Mangrove/MAcro tank..

im new to the world of mangroves. but im learning :)

i have a few questions for you guys.
i keep reading than mangroves should have a 6" sandbed.
mines floating, roots exposed (id like to train it much like the one in the link.) and i thought this was the way to do it.
is this detrimental to the mangrove. ?

IMG_6562.jpg

IMG_6561.jpg

IMG_6560.jpg

it is growing, but very slowly. it only had 2 leaves (which have since fallen off) i just recently switched from a single 27watt, 6500k light to a 4 bulb vanity fixture with 27watt,6500k bulbs.
hoping to speed up the growth.

thanks guys.
 
no.. it isnt detrimental.. some people do grow it that way.. but i dont think thats the way to get Aerial roots..
here is how to do it:
To encourage elaborate, aerial root systems, begin seedlings tied gently to a post (PVC pipe, rigid airline tubing, etc.) with flexible gardener's tape - available at a landscape or garden center. Be sure to use flexible tape, as rigid ties will cut into the plant as it grows. Immerse the tethered seedling to a depth where only the lower 1/3 of the propagule is submerged in water. Roots will sprout before leaves. As roots begin to grow and develop, you only need to gradually move the "body" of the plant upwards on the stake. In this teasing manner, strong roots will grow thickened and extensively to support the weight of the tree above the water as if the tide was going out. It will take many months before the propagule's body can be lifted completely out of the water with an arched and anchored root system, but what a magnificent and natural sight to see! If, instead, you choose to simply stick a propagule into a bed of sand like a dart, substrata root development will occur quickly and profusely, but aerial prop roots are unlikely, if possible at all, without a replication of tides and the exposure of some roots to air over time.

i didnt right that.. its form an article that u linked above...
 
i'm waiting for the roots to grow longer,then i plan on following the pvc instructions(only a little differently). i plan on growing the mangrove over a 4" pvc tube, once the roots are long enough. hopefully when the mangrave is established, i'll remove the pipe leaving a 4" mangrove root cave. i've done similar things with bonsai.the link also says.

Some folks do not plant the seedlings at all, but rather suspend them in mid-water ("Book of Coral Propagation, Vol. 1", pp 30-32) for the purpose of encouraging magnificent aerial prop roots. For aesthetic and utilitarian (biotope) purposes, the cultivation of arched prop roots on mangroves is very easy to finesse, despite the lack of tidal cycles in the aquarium.

the floating styofoam was just a simple way of doing this
image008.jpg
 
well thats what confuses me. if you can suspend them in the water, why is there so much discussion about how deep the sand bed should be. according to the explaination above, they dont need a sand bed at all.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7097269#post7097269 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fishfreak218
ok then..i need fish and invert stocking help :) i know for sure that i dont want clowns and that i do want a Bangaii Cardinalfish and a Yelllowtail blue damsel and rock anemones and some kind of urchin.. i forget the name... il go look it up.. they are associated with Bangaii Cardinals in the wild.. any other suggestions on fish inverts or corals??
Click to expand...

Seems like you've already done some research of your own. I would skip the urchin as it will most likely munch on any macro you put in there. Some solitary LPS are naturally found in lagoon areas. You could try a pistol shrimp and goby pair.
 
ok.. here is what i got so far... can u please let me know if something is out of place here or not compatible w/ its other tankmates.. Thank you:
1 Bangaii Cardinalfish
1 Yellow Tail Damsels
X Fiddler Crabs (how many do you think?? i need to go research these actually)
Orange Plate Coral
Blasto's
Ricordea and other Mushrooms
Xenia
GSP
1 Yellow Watchman goby w/ pistol shrimp (any particular shrimp?)
1 Yellow Head Jawfish
1 Serpant Star
1 Skunk Cleanershrimp
Rock Anemones
i might do some native fish to Fl. if i can catch some cool silver ones that school... i think that would look cool.... oh and of course
Red Mangroves
Caulerpa Prolifera
 
where can/do i get Fiddler Crabs?? are those the ones they sell at PetsMart as the Freshwater crabs??? or are they different??? is there an online place where i can get fiddler crabs?? maybe i can find some somwhere... Samala when u went to collect for Seagrass did u see any fidler crabs???
 
thanks guys.

not so confused anymore :)

if your tank will support it, a scooter dragonet would be the perfect candidate for you new echosystem.


what about a rock cleaner shrimp?
IMG_6229.jpg

how soon will this project be underway? i cant wait to see it.

btw sorry for hijackin ya thread :)
 
For the fiddlers keep an eye open at the LFS, occasionally they'll come in mislabeled of course destined for certain death in some unwary hobbyist tank. You can tell them from regular crabs cause their eyes set up high on stalks over their body.
 
those are cool! i still dont know where to get Fiddlers.. or if they will eat/kill any of my other inhabitants... can i buy the ones from like PetsMart??? or are those Freshwater only??
 
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