John is awesome, love the mangroves

[Meengineer0128]

Hey John,

 

Recieved the Mangroves. All came well wrapped and went into the sump immediatley. Appreciate everything, and thanks for the heads up on the shipping.

 

Jason

 

[johnmaloney]

thanks! by the way I didnt meant to offend you in the other thread if I did, I have a sarcastic way about me sometimes. I laugh while I say it in person so you would know, but it doesn't always read that way.

[Meengineer0128]

thanks! by the way I didnt meant to offend you in the other thread if I did, I have a sarcastic way about me sometimes. I laugh while I say it in person so you would know, but it doesn't always read that way.

 

 

Not at all John. I am not one of those people who get angry when people don't agree with me. As far as the sarcasim..... Computers keep it pretty dry, lol.

 

As far as the mangroves go, what is a good growth rate to gage how their doing?? Also, right now the fixture I have them under has two 10k bulbs and two actinics. Is there a better bulb for their growth???

 

Thanks again.

[johnmaloney]

Oh good then, the Cubs thing was sarcasm, I would have went after the Bears if I was serious.

 

Mangroves in captivity grow really slowly, they are usually limited by something, so it is hard to nail down a good growth rate. The lower your nutrient levels, the slower the growth. You have to play it by ear really, but each month you should see some change, the seeds should be changing to sprouts by then. these are early season seeds so they tend to take a little longer to develop, the trade off is they have a better vibrant green color. What are your nutrients like? What lighting? Magnesium over 1200?

[Meengineer0128]

Oh good then, the Cubs thing was sarcasm, I would have went after the Bears if I was serious.

 

Mangroves in captivity grow really slowly, they are usually limited by something, so it is hard to nail down a good growth rate. The lower your nutrient levels, the slower the growth. You have to play it by ear really, but each month you should see some change, the seeds should be changing to sprouts by then. these are early season seeds so they tend to take a little longer to develop, the trade off is they have a better vibrant green color. What are your nutrients like? What lighting? Magnesium over 1200?

Bears would be a good attack. I am a White Sox fan (born and raised on the south side of the city).

 

My params are:

Ammonia: 0

Nitrites: 0

Nitrates: Unmeasurable

Phosphates: Unmeasurable

Last testing for my Magnesium was at 1175. Should I maintain this level or get it above 1200.

Salinity: 1.025

 

I keep a pretty clean tank.

 

My lighting is a 24" aquatic life T5 4 bulb system with 2x10000k on 12 hours and 2xActinics on 14 hours. Is there a bulb you would recommend???

 

Thanks for any help.

[Gatotsu77]

Figured I'd chime in on this topic, just because I saw a question about bulbs for an AquaticLife T5 setup. I changed the bulbs in mine about a month ago now, and I absolutely love 'em. Current bulbs back to front are:

 

ATI Blue Plus

ATI Aquablue Special

ATI Blue Plus

KZ Fiji Purple

 

Just for reference, here is the change this combo made to my tank. (beyond the growth I've seen since then... much better than the stock bulbs)

 

This was the tank with the factory AquaticLife bulbs (please excuse the caulerpa prolifera outbreak...)

 

And this is what it looks like with the above bulb configuration:

 

The second image is shot with a faster shutter speed, as the bulbs were not only much more pleasing in color, but literally brighter than the factory bulbs.

 

Hope this helps! Sorry in advance for making you want to spend money!!

[Meengineer0128]

Figured I'd chime in on this topic, just because I saw a question about bulbs for an AquaticLife T5 setup. I changed the bulbs in mine about a month ago now, and I absolutely love 'em. Current bulbs back to front are:

 

ATI Blue Plus

ATI Aquablue Special

ATI Blue Plus

KZ Fiji Purple

 

Just for reference, here is the change this combo made to my tank. (beyond the growth I've seen since then... much better than the stock bulbs)

 

This was the tank with the factory AquaticLife bulbs (please excuse the caulerpa prolifera outbreak...)

 

And this is what it looks like with the above bulb configuration:

 

The second image is shot with a faster shutter speed, as the bulbs were not only much more pleasing in color, but literally brighter than the factory bulbs.

 

Hope this helps! Sorry in advance for making you want to spend money!!

 

 

Hey,

 

Thanks for the pointers but the lighting is for my sump with Mangroves. Please see my sig tank for more information. My aquatic life fixture over my tank has 2xATI 12k aquablue specials and 2xATI Blue Plus. I chose not to go with the fiji purple because it does not aid growth, it is really only to give your tank a good asthetic look.

 

Your tank does look much better. Any pointers on a good t5 bulb that will accelerate the growth of my mangroves. Check out my sig thread too and tell me what you think.

[Gatotsu77]

Ohhhh... gotcha. Sorry bud, didn't realize the lighting wasn't for the main tank. From what I've read, ideal color temp for mangroves is around 6000k. You may want to look into some of the "freshwater" T5 bulbs. AquaticLife does make a bulb that would be suitable, at 6700k. http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp?PageA...amp;ProdID=1843 That store also has a 6500k bulb by Aqua Medic. http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp?PageA...amp;ProdID=1429

 

Will you be growing any other macro algae in your sump/fuge? If not, I'd vote that you buy some good reef bulbs and fire up that second AquaticLife fixture on a new tank, and buy a clamp-lamp from Home Depot w/ a 6000k CF bulb for the mangroves. (I've got a real bad itch for MTS... but at my current location, I can only have one tank)

[Meengineer0128]

Ohhhh... gotcha. Sorry bud, didn't realize the lighting wasn't for the main tank. From what I've read, ideal color temp for mangroves is around 6000k. You may want to look into some of the "freshwater" T5 bulbs. AquaticLife does make a bulb that would be suitable, at 6700k. http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp?PageA...amp;ProdID=1843 That store also has a 6500k bulb by Aqua Medic. http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp?PageA...amp;ProdID=1429

 

Will you be growing any other macro algae in your sump/fuge? If not, I'd vote that you buy some good reef bulbs and fire up that second AquaticLife fixture on a new tank, and buy a clamp-lamp from Home Depot w/ a 6000k CF bulb for the mangroves. (I've got a real bad itch for MTS... but at my current location, I can only have one tank)

 

 

Once I get some more money saved up I plan on hooking up another tank. The plumbing that I made for the back of the current tank has a 3/4" valve wich will eventually lead to the piping for the other tank. Slowly our office is becoming a personal aquarium. Wooohahahahaha. I will def. look into the 67k light. Thanks.

[johnmaloney]

gatotsu - i think you may have caulerpa brachypus, smaller plant...the only reason I mention the difference is caulerpa brachypus is one of those species they won't let you have in FLorida, like our version of the California Caulerpa taxifolia problem. Emeralds will eat it.

 

Well if you have a light on your setup already I would go with that. If you don't one of those spiral compacts they sell at home depot can be hung over the sump. Get the one that is 45 actual watts, not the 13w bulb that has a 45watt equivalency. I think if they have them in just the "equivalency measurements", you are looking for 150w equivalency, or anything close to that. Those bulbs do give off some heat, don't get them too close the sprouts