Planting Mangroves?

[fromjuan]

I just purchased 2 mangrove plants and placed them inside my sump. I put the roots inside holes within my live rock. Do I need to plant them in sand or can they survive the way they are? Also do I need to place live sand inside my sump?

 

[dburr]

Originally Posted by fromjuan
I just purchased 2 mangrove plants and placed them inside my sump. I put the roots inside holes within my live rock. Do I need to plant them in sand or can they survive the way they are? Also do I need to place live sand inside my sump?
The roots will attach to the rock. Did you jam them in a hole? You shouldn't, you may damage the roots also. They will grow around the rock.
Sand in the sump, up to you. Keep it away from the pump. :scared:

 

[nanocuber7]

i hope u have a HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHuge sump because mangroves get huge and expand from the base in stead of growing straight up. i live in Miami and there are alot of mangroves IMO i would never buy a mangrove because they will get big and when they do get to big for your sump you probably wont have anywere else to put them cause they need to constantly be in salt water. sorry if i was kindof mean

 

[fromjuan]

I place them carefully into a hole the size of a quarter. Hopefully thats okay. I had a nitrate problem that I could not control and I only have four fish that I feed about every 3-4 days.I took out the bio balls from my wet and turned it into a refugium with two mangroves and 18w PC light which I placed over them. Its been about a week and my nitrates have already droped.

 

[dburr]

Mangroves grow slowly, that said, it will take them along time to reduse the nitrates.
HTH

 

[greatfullreefer]

While good for reducing nitrates they also deplete your magnesium levels which will reek havoc with your calcium and alk levels..keep an eye on your magnesium levels and be sure to keep them within range.

 

[bang guy]

Be sure to mist the Mangroves with fresh water often. They secrete the salt and rely on the rains to wash it away.
I agree that Mangroves grow far too slowly to be useful for Nitrate reduction. They do look nice though.

 

[jimlssc24]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
Be sure to mist the Mangroves with fresh water often. They secrete the salt and rely on the rains to wash it away.
I agree that Mangroves grow far too slowly to be useful for Nitrate reduction. They do look nice though.

Bang what do you recommend for best reduction?

 

[bang guy]

Common export mechanisms:
Water change
Algae scrubber
Live rock (bacteria convert Nitrate to Nitrogen gas)
DSB (same as live rock)
Any export process will be slow. It is therefore advisable to add as little Nitrate to the tank as you can. This means using pure water and not overfeeding.
If you're explicitly asking about using algae then you want something fast growing. I'd suggest Chaetomorpha.

 

[madison]

1st of all Thank you Bang Guy with your help to get back on the board :cheer:
Does Cheto's and macro's REQUIRE Iron additives to grow fast?

 

[dragonboy]

The Mangroves also get shock from water change and I didn't have any success with them cause they all died. Macro's are better and they do a better job at it.