I am moving and have to set up tank from scratch, and I want to put in some mangroves. I was talking to some friends and they said I will need mud under sub for the mangroves to live long term. Can I just use supplement fertilizer or is the for the roots to mature properly??
Mangrove substrate
- Thread starter Brackishbandit
- Start date
I researched this as well. I found out that their roots can be attached to rocks or wood. I read that a substrate is not neccesary but supplements, especially magnesium, are required for them to thrive. The mangrove tree is very sensitive to transportation and salinity changes. Also, their leaves must be above water level and they need good lighting.
i think this would be a good subtrate for them just my imo 
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+10741+15435&pcatid=15435
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+10741+15435&pcatid=15435I have seven mangroves currently, they all seem to be doing well in a sand bottom with fertilizer supplements. Some are even completely submerged. The only problem i've seen is adding another light source for the leaves outside the tank. From what I have read they will tolerate full fresh to full salt water, but do need some acclimating. It is also common for all the current leaves to fall off when moved to a new tank but the bud will stay and sprout. If you google it there are some great articles about them and they really are fascinating plants.
Mangroves, depending on the species will grow in completely fresh to super or hyper saline water. I was in the Bahamas in March for a college biology class and did some hiking, one of the lakes we were hiking in that had mangroves in it had a salinity 100 times that of marine water.
upaquariest;1839576; said:
Hmmm... marine water salinity being about 3,5%, you might want to check the "100 times saltier"-definition.
But about mangrove. I have several red mangrove plants growing in my 250 gal brackish(1.008 at the moment) tank. They have been there for a good ten months.
I planted them on top of artificial roots, close to the surface. The roots are growing in "free water", but not too fast. The longest of the roots are about to hit the bottom sand.
I'm not sure, how well the plants should be growing, but to me they are not growing too well at all...
Here's an old pic, taken just a few weeks after planting them... the roots quite short.
No, I don't. But I'll get one for tomorrow.
Not too many leaves, I think the fastest grower has like a dozen leaves or so.
I planted them so that the tops of the seeds were above surface.
One more thing that might be of interest, I do no fertilizing whatsoever...
Not too many leaves, I think the fastest grower has like a dozen leaves or so.
I planted them so that the tops of the seeds were above surface.
One more thing that might be of interest, I do no fertilizing whatsoever...