (probably mostly chaeto from a local reefers tank) grinded up in a blender and mixed into the mud for more nutrients to be released.

I've never tried that, however it sounds interesting...
I have used Walt Smith's Refugium Fiji Mud and while I have no proof it helps with growth, it provides a good
anchor.

This is my current fug setup with mangroves.
Current mangrove growth has me raising the height of the T5 lighting system...

Updated picture...

 

[nawilson89]

Mangroves really are just for aesthetics unless you had a grip of em.

I read somewhere, at some point ( i can't remember exactly where) that mangroves are great for filtration on par with macro algae like chaeto and caulerpa.

Even if what i read was incorrect, I do enjoy planted aquariums and growing mangroves would look beautiful and be pleasing. I've never really cared for corals and have always opted to go the route of macro algae in a tank.

 

[nawilson89]

I've never tried that, however it sounds interesting...
I have used Walt Smith's Refugium Fiji Mud and while I have no proof it helps with growth, it provides a good
anchor.

This is my current fug setup with mangroves.
Current mangrove growth has me raising the height of the T5 lighting system...

Updated picture...

That's yours?

See, that what I want to go for. I wanted to do something like that, but my tank isn't shallow enough hence me building their own enclosure.

That's amazing!

Edit: Yeah, i would probably take a portion of that chaeto for myself and blend it. That's alot of nutrients I could put into the mud.

 

[143MPCo]

That's yours?

Yes it is, one thing I can't stress enough it LIGHTING; will make or break growth if you don't have enough!

That's amazing!

Thank you!

 

[nawilson89]

Yes it is, one thing I can't stress enough it LIGHTING; will make or break growth if you don't have enough!

Thank you!

I've taken note.

I have a pair of reef radiance LED bulbs over my 20g that I would probably switch out for this tank. One bulb purely for the mangrove are and the second for the macro algae.

 

[143MPCo]

I had LEDs over that fug before, spent a small fortune, and was NOT happy with the growth... changed to T5 6K lighting and what you see is what I get, that's not to say LED's won't work, just feel you'll need a lot to make it worth the growth that most are trying to achieve is all.

 

[nawilson89]

I had LEDs over that fug before, spent a small fortune, and was NOT happy with the growth... changed to T5 6K lighting and what you see is what I get, that's not to say LED's won't work, just feel you'll need a lot to make it worth the growth that most are trying to achieve is all.

That's interesting. So many people have sworn by LEDs and what they've done. LED's work for me because of cost and for the most part I don't need to hang the bulbs. As much as I would love T5 lighting, I can never find any that fit within my budget.

So it's a bit unfortunate for me in that area.
I can however position the tank to get quite a bit of sunlight, Hopefully that would be helpful.

 

[143MPCo]

Don't misunderstand me, LEDs, enough of them, in the right color spectrum will work just fine, I however would have needed more than I was comfortable buying for the area of fug I wanted to light up.

 

[nawilson89]

Don't misunderstand me, LEDs, enough of them, in the right color spectrum will work just fine, I however would have needed more than I was comfortable buying for the area of fug I wanted to light up.

Ah. I get it.

I'm using these. DM12-e
http://www.reefradiance.com/refugium-leds.html

 

[143MPCo]

As much as I would love T5 lighting, I can never find any that fit within my budget.

Have you looked at horticulture lighting units?

 

[nawilson89]

Have you looked at horticulture lighting units?

Wow. No. No i have not. Now I wish I knew of these before! This is why I post my ideas all the time. So much to learn I have.

Hmm now I'm going to have to do a bit of research into this. Am I able to call on you for information if I get stuck? (and by that i mean message, not call on you in the literal sense)

 

[143MPCo]

Wow. No. No i have not. Now I wish I knew of these before! This is why I post my ideas all the time. So much to learn I have.

Hmm now I'm going to have to do a bit of research into this. Am I able to call on you for information if I get stuck? (and by that i mean message, not call on you in the literal sense)

happy to help.

 

[paraletho]

I hope you have a lot of time. Mangroves are notoriously slow growers. These are mine (5 going on 6 yrs. old). Largest is 22" with 8 branches. All have prop roots.

URL]

 

[143MPCo]

I respectfully disagree, growth is impacted by limited nutrition and inadequate lighting, if they have enough of what the need both lighting wise and organically they will have a good growth rate.

Apr 29, 2015

August 15, 2015

 

[nawilson89]

I hope you have a lot of time. Mangroves are notoriously slow growers. These are mine (5 going on 6 yrs. old). Largest is 22" with 8 branches. All have prop roots.

URL]

Very true. Mangroves are notoriously slow growers in saltwater, as I read on another forum. I'm in it for the long haul though. I plan on having multiple in the tank and I plan to start the mangroves before the tank. Actually by the end of the year i plan on having a few mangroves in a 2.5 gallon tank to start with before putting them in their new enclosure in the 29g. I'm aware than moving mangroves is a dangerous (for the plant) process.

I also plan on giving them a really good nutrition based substrate, as I mentioned before. I plan on using Mud and from @143MPCo 's advice on using Walt Smith's Fiji mud. I will also be using a blend of chaeto and caulerpa in the mud and a cup of live mud from florida pets.

I'm somewhat doing a planted walstadd method from freshwater and incorporating it into a saltwater setting specifically for my mangroves and maco algaes.

Even if my decision doesn't incorporate "quick" growth in the mangroves, it should help with my macro algae.

I have a question for you though @143MPCo. Walt Smith's refugium mud comes in a bucket that means it can be covered and stored for later use. Would you know if it causes the mud in the bucket to die off if stored for a month or two at a time? I wanted to use around to lbs of it before using it in the 29g tank later on.

 

[143MPCo]

I have a question for you though @143MPCo. Walt Smith's refugium mud comes in a bucket that means it can be covered and stored for later use. Would you know if it causes the mud in the bucket to die off if stored for a month or two at a time? I wanted to use around to lbs of it before using it in the 29g tank later on.

Store unopened containers in a cool place. Refrigerate after opening. Best if used within six months of sticker date.