DIY hang on Mangrove's

[nuro]

Ok so I had this crazy idea and i want to get soem feedback.. My idea was to use a hang on over flow in the tank for mangroves seeded on lime rock, I'd have to buy another light to shine down on them but I think this could look really nice if done correctly. Any potential problems you guys see with this? I was thinking i could drill a few holes in the over flow to allow water to pass thru. and maybe aim a power head right at it

 

[augustwest]

I've heard that the roots could be a problem if they get in the the seams of the tank or other areas you don't wmant them to get. That they can actually grow in to the seam causing it to seperate. Can anyone verify this?

 

[turningtim]

I have seen FW planted tanks like this with the roots in the tank and growing out the back. But why not make it like a HOB fuge? Just feed water through it with a ph and a small U-tube drain. Could you get away with just grow lights? This is very interesting to me. How big/tall do mangroves get?
Could the roots bust a seam in acrylic?
Tim

 

[nuro]

they get large but i'm not sure how fast they grow. Since the light is goign to be just for the mangove's i think just grow lights would be fine. As far as turning it into a fuge drain, i would be alittle worried about sediment building up around the rocks and roots. that might hamper flow. I'm going to mage sure they hang low enough in the tank so as to not getinto the tank structure.. i;m sure ill have to snip them every now and then.