Mangroves in the Fuge!

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Got me some Mangroves for the fuge and was wondering the best way to "plant" them for optimal growth?

Ideas and photos please!

 

[melypr1985]

Mangroves are cool! I've heard they arn't that great for nutrient export and require a lot of care. Good luck with them though! I think I saw a cool mangrove fuge type of stand alone tank a while back on here somewhere. I might be able to find it again.

 

[dss190]

Also, what about lighting?

 

[d2mini]

Rev, ideally you would want some type of mud subtrate with a layer or regular reef sand on top to help keep the mud from kicking up a cloud.
I've used Walt Smith's Fiji Mud.
Some people will suspend their mangroves but after a year they will tend to decline in health. Definitely better to plant them in a substrate.
If you have to suspend because they are too short to keep the tops out of the water otherwise, that's fine but plant when you can.
As stated above, don't expect them to help with nutrient export. You would need an entire forest to make a dent.

 

[d2mini]

Also, what about lighting?

Something with a midday spectrum, and strong. Personally I would use something from the horticulture guys.

 

[runzwithscissors]

18" t5 grow bulb from Home Depot . Dsb. Over time they will grow tall enuf to bend over. You can buy them without the roots, and they only need 1/2 inch of the plant out of the water

 

[Sabellafella]

Got me some Mangroves for the fuge and was wondering the best way to "plant" them for optimal growth?

Ideas and photos please!

Ahh stepped itup a notch , if they are little stick them in a floating piece of Styrofoam and have the roots growout, then stick em in mud. They have to be sprayed down with ro water atleast once a week. Enjoy

 

[runzwithscissors]

Mangroves are cool! I've heard they arn't that great for nutrient export and require a lot of care. Good luck with them though! I think I saw a cool mangrove fuge type of stand alone tank a while back on here somewhere. I might be able to find it again.

No care involved besides light (if planted). Mine came without roots, just stuck it in sand. I can only speculate about nutrient export, but the root system will get huge under the sand so I gotta think some nutrients are removed

 

[Acameron2]

Growing mine very slowly from 100% natural lighting from a window. Don't know if that helps but I got two little propagules from The keys.

 

[Wiz]

I have bought a few now. They always seem to get soft and die. Never grow leaves.:-( I was told to get one with roots and leaves already. Which I did. This one is almost 2 feet tall and had 3 leaves and a great root system. I have it planted in oolitic sand with a 1/2" later of regular sand on top. Its been in for a month. And its lost two of the three leaves! :-( I spray the top with ro twice a day.

 

[runzwithscissors]

Growing mine very slowly from 100% natural lighting from a window. Don't know if that helps but I got two little propagules from The keys.

Yea, lol that's what I meant by rootless...couldn't think of the word.

 

[runzwithscissors]

I have bought a few now. They always seem to get soft and die. Never grow leaves.:-( I was told to get one with roots and leaves already. Which I did. This one is almost 2 feet tall and had 3 leaves and a great root system. I have it planted in oolitic sand with a 1/2" later of regular sand on top. Its been in for a month. And its lost two of the three leaves! :-( I spray the top with ro twice a day.

The seeds take a long time to sprout. I have tried to replant mangroves after changing tanks and had no luck. Did the same as yours[emoji22]. The best part is they are very slow growers so it will take awhile to outgrow sump.

 

[runzwithscissors]

Reefcleaners.org carry the propagules.

 

[d2mini]

I have bought a few now. They always seem to get soft and die. Never grow leaves.:-( I was told to get one with roots and leaves already. Which I did. This one is almost 2 feet tall and had 3 leaves and a great root system. I have it planted in oolitic sand with a 1/2" later of regular sand on top. Its been in for a month. And its lost two of the three leaves! :-( I spray the top with ro twice a day.

Your light looks too close? looks like you are burning the leaves.

 

[Wiz]

="runzwithscissors, post: 2693784, member: 20482"]Reefcleaners.org carry the propagules.

Ive gotten three of them. Always turn soft and break apart :-(

 

[Wiz]

No i accidently split the leave with the mesh. Its only t5. I doubt its burning. Ive seen people that have them right under halides

Your light looks too close? looks like you are burning the leaves.

 

[d2mini]

FWIW, mine have burned being too close.
The leaves are delicate, you want to avoid touching them if you can. If they are through the mesh like it appears, I'd come up with a different solution.

Here's my tank i had going for 10 months before I had to tear it down around thanksgiving this year.
They started as propagules. They were trimmed a couple times. That's how you get them to branch off.

 

[Wiz]

I raised the light 5 more inchs. Just in case.

FWIW, mine have burned being too close.
The leaves are delicate, you want to avoid touching them if you can. If they are through the mesh like it appears, I'd come up with a different solution.

Here's my tank i had going for 10 months before I had to tear it down around thanksgiving this year.
They started as propagules. They were trimmed a couple times. That's how you get them to branch off.

 

[Wiz]

I love the way mangroves look I really hope I can get one to grow. I grew one in my old tank years ago and had no trouble.

 

[Goldenvue]

Fallowing along want to add some but not sure best way to plant them, was thinking about useing egg crate to make a basket and fill w lr rubble. What do u guys think about that?