The ultimate Mangrove thread!!

[thepotoo]

These are plants, so green will not do much (just like corals), but red will (unlike corals). The ideal spectrum for them is the purple grow lights. I don't know anything about programming reef LEDs (never used anything but black box lights), but a reef LED is overkill for plants.

I grow mine under some generic cool white flood light bulbs that provide around 1000 PAR right at the bulb. Bulbs are 12" over the top of the mangroves.

I grew them just next to a window for a couple years, then added the lights. I noticed that their growth improved a bit with the addition of the lights, but it absolutely exploded after I started heavily supplementing iron.

Note that by "growth absolutely exploded" I mean like 2 leaves a month instead of 1 leaf every 2 months, these are not exactly what I would consider weeds.

I'm experimenting with 10-10-10 fertilizer to see if I can increase growth. The mangrove_manual.pdf that someone else linked in an earlier post is definitely excellent, and I'm going to start dosing manganese to see if that helps.

I am growing mine in freshwater, in a container without much else besides some frogbit growing around their roots.

 

[Clueless_Reefer]

Hi everyone! So I spoke to Kessil today and I hope this helps out others who attempt a similar setup. They mentioned the existing programming was already a good start (I used what BRS suggests) but said by adding 10% Green that would help out the leaves a little bit. Closer to the White spectrum in color is helpful and 80 is good - again, since Kessils have underlying settings for their wavelengths...they'll still grow the plants just maybe not as good as something else would.

For mounting height - 12 inches off the leaves is great until the plants are flourising too much and then add 5% intensity for every 2 inches you'd need to raise. Since I'll be adding clams they just warned to keep the clams within the 24x24" box under the lights center. Once the plans start to shade out the light - add another light source is recommended from another angle so you don't get dead zones.

 

[thepotoo]

Once the plans start to shade out the light - add another light source is recommended from another angle so you don't get dead zones

This is a fact -- the few public aquariums I've seen that have real mangroves (for example Atlanta in GA and Steinhart in San Francisco) both had great growth on the top of their mangroves but no leaves more than 2-3 feet from the lights because the top leaves would shade out the ones below. In an aquarium setting, I don't think I've seen these grown under anything but MH, although that makes sense given the spectrum they need.

 

[Ichtha_yo Stuff]

This is a fact -- the few public aquariums I've seen that have real mangroves (for example Atlanta in GA and Steinhart in San Francisco) both had great growth on the top of their mangroves but no leaves more than 2-3 feet from the lights because the top leaves would shade out the ones below. In an aquarium setting, I don't think I've seen these grown under anything but MH, although that makes sense given the spectrum they need.

The Florida Aquarium in Tampa has a huge Mangrove display that takes up the entire top floor. It is a glass dome that uses natural sunlight. If you are ever near Tampa it is definitely worth going too. That being said many hobbyist have had success growing them under a variety of lights. Full spectrum 6500k seems to be the popular choice.

 

[ReefStash]

First I’ll start with the classics. Most of not all of these you will have seen before. They have been around, are beautiful, and have served as the poster children for mangrove displays. One thing that’s always been curious to me, is how most of them have NO fish in them! Even the ones that are very mature. I’d think a school of fish, or some clowns or something would go in with them. It’s the circle of life, the fish help the plant grow. Love to hear thoughts on that. But see below:

@Julian Sprung mangrove tank:

This unique display:

This display at MACNA

The Volcano Tank:

@brad908 first go around with a mangrove display:

This amazing nano:

Equally awesome nano:

Inspiring. I’ve been browsing the net for inspiration on red mangrove lagoon reef tanks for my new CADE 228g build.

Thank you for sharing.

 

[BPSabelhaus]

New member, first post. After more than a year of waiting, finally got a mangrove for my tank. High brackish to low marine (Varies from 1.018-1.020) stocked with Endlers (and a couple female guppies). Earlier in the thread someone mentioned mollies for eating macros. Well, if they eat macros like Endlers do lol Little piggies ate s 12x8 in piece of free floating Ulva in about 3 days…

Anyway, going to finish reading through this thread and see what all I can absorb.

 

[AC1211]

New member, first post. After more than a year of waiting, finally got a mangrove for my tank. High brackish to low marine (Varies from 1.018-1.020) stocked with Endlers (and a couple female guppies). Earlier in the thread someone mentioned mollies for eating macros. Well, if they eat macros like Endlers do lol Little piggies ate s 12x8 in piece of free floating Ulva in about 3 days…

Anyway, going to finish reading through this thread and see what all I can absorb.

So only one mangrove in there it will look amazing when the roots grow in. Probably would have been nice to get some ulva growing in there. How are your endlers and guppies in saltwater are they hardier than in freshwater. I might need to move some of my mollies to saltwater as I noticed that I have issues when I buy them freshwater but not when I get them saltwater no matter what water they are going into.

 

[BPSabelhaus]

So only one mangrove in there it will look amazing when the roots grow in. Probably would have been nice to get some ulva growing in there. How are your endlers and guppies in saltwater are they hardier than in freshwater. I might need to move some of my mollies to saltwater as I noticed that I have issues when I buy them freshwater but not when I get them saltwater no matter what water they are going into.

The Endlers are very hardy. I also keep them in seasonal outdoor tubs in the garden. As for the guppies, yes. I always had trouble with freshwater. Since going brackish it’s been much better. Miss all the green though lol. Going to take a look next time at the store and see if there’s anything hardier. Kid looked at me like my head was on upside down when I said the guppies ate it lol.

 

[AC1211]

The Endlers are very hardy. I also keep them in seasonal outdoor tubs in the garden. As for the guppies, yes. I always had trouble with freshwater. Since going brackish it’s been much better. Miss all the green though lol. Going to take a look next time at the store and see if there’s anything hardier. Kid looked at me like my head was on upside down when I said the guppies ate it lol.

I just had my mollies breed and guess what they ate reef roids for their first feeding.

 

[BPSabelhaus]

I just had my mollies breed and guess what they ate reef roids for their first feeding.

Not surprised in the least lol

 

[Jubei2006]

Here is my display. I’ve had this mangrove for about 5 years and believe it’s about 7 years old. I’m starting to think more about pruning it and if supplementing with iron may help growth.

That is shaping into a beautiful tree!

 

[Jubei2006]

I’ve never kept urchins, nor claim to be very knowledgeable about them. But I was just thinking, in your tank, a school of cardinals living in one or more longspine urchins could look super cool. Just an idea that popped in my head

Thats awesome. Thought the cardinals were impaled at first. I'd have to get one and name it vlad. Too bad the bangaiis kill each other off over time.

 

[Jubei2006]

Tank never came down and despite some new problems, the mangroves are thriving. One of our houseplants unknowingly brought in some mealy bugs and they have been a nonstop problem. I sacrificed the main culprit plant, but not before it infected my mangroves. Been spraying them with rubbing alcohol a couple times a week for over a month and they still come back. Need to up my game I suppose, but finding reef safe solutions is proving to be hard. All the more reason to pull the tank down, and give them a good scrub before the reset. School ends in a month, my custom display is at the lfs ready for pickup, now I just need to pass some classes and get through mandatory overtime and get this up and moving again.

Bayer spectrum? People dip their corals in it. It is an insecticide.

 

[pgravis]

Bayer spectrum? People dip their corals in it. It is an insecticide.

I haven’t tried that. Been using a Neem oil spray with decent results, although it does take a treatment once a month or so to keep them in check. Maybe I’ll switch over and give that a try.

 

[Jubei2006]

I haven’t tried that. Been using a Neem oil spray with decent results, although it does take a treatment once a month or so to keep them in check. Maybe I’ll switch over and give that a try.

I would be cautious though if there are fish and other inverts in the tank. Might be toxic for them. So maybe apply with a cloth so it doesn't drip in the tank?

 

[pgravis]

I would be cautious though if there are fish and other inverts in the tank. Might be toxic for them. So maybe apply with a cloth so it doesn't drip in the tank?

Yeah. Good points. I have actually been meaning to take them out of the tank and do a heavy treatment and reset things. That would probably be the best route.

 

[BPSabelhaus]

I would be cautious though if there are fish and other inverts in the tank. Might be toxic for them. So maybe apply with a cloth so it doesn't drip in the tank?

Very toxic. Being oil based, it should at least stay to the surface and hopefully be picked up by filtration. I keep several citrus trees in pots around our pond, so I use it a lot for scale bugs. I always move the trees away and downwind of the pond, and that’s literally stocked with $3 worth of feeder goldfish lol. I can’t fathom using that stuff indoors. Maybe in the garage.

 

[thepotoo]

Being oil based, it should at least stay to the surface

If you are treating with neem oil, you are supposed to mix it with a bit of dish soap which helps it cover more area/destroy pests. The pre-mixed spray bottles that you get a Lowes/Home Depot don't have soap, and aren't as effective as mixing up your own.

The soap will absolutely **** up your whole tank and neem oil, even without soap, is super toxic to shrimp (and presumably fish/corals). It doesn't seem to hurt plants at all.

What I'm saying is that you will be better off removing the mangroves from the tank for treatment if at all possible.

The half-life of neem oil is somewhere around a few days (cite), so it should be safe to return the mangroves to the tank a week after treatment. Obviously, be careful not to damage the roots when moving them.

 

[jaganshi066]

Some progression:

Maybe dumb question but do mangroves work like chaeto? Helps with pods and removes nitrates?

 

[jaganshi066]

New member, first post. After more than a year of waiting, finally got a mangrove for my tank. High brackish to low marine (Varies from 1.018-1.020) stocked with Endlers (and a couple female guppies). Earlier in the thread someone mentioned mollies for eating macros. Well, if they eat macros like Endlers do lol Little piggies ate s 12x8 in piece of free floating Ulva in about 3 days…

Anyway, going to finish reading through this thread and see what all I can absorb.

How did you transition your guppies to brackish/saltwater?