Mangroves

[jorjef]

Is it possible and is the benefit the same. To put mangroves in the display tank rather than the sump and still have them perform Nitrate removal/reduction. If so is there a specfic type of Mangrove used and where can it be bought.

[Zoaelite]

You can create a pretty cool Bio type with mangroves and Sea grasses and yes they will work for nutrient export in the main tank. Mine failed because I had a vlamingii tang that ate all of leaves off as they started budding.

I used the red mangroves but I think any will work.

[jorjef]

Dumb question....they can't be fully submerged can they?...Any joe typical mangroves say from the Safeway florist shop etc. will work?

[Zoaelite]

No problems completley submersing them, that being said I found better growth with only half of them submerged.

I think you might be thinking of Bamboo from superstore but if they actually have red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle) then go for it.

[ScubaSteve]

You can completely submerge them like some people do, however, they don't appreciate it. While they are capable of removing most of the salt from the water as they absorb it, some salt still builds up inside of them; because of this mangroves appreciate being partially in the air so that they can excrete the excess salt on their leaves or pump the salt into some sacrificial leaves which then fall off. Air is needed for these processes. Remember, mangroves grow in tidal zones; so they're not submerged 100% of the time.

I'm not saying you can't completely submerge them but, like your corals, they have their own specific needs and access to air, for atleast part of the day, is one of those needs for a healthy plant.

Also, from one of Anthony Calfo's papers (I can't recall which one it is at the moment) he says that for most mangrove species he only observed significant growth when the leaves were spritzed with fresh water every few days. He said that it is likely because of the same reasons I wrote above and he hypothesized that the spritzing "washes" the salt from the leaves the same way a storm does. Something to consider especially if you are wanting to keep them in your display.

I've been wanting to do a mangrove display tank for a while (hence why I know this crap). One idea that I had was to build up the back of the tank to create a ledge a few inches under the surface and creating another sand bed up there to plant mangroves; that way you get a cool shallows/wall/reef set-up all in one. You'd probably need an acrylic box to hold the sand and disguise it behind some rock. Haven't had the $$$ to do it yet though.

[Zoaelite]

I spray mine down daily and I have been really happy with the growth, I think Steve is onto something there.

[NanoHuman]

I grow some out of my overflow and they have to be sprayed down with fresh water to wash away the salt crystals. They can expell the salt, the mechanism that allows it to be able to grow in salt water.

[jorjef]

Couple more questions....Will Bambo work? When I phone around for mangroves I'm getting alot of dead air like I asking for something alien. Second if I find some and they arn't long enough to be rooted in the sand and break the surface of the water I'm guessing the obvious would be to fully submerge.

[ScubaSteve]

No, bamboo will die in no time flat in salt water as they have no mechanism for removing salt, so it eventually poisons them.

You can fully submerge mangroves, however, you will be waiting a while before they break the surface as their growth will be hindered. That's why I suggested creating a place to plant them up higher. I like NanoHuman's idea and growing them out of the overflow; it's a nice way to pretty up an ugly overflow box. Also, if my memory serves me correct, I believe mangroves don't need to be planted in a substrate and can be "planted" in a mesh basket or something to protect the root system. I'd recommend goolging Anthony Calfo and mangroves to see what comes up.

You could also run your tank with a little less water (if you aren't using an overflow that is) so it is shollower and the tops are exposed. Once they start growing upwards you can them start increasing the water level.

As the ol' saying goes "Do it once and do it right". Order in some mangroves through your LFS or through someone like J&L. Levi, didn't you have a lead on a large quantity of mangroves a few months ago?