Spongy red mangrove stem

[Smarkow]

Purchased some red mangroves from algae barn about a month ago. They looked great on arrival with large roots. Roots appeared undamaged.

I want to have them grow up in a pot - these are not for a refugium. I potted them in a five gallon bucket with aragonite and a few pellets of fish food for fertilizer and brackish water. (Citrus trees in background. It’s a heated grow room with full spectrum lights.)

Over the past few days there was a whitish (presumably) bacterial film on some roots. I exchanged water and did a small dose of peroxide to no effect. Pic of film:

Sponginess was worse. So I took them out, rinsed roots under flowing tap water and placed them in a large clear vase with just tap water. Moved them to a brighter area of the grow room.

Anything else I can try?
Thanks, happy reefing!

 

[CHSUB]

If just for a pot, plant in organic potting soil capped with gravel or aragonite. Roots look ok, however Ime, planting in soil increases growth by more than 10 times.

 

[Nano_Man]

My red mangroves are growing very slow as well not much change from when they were delivered. My mangroves are in ro water and fertiliser

 

[Smarkow]

If just for a pot, plant in organic potting soil capped with gravel or aragonite. Roots look ok, however Ime, planting in soil increases growth by more than 10 times.

I think I’m going to take your advice if/when they recover. Just didn’t have any on hand when they arrived, only seed starting mix and leftover aragonite from the reef.
Thanks!

 

[Smarkow]

My red mangroves are growing very slow as well not much change from when they were delivered. My mangroves are in ro water and fertiliser

I’ll take slow growing :)
But a soft/spongy/boggy pod/stem is basically always bad in a mangrove, right?

 

[CHSUB]

Here is my mangrove pot. It has Red and Black Mangroves and a betta. Grows great, full freshwater and sunlight. No filter or flow.

 

[Smarkow]

Here is my mangrove pot. It has Red and Black Mangroves and a betta. Grows great, full freshwater and sunlight. No filter or flow.

Looks great! I was concerned lack of flow was my problem but yours would argue against that

 

[CHSUB]

Looks great! I was concerned lack of flow was my problem but yours would argue against that

Haha. Actually flow is better, imo. I do 3 gallon weekly WC, because I’m a little concerned about root rot which can definitely happen, but believe it would take a few months. Pot is about 10 gallons…