MANGROVES!

cnseekatz · Oct 20, 2016

Here are a few shots of the new primary roots growing out of the newly submerged tips.

cnseekatz · Oct 20, 2016

Here's an example of how you can change the direction of the root mass and/or the plant itself by taking advantage of the fact that the new roots want to grow straight down.

cnseekatz · Oct 20, 2016

Tank constantly has dirty stringy brown algae, but I don't really clean it all that much. The mangroves don't seem to mind the clingy junk on their roots.

Shaun Sweeney · Oct 20, 2016

Very interesting. I tried growing one last year but didn't have the right environment. This article has reminded me of my interest and I'll soon have an ideal place to try planting again. Lookout ...

JadeM · Oct 20, 2016

i'm currently growing them from seedlings in my 130 gal roots growing nice

Esquire805 · Oct 20, 2016

cnseekatz said:
Well, not much feedback from R2R, but I talked to some folks who grow mangroves and got some pretty pragmatic information. Basically they said that as long as the roots stay wet, and you keep the leaves illuminated with bright light, the rest is pretty superfluous. I was told that flow and temperature really don't make much difference, as long as you avoid extremes. I have a spare circulation pump, and small heater laying around, so I'll use those to maintain basic reef tank conditions, but I'm not going to worry about too much or too little nutrients in the water (for now).

As long as you have a good light source magnesium trace elements iron and a bit of nitrates and phosphate your fine in less then two months I have leaves growing

Fourstars · Oct 25, 2016

Mangroves seem to grow best in fine sand. Keeps the root white and hairy. They grow faster so more nutreant uptake this way. Easy to grow from pods, I think it paid seven bucks shipped for six pods. Don't let the growing tip fall in the water. Mist with ro water often. They love light, I grow under 250 watt halides.

MCooper · Oct 25, 2016

Very cool! Do mangroves need to have the top part out of water?

Fourstars · Oct 25, 2016

Yes, the ends will rot, happens fast. I used wooden skews the keep them upright till they rooted. took about two weeks and then the top leaves out. Now if i could only grow out SPS

MCooper · Oct 25, 2016

oh boy, gotta get mine above water then! Thanks

JohnnyTabasco · Dec 6, 2016

Updates?
Just found this AWESOME Julian tank...

sureal00 · Dec 6, 2016

I have a couple mangroves in my small tank

revhtree · Dec 6, 2016

Very cool!

manuel732 · Dec 28, 2016

Nice !!

stevo01 · Dec 28, 2016

Have a look at these @CoreyB

cnseekatz · Jan 4, 2017

Not a whole lot to update. These guys are slow growers when they're not planted in substrate. The roots for most have grown all the way to the bottom of the tank, so I'm going to begin the process of lifting them above the water line to thicken up the root structures.

I'll update with some photos soon.

smh254 · Jan 4, 2017

I've had these in my fuge for about nine months started as pods. I have a piece of foam that I notched out and place them in to hold in place.

For the light I'm using Home Depot clamp on with these bulbs.

brad908 · Jan 12, 2017

7 weeks. All 6 have actually sprouted now. 7 week picture was taken this past Saturday.

I've had these for over 2 years now

spinycheek · Jan 12, 2017

Beautiful planted reef! That's a cool idea!

I had a pseudo-bonsai mangrove for several years growing in a large fish bowl with brackish water. It had really great looking prop roots, but I got too zealous with pruning to induce branching and it never recovered. I would recommend pruning one branch at a time if that comes up, they're pretty tough in terms of environment, but they're apparently pretty sensitive to physical damage.