Fresh Water Mangrove?

[MonsterChef]

Is there such a thing? I mean the red seems to get planted but it's got saline in its dna right? I'm looking for freshwater mangrove (5 feet to 6 feet) ---Any out there? or are there any planted mangrove tanks to look at?

thx,
Chef

 

[carsona246]

Most mangroves trees available are quite small, and they take a long time to grow. I was interested in mangroves at one point in time but decided I wasn't patient enough. Mangroves can be acclimated to freshwater, but dont seem to do as well in it from what i've read. If you go on ebay, or aquabid I'm sure you can find some saplings for fairly cheap if you want to grow them out. I'm not sure where you would find 5 ft mangroves though.

 

[m1ste2tea]

here is my progress in freshwater mangroves

they grow slowly, maybe about 2-3 inches per month, with about 2 new leaves forming every month. the roots grow as well, and im trying to stretch them out, by having them suspended in the water rather than planted in the substrate.

 

[MonsterChef]

Nice - I just bought 21 12"-16" Red Mangroves to test.

 

[m1ste2tea]

Nice - I just bought 21 12"-16" Red Mangroves to test.

how are you planning on planting them?

 

[MonsterChef]

I'm going to try both substrate (ecocomplete) as well as like yours suspended. I want to trasfer them to a 770gl and have them grow on shelves.

 

[carsona246]

sweet, I'd like to hear how it works out, I've always liked the idea of having a tree in a tank, but I'm not sure if I'm patient enough to grow a mangrove out.

 

[m1ste2tea]

sounds like a good plan... FYI i have a feeling that they are very demanding on light, I have some growing directly under 2 13 watt compact fluorescents and they are doing better than the ones growing directly under a 23 watt compact fluorecent. Maybe its something else thats making this difference, maybe its just the pick of luck and which ones got placed where, but just my 2cents.

 

[MonsterChef]

Here are a few shots of my Red's from Hawaii. Do you think I should take the substrate up to the root line?

So far their doing pretty well with natural light and then fortifying it with the halo.

 

[m1ste2tea]

Its cool how they are bending towards the halogen light. They're hungry for light! Mine did the same thing. the one's that were fixed at an angle changed their stem to direct the leaves toward the light.

here's the latest video of said mangrove tank...

watch in high def on youtube