do you have mangroves in your reef system?

[tsinkoy]

I read about placing mangroves in sumps, and from ecology, I know that mangroves are one of the most diverse ecosystems there is.

Does anyone here have mangroves in their sumps? or in their systems?

Please post pics and please tell us if they've benefitted your system or not.

Thanks.

 

[ZANYMASTER]

I think you need a lot of them to be any where effective in the sump.Cheato is better.

 

[tunicata]

I think I have about 8 of them in my sump. They grow pretty well IMO, esp since mine have pretty ext. root growth and minor budding and the sump has only been online for 2mos total (though I've had them for longer).

I use mangrove, chaeto and caulerpa (now) just because I like to. Don't really rely on them. I'll post the pic later but its in my tank thread I think...

 

[iconoclast]

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/members/tsinkoy.htmltsinkoy,

by 'benefiting the system' i take it to mean nutrient export?

mangroves dont really use up many nutrients and those that they do are consumed slowly (they grow slowly). they are very stable higher order plants though, so the nutrients they do use are safely locked away. For example calaupera is not so stable since it can go sexual and release nutrients back into the system.

I think mangroves are interesting, fun and that they can provide habitat: in this way I think they benefit the system. you don't have to put them in your sump though. if you have a pendant you could easily put it in the tank. FYI they can grow well with grow plant grow lights but like clams they do best with very intense lighting. I'm going to put them in a vegtable filter inline tank that has a MH pendant.

i dont have any at the moment but am plotting to get some red mangrove propagules. red mangroves are the best for saltwater and it is best to grow them from propagules since after they have been sprouted they should not be kept in waters of different salinities. also propagules can last quite some time without water or anything. i like to keep my tank at 1.026 sg which is a bit higher than some like. also the red variety are very sensitive to pruning, so transportation might damage leaves and young plants could die. but getting a sprouted one locally is totally fine for some but i also like the idea of growing one from seed. this also lets you develop the root structure as desired, if youre going to have mangroves you ought to have them grow aerial roots.

haha... if you want ill go in on some with you?