RC40G Mangrove Refugium

[TheWalkman99]

I believe if you cut a root, it will send out new shoots, but be careful doing this with a juvenile plant.

Thanks I’ll be careful then

 

[cbellm]

Great tank! I have been trying to grow out a few mangroves in my fuge which is a separate 75 gallon. What are your nitrates and Phosphates to get it go double in 2 years?

 

[AlgaeBarn]

This is awesome!! Are you dosing nitrates and phosphates?

 

[welsher7]

That is amazing.

How did you start the mangrove, did you float it or put it in the substrate?

 

[Goldenvue]

Great thread I’m
Getting some mangroves for my reef this week!

 

[rmchoi]

Here is a One Year Update since starting the mangrove refugium. The mangrove has grown about 12". It has lost almost all its leaves and regenerated new. Its shedding leaves on the lower branches, while multiplying rapidly on the upper branches. It continues to send new root shoots towards the substrate. I continually raise the light with the plant grows. For a short period, mealy bugs infested and ate the leaves with some growth stunt. With regular cleaning of the leaves with alcohol, they are under control. The overall height from substrate to tip top is about 4 feet now.

 

[Perry]

Absolutely brilliant, would love to see the DT too, I am sure its amazing Great update, and cool as heck project!!!

 

[dbraun15]

Sweet! I have had a few mangroves growing in pots for a few years and have thought about putting them in a dedicated tank like this...have you done any trimming of the mangrove to control size and growth?

 

[rmchoi]

No, I just let it grow, though I have heard it can be pruned. Also, I noticed no difference after I stopped spraying it with water daily. Low effort turned this refugium into a low maintenance add on.

 

[pelican]

Awesome! That is fantastic growth for one year! Are you still dosing iodine and iron? If so, how much. If not why did you stop?

 

[rmchoi]

Awesome! That is fantastic growth for one year! Are you still dosing iodine and iron? If so, how much. If not why did you stop?

Thanks— for the last 9 months, no longer dose iodine and iron...or anything else, but nitrates. I find both refugiums, a big weekly water change and calcium reactor keeps it all stable.

 

[rmchoi]

Absolutely brilliant, would love to see the DT too, I am sure its amazing Great update, and cool as heck project!!!

Here is the rest of my set up. This is a 75G with ATI PowerModule T5/LED. This sits on a home made cabinet.

Mostly SPS with LPS in the corners.

SPS is growing on the glass. It needs to cut back from the glass.

Underneath, is a Lifereef sump & skimmer, Red Dragon return pump and UV sterilizer.

Above the sump, behind flip out doors is a controller, power and back up battery.

In a separate cabinet is a auto water changer and dosing pump.

 

[Perry]

Wow!!!
That monti is massive! Must suck mag like crazy, lol. Sweet tanks!!!

 

[Eric R.]

@rmchoi, Great tank! I'm planning on starting a DT with mangroves in the near future. Would love it to look like yours within a few years. How did you start the mangrove, did you float it or put it in the substrate?

 

[rmchoi]

One year + 10 month update pictures. The mangrove grew rapidly the past ten months. It has grown an additional 3 feet. It is now 6 feet tall from the tank bottom to the top leaves. The light is at the ceiling and can't be raised any higher. Not sure what I will do now.

 

[Perry]

wow!!!
Looks like you might have to top it, should be ok and get wider, my only advice, lol. Well done!!!

 

[AlgaeBarn]

Looks wild! ~Shaun K.

 

[dbraun15]

Looks great! You can trim the tree and it will fork the branch you cut and make the tree “fuller”. How long have you been growing this tree?

 

[Julian.rad]

How is it growing in only a couple inches of sand? Thought they needed a deep substrate

 

[rmchoi]

How is it growing in only a couple inches of sand? Thought they needed a deep substrate

A majority of the substrate is this dark miracle mud. This is full of bacteria, microfauna, worms and minerals for the tree roots. The Carib Sea reef sand you see is just a thin cap, covering the mud. The miracle mud is what makes this grow fast.