mangrove question

[BCreefmaker]

i was just wondering if anyone that has a mangrove in thier sump or fuge to give me an idea of what they look like or how big they get(a photo would be espicially nice)... the only picture i have from the LFS is of only the pod without any leaves, and every other picture is of a fully grown tree. So i was just wondering exactly how big they get because the LFS said you purne them to only have a few leaves and is it ok to keep in my sump/fuge with my skimmer? Also i would like to know if they are even worth considering as a nitrate remover? or is there something better or my sump/fuge?

 

[rustybucket145]

Chaeto is better for nitrate/phosphate export. Mangroves also do it but much slower. I have two in my fuge and love them. I don't have any pics of the trees but there are pics of my fuge in the thread "Coraline on Turtlegrass" in this forum (down about half way) Just to show you some variety.

Look at some of the threads here in the Macro forum several people here have some very impressive mangroves. Good luck. If you have any questions just ask.

 

[BCreefmaker]

Thanks... i checked out them pics. so im assuming the mangroves are the 2 brown things left of the cheato... I was just wondering how long have you had them growing? and have you ever pruned them to stop them from surfacing?

 

[rustybucket145]

No, I don't think you can see my mangroves in those pics. The mangroves are actually growing in the middle of the chaeto. The things you are referring to is actually Turtle Grass beside the chaeto. I have had one of them for about 7mos and it has sprouted and has probably...... 7-8 leaves on it. The other one has been in the tank for 5mos and has not sprouted yet. It does have prop roots already and they are bigger than my older tree. Just recently my tree (with leaves) has begun to grow 'bark' on the trunk.

 

[BCreefmaker]

did you use a styrofoam float on them untill they began thier root structure or did they already have one when you got them?

 

[rustybucket145]

I used a rubberband to LIGHTLY secure them to my canopy. In a couple of months they were supporting themselves.

 

[graveyardworm]

You can find pictures of my mangrove here as well as some other members. You'll also find some helpful links.