Mangrove Help

[Creggers]

Hello R2R,

I'm trying to figure out what's happening with my mangrove. I purchased it from algaebarn, floated it in the tank while I adjusted and cut my lid and ended up 'planting' it atop my rock structure as intended.

I'm writing this because as evidenced by my photo - the mangrove has not yet begun to bounce back. Quickly after purchase I nabbed a 'grow' light off amazon to provide supplemental lighting until I get another AP9X for my tank. The stalk is still firm, and it has not yet begun to drop leaves, but it has been leaning from the base of the plant as shown in this photo. There are some phosphate and nitrate in the tank, so I know there's some nutrients in the tank, and my fuge is taking off but the mangrove has still continued to struggle.

Let me know if / how to get this to bounce back... I feel like its slowly perishing and continues to lean more instead of becoming more upright.

 

[John Bolden]

Are you spraying the leaves? It removes salt deposits that the rain gets rid of since you dont have rain you have to do it.

 

[John Bolden]

Your tank is new?

 

[Creggers]

Your tank is new?

Yeah it’s new - up for around 3 months

I spray the leaves daily with RODI water

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Are you dosing nitrates and phosphates?

 

[Creggers]

Are you dosing nitrates and phosphates?

Nah I’m not - nitrate is hovering around 5 or so and phosphates are very low but about .02

 

[John Bolden]

How long ago did you add the mangrove?

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Nah I’m not - nitrate is hovering around 5 or so and phosphates are very low but about .02

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Julian sprung has some good information in that video!

 

[Eric R.]

Sorry, just seeing this thread now. Any updates on the mangrove, good or bad?

Mine looked like that after one of the main branches was partially snapped off. I tried mending with a dab of superglue, but that branch eventually died. The other main branch is still fine and growing new leaves.

 

[Andrews_aquarium]

The mangrove is in shock. in my experience its very hard to bring them back after this point. the best option I've found is take the plant out and put it in freshwater in brighter light (window sill). Theres a lot of information on mangroves in this section of the forum, do some searches and you can find more info.

 

[Creggers]

The mangrove is in shock. in my experience its very hard to bring them back after this point. the best option I've found is take the plant out and put it in freshwater in brighter light (window sill). Theres a lot of information on mangroves in this section of the forum, do some searches and you can find more info.

Yeah my mangrove perished - I don't think the mangroves had any chance cause my tank is still newish. I'll try again when it's more mature. I can grow chaeto and other macros in my sump but for some reason the mangroves die in a week or so.

 

[Steve H]

Mangroves don’t need an established tank. Most people inadequately illuminate their mangrove tank. There are many cheap horticulture light solutions out there. They also grow best in FW or brackish water though once acclimated can grow fine in salt. Here is 4 months worth of growth on my mangroves using a 70$ Amazon LED fixture.

 

[CCAF]

Mangrove roots are very sensitive if they get damaged when adding to tank or in transport they will absorb salt through the cut root and kill the plant, you can sometimes save them by putting them in freshwater and bright light like @Andrews_aquarium suggested.

 

[sfin52]

Mangroves need a strong full spectrum lights. They will also do the best in a system that is designed with mangroves as the focus.

 

[sfin52]

Mangroves don’t need an established tank. Most people inadequately illuminate their mangrove tank. There are many cheap horticulture light solutions out there. They also grow best in FW or brackish water though once acclimated can grow fine in salt. Here is 4 months worth of growth on my mangroves using a 70$ Amazon LED fixture.

I use a noopsyche over mind all channels 100%

 

[Ichtha_yo Stuff]

I grew my mangroves in freshwater outside for about a year then transitioned them to saltwater over a couple of weeks period. I live in Florida and picking up mangrove pods from the Gulf of Mexico is no problem for me. There are a lot of misconceptions about mangroves for example the red mangrove does not need misted. This is the mangrove that most hobbyists grow. They do not excrete salt through their leaves. That is the black mangrove. I do mist them but that is because I do have this theory that they like it do the humid environment of Florida, but that is just a mind story. Julian's video is great to watch and I would recommend watching to anyone growing mangroves. The first picture is the mangrove after transition. This is a years growth from a propagule. The second picture is after 3 years in the tank. I do prune them to keep them compact.

 

[OrionN]

I think most of the mangroves died is because root damage then put from fresh to salt water without acclimation. They also require a lot of light.
OP plant most likely dies because too quick transition from fresh to salt water with damage root. This will really cause the plant to get dehydrated. Osmosis cause plant to loose water especially through damage roots. At the damage area the plant just have exodus of water with the high salinity the plant is in.
My black and my Red Mangrove. I was extremely careful keep from damage it roots. Still it took 4 months to sprout new leaves.
The plant in the background is a mature Black Mangrove

 

[Creggers]

When I get my next mangrove this will be my process based on what I'm reading:

1: Carefully unpack it as to not damage roots
2: Place in sunlight in RODI / fresh water for a couple days
3: Slowly increase the salinity until it matches my reef
4: Increase / replace my light fixture

A couple more questions that are brought to mind:

1: My plan is to place it atop the rock on the right side of my tank, at this time it doesn't have substrate - should I create a 'pot' to plant it in? My intent was to have the roots free and wrap themselves to the structure.

2: Can the mangrove grow under a Kessel AP9X or does it need supplemental lighting? I have a cheapo amazon light that I had previously clamped to the side but I can replace it if I need to.

 

[OrionN]

I grow my Mangrove under daylight flood LED lamp from Home Depo.

You need to determine if it is growing in fresh or salt water and adjust it accordingly