Mangrove pods not sprouting
- Thread starter Nate Chalk
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Soren
Valuable Member
I can't answer from experience yet, but I have an interest in mangroves and can share a few links that might help address your questions.
The ultimate Mangrove thread!! specifically this post #132 with a document written by Julian Sprung who has a lot of experience over many years in marine aquariums and mangroves in particular.
N.Sreefer
Valuable Member
In the wild mangrove propagules can float for a long time before getting wedged in a substrate and often will not sprout leaves until they settle in whatever substrate they end up landing on. So your likely not to see growth until you "plant" them, either clip them to the tank with the roots hanging down into the water or mount them on rock. I pot mine in mud in my sump. Also don't expect quick growth esp if you have black mangroves not red.
OP
OP
Nate Chalk
7500 Club Member
They are red, i have them floated / clipped, perhaps i need some mud to dip the roots in
ty for the response!!
austibella
Active Member
I dont know how big or small your tank is but the top of the plant needs to be out of the water the mangrove will grow towards the light, then you will get roots. Its a tree and the roots need to go into the sand bed or you can put it in between rocks to hold it straight up When you get leaves the plant will secrete the salt through the leaves, spray them with R/O water to wash it off
N.Sreefer
Valuable Member
The following is the best hobby article I've seen written on the subject I would recommend reading it.
How to properly care for mangrove trees in ‘aquaria’ | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog
The red mangrove tree, Rhizophora mangle, is a common sight around saltwater aquariums, reef tanks and local fish stores where fresh seed pods are sold and kept. What is not a common sight is for a…
reefbuilders.com
Soren
Valuable Member
That algae growth on the roots might be a hinderance to nutrient uptake by the mangroves, though I'm not sure.
OP
OP
Nate Chalk
7500 Club Member
Thinking how i can get mud in a container but have it higher. I almost need a frag rack but for mangroves … if no complany makes this i have a business idea
N.Sreefer
Valuable Member
I would gently tease as much of the algae away as you can, in the wild the mangrove roots get covered with so much life it looks like a reef but that's on older trees with roots deep into the substrate. On younger trees I can see it causing localized anoxia and nutrient uptake issues. Your growth will be alot faster if you can attach the roots to the rocks/pot them in crushed coral sand or mud. The substrate makes a huge difference. However they will grow the way you have them just slowly and mangroves already grow soooo slowly. Iron supplementation often helps young plants potassium would be beneficial but I'm a terrestrial plant expert not sure what potassium additions would do to marine life.
Edit: I read some people dose potassium nitrate in reef aquaria if this is a safe addition it would help with foliar growth (leaves)
Edit: I read some people dose potassium nitrate in reef aquaria if this is a safe addition it would help with foliar growth (leaves)
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N.Sreefer
Valuable Member
Thats a great idea!
Soren
Valuable Member
Interestingly, I've been tossing around ideas for the same thing, since I would like mangroves on one side of my 125 build but starting with small mangroves means the roots are not long enough to reach the sand while the tops are out of the water.
My top preference right now seems to be for a small rock wall piled against the back glass or a floating rock to act as the "pot" for detritus and sand to encourage the growth.
I also might start the mangroves in a different variable-depth tank and transplant once larger, assuming that transplanting mangroves is not a high risk of loss.
Lost in the Sauce
BANGERANG!!!!
There are both suction and magnet held devices that look like a half of a wine glass that sticks to your glass.
N.Sreefer
Valuable Member
If the roots are not allowed to desiccate and you don't break more than 30% of the rootlets transplanting is actually pretty easy. They aren't prone to defoliation from transplant shock like many common houseplants (eg ficus) .
Soren
Valuable Member
That is what I guessed, though I have not confirmed it yet.
Thanks for your input and experiences, @N.Sreefer !
OP
OP
Nate Chalk
7500 Club Member
Interesting interesting ill mess with the algae tomorrow, i had a hugeee problem with it recently. Took out some starter corals i had going.
now things are much better
its an ongoing science experiment
now things are much better
its an ongoing science experiment
austibella
Active Member
You shouldn't have a problem I live in south Florida and we have them in most of the waterways .and grow in just about every condition
You can pull one out drive all the way home clean it up with R/0 water put it in a quarentine tank and you won't even loose one leaf.
Eric R.
Well-Known Member
The following is the best hobby article I've seen written on the subject I would recommend reading it.
How to properly care for mangrove trees in ‘aquaria’ | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog
The red mangrove tree, Rhizophora mangle, is a common sight around saltwater aquariums, reef tanks and local fish stores where fresh seed pods are sold and kept. What is not a common sight is for a…reefbuilders.com
I didn't find that article to be particularly informative, personally - it mostly seems to be chiding people that don't take the interest in providing good care for mangroves (ie throwing them in a sump inside a cabinet with fuge lighting). In fact, unless I'm wrong, Jake is wrong is not specifying that red mangroves, the most common type kept by aquarists, unlike black mangroves don't excrete salt at their leaves, but instead exclude salt from their roots.
I find the following four articles to be more informative and accurate, FWIW:
Mangroves In Reef Aquaria
Growing mangroves enables one to decorate a tank to look like a fringing reef that surrounds an island, as seen from the ocean. In fact, this is what I tried to do with my 1500 gallon tank with the help of 40 mangroves.
reefs.com
My mangrove obsession, and the basics of Mangrove care.
I admit, I am not the go-to authority on anything about aquatic plants. In fact, you'll be best served by asking anyone- like, your non-aquarist neighbor, the dog groomer, or even the barista at your local coffee house- questions on aquatic plants before you think of asking me for advice on...
Mangroves in the Wild & Aquarium | Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine
Mangroves make an interesting & functional addition to a brackish or even fully marine aquarium. The author shares his experiences keeping mangroves in a saltwater tank.
www.tfhmagazine.com
N.Sreefer
Valuable Member
They take salt in from the roots and it is stored in the leaves, in nature the leaves would drop after awhile ridding the plant of the salt. They still benefit from being sprayed. That article was shared as a way of saying the plant wont flourish the way the op was keeping them and the way many people keep mangroves. An introduction to the care more than anything. Def lots of more informative articles but I thought that one was useful in this specific instance as it does not understate the care required to keep them. Its kind of funny that with 110 mangrove species us aquarists only keep 2.I didn't find that article to be particularly informative, personally - it mostly seems to be chiding people that don't take the interest in providing good care for mangroves (ie throwing them in a sump inside a cabinet with fuge lighting). In fact, unless I'm wrong, Jake is wrong is not specifying that red mangroves, the most common type kept by aquarists, unlike black mangroves don't excrete salt at their leaves, but instead exclude salt from their roots.
I find the following four articles to be more informative and accurate, FWIW:
Mangroves In Reef Aquaria
Growing mangroves enables one to decorate a tank to look like a fringing reef that surrounds an island, as seen from the ocean. In fact, this is what I tried to do with my 1500 gallon tank with the help of 40 mangroves.My mangrove obsession, and the basics of Mangrove care.
I admit, I am not the go-to authority on anything about aquatic plants. In fact, you'll be best served by asking anyone- like, your non-aquarist neighbor, the dog groomer, or even the barista at your local coffee house- questions on aquatic plants before you think of asking me for advice on...tanninaquatics.com
Mangroves in the Wild & Aquarium | Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine
Mangroves make an interesting & functional addition to a brackish or even fully marine aquarium. The author shares his experiences keeping mangroves in a saltwater tank.
Eric R.
Well-Known Member
Red mangroves exclude salt from entering the plant at the roots, so there is nothing left to excrete at the leaf. Black mangroves and white mangroves however both excrete salt at the leaves.
"The ability to exclude salts occurs through filtration at the surface of the root. Root membranes prevent salt from entering while allowing the water to pass through. This is effective at removing the majority of salt from seawater. The red mangrove is an example of a salt-excluding species.
On the other hand, salt excreters remove salt through glands located on each leaf. Black and white mangroves are both salt excreters. White mangroves develop thickened succulent leaves, discarding salt as the leaves eventually drop."
Source: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/southflorida/habitats/mangroves/adaptations/
"The ability to exclude salts occurs through filtration at the surface of the root. Root membranes prevent salt from entering while allowing the water to pass through. This is effective at removing the majority of salt from seawater. The red mangrove is an example of a salt-excluding species.
On the other hand, salt excreters remove salt through glands located on each leaf. Black and white mangroves are both salt excreters. White mangroves develop thickened succulent leaves, discarding salt as the leaves eventually drop."
Source: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/southflorida/habitats/mangroves/adaptations/
