Brad's Natural Reef Mangroves, Macros, and More

[FiremanRick]

I am also curious about how you attached the rubble to the structure

 

[Goby-won]

Really unique and very beautiful.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[brad908]

Thanks everyone!
__________________

What did you use on the egg crate that sealed and filled structured parts?

I am also curious about how you attached the rubble to the structure

A product called "touch n' foam", can be found on Amazon. It is specifically designed for outdoor ponds.

This may be a mangrove noob question, but why do you use an inner tank in which to plant them? As an aquascaping structure? For containing the root system?
Also curious about their light requirements. Do you need a daylight/full spectrum bulb? Kinda looks 10K-14K in the pictures.

The inner tank has live mud and sand to help the mangroves grow, as they really need something to plant their roots in. The cube is also to keep the roots contained and (hopefully) force upward growth.

The mangroves need a good amount of light, and I keep it around 10k spectrum. It is hard to give mangroves too much light, but very easy to starve them of light.

A good substrate for the roots and high amounts of light is the best way for mangroves to thrive.

What type of light fixture are you using over the main part of the tank? Looks great by the way.

It is a nanobox hybrid. 2 6500k T5 bulbs and 4 nanobox LED pucks

 

[DOC120]

I have not had any luck with placing papules in sump. Mangroves have a beautiful root structure above the substrate that keeps the shoreline from much erosion. What I have read is that you pull the growing aquarium specimen out of the substrate into the seawater gradually over time. Any thought about this feature? You only provided miracle mud and coral sand for establishing growth? Any additives?

 

[brad908]

Since the first post is very out of date:

Equipment

• 48x18x14 Starfire SCA Aquariums
• 24" NanoBox Hybrid | 4 v3 pucks with 2 24" T5
• NanoBox DUO | Flare edition
• Ecotech MP10
• Jebao WP10
• 22x16x15" Synergy Sump (not currently in use)
• Mame Overflow (not currently in use)
• Bubble Magus Curve 5 (not currently in use)
• Hydor L40 (not currently in use)
• Apex Jr. (not currently in use)
• Elos Osmo ATO Controller (not currently in use)

Fish

• Black Ocellaris Clownfish
• Regular Ocellaris Clownfish
• Pajam Cardinal - x3
• Blue/Green Chromis - x10

Macro Algae's

• Caulerpa Prolifera
• Halimeda Opuntia
• Botryocladia
• Hypnea Pannosa
• Coralline Clusters
• Corky Finger
• Tan Spiny
• Tan Candelabra
• Purple Ribbon
• Purple Candelabra
• Padina

Coral

• Hammer's - x3
• Duncan

 

[Acameron2]

I love how natural this looks. Awesome tank!

 

[mkj]

 

[brad908]

I have not had any luck with placing papules in sump. Mangroves have a beautiful root structure above the substrate that keeps the shoreline from much erosion. What I have read is that you pull the growing aquarium specimen out of the substrate into the seawater gradually over time. Any thought about this feature? You only provided miracle mud and coral sand for establishing growth? Any additives?

It is critical mangroves have good light and a proper substrate. Sure you can get mangroves to live and maybe grow a little, but they are just surviving and not thriving. I think it is a big misconception that you can just throw some mangroves in a sump and they'll flourish.

I have never heard of pulling the roots out of the substrate. Aerial roots will eventually begin to grow, with time. I would have visible roots at this time, but they were planted in 8" of mud/sand. My new build is only a 4" substrate, and I expect to have a massive root system above the substrate/water within a year.

No additives, just the mud and sand.

 

[nicholas.babb@gmail]

Since the first post is very out of date:

Equipment

• 48x18x14 Starfire SCA Aquariums
• 24" NanoBox Hybrid | 4 v3 pucks with 2 24" T5
• NanoBox DUO | Flare edition
• Ecotech MP10
• Jebao WP10
• 22x16x15" Synergy Sump (not currently in use)
• Mame Overflow (not currently in use)
• Bubble Magus Curve 5 (not currently in use)
• Hydor L40 (not currently in use)
• Apex Jr. (not currently in use)
• Elos Osmo ATO Controller (not currently in use)

Fish

• Black Ocellaris Clownfish
• Regular Ocellaris Clownfish
• Pajam Cardinal - x3
• Blue/Green Chromis - x10

Macro Algae's

• Caulerpa Prolifera
• Halimeda Opuntia
• Botryocladia
• Hypnea Pannosa
• Coralline Clusters
• Corky Finger
• Tan Spiny
• Tan Candelabra
• Purple Ribbon
• Purple Candelabra
• Padina

Coral

• Hammer's - x3
• Duncan

Reason you are not utilizing the sump/filtration equipment?

 

[brad908]

Reason you are not utilizing the sump/filtration equipment?

I was traveling a lot for work and my wife called me a few times saying she though the tank was going to overflow. The MAME gets a little weird sometimes, I believe this was 100% my fault and not keeping it clean.

It wasn't worth the risk of an overflow, and the sump wasn't really doing anything besides housing the heater (no reason to run the skimmer with the mangroves/macro algaes). It has been 4-5 months now and no issues. Also haven't done a water change in probably 5months (lost track of the last one).

 

[nicholas.babb@gmail]

I was traveling a lot for work and my wife called me a few times saying she though the tank was going to overflow. The MAME gets a little weird sometimes, I believe this was 100% my fault and not keeping it clean.

It wasn't worth the risk of an overflow, and the sump wasn't really doing anything besides housing the heater (no reason to run the skimmer with the mangroves/macro algaes). It has been 4-5 months now and no issues. Also haven't done a water change in probably 5months (lost track of the last one).

That nutrient control is fantastic. I have the MAME and, while I haven't had a problem, it makes me nervous sometimes.

I messing a round with an algae reactor and hope to take skimmer offline eventually.

 

[ShinerMaginer]

I would have visible roots at this time, but they were planted in 8" of mud/sand. My new build is only a 4" substrate, and I expect to have a massive root system above the substrate/water within a year.

I'm interested in how the roots will grow upwards. If you contained them in the small container, they hit the walls and then start pushing roots up and over? I've only ever seen mangroves from the side of the road!

 

[manuel732]

Wow beautiful tank !!

 

[Sharvey103]

Sweet!!! Definitely following.

 

[CenlaReefer]

Since the first post is very out of date:

Equipment

• 48x18x14 Starfire SCA Aquariums
• 24" NanoBox Hybrid | 4 v3 pucks with 2 24" T5
• NanoBox DUO | Flare edition
• Ecotech MP10
• Jebao WP10
• 22x16x15" Synergy Sump (not currently in use)
• Mame Overflow (not currently in use)
• Bubble Magus Curve 5 (not currently in use)
• Hydor L40 (not currently in use)
• Apex Jr. (not currently in use)
• Elos Osmo ATO Controller (not currently in use)

Fish

• Black Ocellaris Clownfish
• Regular Ocellaris Clownfish
• Pajam Cardinal - x3
• Blue/Green Chromis - x10

Macro Algae's

• Caulerpa Prolifera
• Halimeda Opuntia
• Botryocladia
• Hypnea Pannosa
• Coralline Clusters
• Corky Finger
• Tan Spiny
• Tan Candelabra
• Purple Ribbon
• Purple Candelabra
• Padina

Coral

• Hammer's - x3
• Duncan

Wow!!!!!! I am following this thread!

 

[TheEngineer]

Wow! How do you keep the macros from growing out of control? It looks very well manicured.

 

[brad908]

Wow! How do you keep the macros from growing out of control? It looks very well manicured.

Thanks. I use a pair of stainless steel scissors that are generally used for FW planted tanks. About once a month I do a trimming.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

wow. really nice

 

[Maximizer]

Very impressive tank!!!

 

[brad908]

Thanks everyone!