Mangroves in the fuge

[johnmaloney]

Does anybody have any opinion on mangrove trees in a refugium?

[Mr. Fosi]

Many sources sing of their benefits. I have two red pods in my AC70s but the don't get much light, so they don't grow very fast.

 

Not sure if they do much or not.

[SPS20]

-If you intend to add them soley for the purpose of nutrient export, don't bother. Mangroves simply don't remove much in the way of organics.

-If you decide to get one, do test your magnesium levels. Mangroves can and will deplete your Mg levels over time.

-Mist the leaves as often as you can with fresh water. Mangroves excrete salt through their leaves and need to be rinsed off to dipsose of it.

-If your mangrove was sprouted in fresh water, acclimate it SLOWLY to salt water (over the course of weeks, not hours). Mangroves adapt themselves to the salinity at which they begin growing, and don't adjust well to large rapid salinity changes.

-Don't prune it much if ever. They grow and heal very slowly and can easily die as the result of pruning them too agressively.

-One last thing: don't underestimate the destructive power of the root systems of trees. I have kept bonsai for years and can attest to the fact that even a small tree can destroy things with its roots. I have heard of aquariums bursting due to a mangrove root growing into and through a seam.

 

Thats all I know about mangroves. All that being said, they are pretty cool.

 

- Josh

[Mr. Fosi]

-If you intend to add them soley for the purpose of nutrient export, don't bother. Mangroves simply don't remove much in the way of organics.

 

"Organics" are not the only thing that you might want to export.

 

-One last thing: don't underestimate the destructive power of the root systems of trees. I have kept bonsai for years and can attest to the fact that even a small tree can destroy things with its roots. I have heard of aquariums bursting due to a mangrove root growing into and through a seam.

 

Good point. I hadn't mentioned that one of my mangroves' roots grew through the silicone seam between the wall and the baffle of my AC70. It did it much quicker than I would have thought.

[bluebastion]

KERRPLUNK!