Mangrove plants depleting Mg?

[trigger0214]

I was doing some research on magrove plants sice I am considereing adding them to my refugium. I came accross the following information at http://saltaquarium.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.floridaplants.com/Mangroves/

The Red Mangrove utilizes an internal salt pump to exclude salt ions. This is the means by which the plant survives the saline environment. The "pump" is a cellular process whereby the element magnesium (Mg) is taken into the plant's cells, forcing out sodium (Na) ions. Therefore, growing Red Mangrove in a closed system such as an aquarium requires close monitoring of the magnesium balance as the plants will remove not only the nitrogen wastes in the water, but magnesium as well. When magnesium is depleted in a tank, the plants will turn yellow or exhibit other signs of salt stress, including shrivelling.
Red Mangroves also grow beautifully in fresh water- try some in a vase of water on the windowsill!

Now as I understand Mg is a pretty big component in salt water and am thinking that you would SERIOUSLY have to neglect your tank in order to deplete it.

Do you guys have any experience with this?

Does anyone actully monitor their Mg levels??[/quote]

 

[trigger0214]

Also, it ocurs to me that once the magrove has suffiently saturated itself with Mg ions it would cease to take them up.

Any thoughts?

 

[Anonymous]

A single plant will not likely cause any serious Mg depletion, however if one has a forest of mangroves i.e. 3-6 plants or more they can affect Mg levels.

Read this:

http://www.twolittlefishies.com/images/ ... manual.pdf

 

[randy holmes-farley]

FWIW, I'm not convinced that there is any big effect from mangroves on magnesium.

Here are some threads were we've discussed it, and I even measured the salt exudate of the leaves in one thread (no magnesium in it):

http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/sh ... adid=60873

http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/sh ... adid=36262

http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/sh ... adid=37058