Mangrove Holder

[edwar050]

Looking for ideas as to a cheap and easy stake for mangroves for a part of my fuge. I want to put eggcrate for the bottom and attach the mangroves to stakes. The stakes themselves will be attached to the eggcrate to adjust mangrove height and so I can pull all the mangroves out of my fuge at once for siphoning and cleaning, any cheap ideas? All I can think of are curtain rods-

 

[graveyardworm]

For mine I'm using rigid airline stuck in the sand. Once the roots take hold you no longer need it. I've been slowly pulling mine up as the roots grow and now I have very nice prop roots.

 

[rustybucket145]

I saw some growing in barnacles (the big ones you can buy at a pet store) The guy had filled up a couple of the barnacles with mud and just stuck the mangroves in. This way he could easily remove them if needed.

 

[graveyardworm]

Wouldnt the barnacles hinder root growth? Maybe youd end up with a bonsai mangrove.

 

[Samala]

Gotta love the rigid airline trick. Cheapest and non-rustable object you can really use for the purpose.

>Sarah

 

[rustybucket145]

He actually 'trained' the prop roots to 'land' in other barnacles. I'm sure that over time the plant would become root bound, or break the barnacles. But like you said the Bonsai method is what he was tryig to accomplish. It looked pretty neat and the tree, though small, looked very healthy.

 

[edwar050]

Thanks for the great idea about ridgid airline tubing, very good idea. I have 30 mangroves on my 120 and have had them for almost a year, they are doing great. I had them in mineral mud but was getting tired of the mud. Anybody running cheato in between the mangrove roots to maximize efficancy in the sump? Does anyone dose magnesium "what kind" for mangrove growth?

Thanks,

Brad

 

[graveyardworm]

My mangrove has C. prolifera, cheato, halymenia, and another macro I believe Rhodomenia growing within the roots. I dose magnesium (Randys two part recipe) just to maintain proper parameters.

 

[rustybucket145]

Yes I can't even see my mangrove roots b/c the chaeto is so thick around it. It is the area of my tank I call 'Pod Heavan' It is amazing the amount of life the chaeto/mangrove/rubble pile can support.

 

[edwar050]

Very Very Sweet info. Glad I posted this thread. Thank you RustyBucket and Graveyardworm for the ideas about adding different kinds of macro. Thanks also for the idea about the rubble pile. I was thinking I could put the eggcrate down, attach small rocks to the eggcrate and then have the stakes holding the mangroves. Then I could technically remove my whole fuge for a quick siphon/cleaning about once ever 6months without destoying the pods! I also plan on moving and this will make it sooo much easier than a DSB. Thanks-

Brad