Mangrove Trees
 

What are everyones Ideas on Mangrove trees concerning light, room and anything else I cannot think of.
Thanks Super7

I use HO T5s over mine. Not sure what you mean by room. I have seen where people band a large group together but their only interest was the nutrient export. I treat mine more like bonsi and have 4 large bonsi in a 20g. It is plumbed into the system so I get some export but with only 4 not much.

Scott

so how do you keep them small, do you just prune the new growth to make them bushy?

Exactly......

Scott

Another thing about the mangrove tree....once they start to root don't bother the roots for a long time. I have read you shouldn't move them for 5 yrs. That might be extreme but the root system is delicate.

Scott

thankyou skylord
Super7

a good article on mangroves. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-1...ture/index.php

imo, if you want to use mangroves as filtration, you're going to have to use quite a few. not really worth it in that regard imo, especially when you have a large diversity of macroalgae to pick from. However, they do make great little "bonsais" as mentioned and do attract some attention from visitors as a little odd tidbit. rather slow growers, but to prune just treat it the same as any other plant. nip off the apical bud and it will grow sideways.

they will survive in pretty much any light you give it, the more the better. I have a seedling in an empty HOB aquaclear with a piece of rubble. Im just letting the roots take hold of the rock so when i put it in the display proper (has to be tall enough to stick out of the water some), i have an anchor... that's the plan anyways :).

i've seen skylords and they look really really good. ever since then i have tried to think of a way to incorporate them into my system :cry:

I am DIYing a refugium and a sump as I have welded a stand together to incorporate the setup I want underneath my new system.
The mangroves will have 15 inches, minus what ever lighting system I put in there, of growing room for the mangroves. That should be enough if I treat them as a bonzai.
Thanks Super7

After seeing your space allotment I had to go measure mine. From the bottom of the tank to the top of the light, mine is 29 inches. My trees are in need of a trim but the most I could cut is about 6 inches and they wouldn't look good if I did that. My light is only about two inch's thick so I'm not wasting any space there. I could have made the root system (aerial roots)a little shorter but thats what makes the trees look nice and realistic. So in a sump where they aren't for show I could have reduced the roots about 4 inch's. My trees are just over 2 yrs old and they are 2 feet tall and have to be trimmed about every 3 months.

Also if they are going straight into the sump you have to be concerned with salinity shock.

Scott