Mangrove tank

[IDreamOReefin]

Congratulations on the prop root.
If I may,
Love this thread. First, did you do any thing to spur the branch growth? And, how long did you leave the wire in place before the tree was formed enough for you to remove it and keep the form? Also, are the mollies "fuge safe"? Do they tear up the macros or eat the pods? Sorry if these have been answered, it's been awhile since I read the whole thread.

 

[saltwater sam]

I did not do anything special for the branches, they come out when there is healthy growth at the top. The general rule of thumb for wiring is 3 months, but I kept mine on a while longer (mostly because I didn't make the time to rewire). The mollies don't go for the macros at all, I'm not sure about the pods.

 

[saltwater sam]

Does anyone have ID on this red? I got it in a variety pack.

 

[saltwater sam]

Took a bunch of pics because why not












My clownfish checking out the prop root. It seems to be growing pretty fast.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Great colors going on in there!

 

[saltwater sam]

Thanks Michael. I'm liking the way things are going these days

 

[phobos2deimos]

Love it. You may have convinced me to spend a bunch of money on a second mangrove tank, 'just as a backup' of all my macros... I really like the natural look but am too controlling to let it happen in my main tank. I think I might do what you've done, except perhaps with the mr. aqua 12 long if I can find a good spot for it.

 

[x0xvi3t]

Took a bunch of pics because why not












My clownfish checking out the prop root. It seems to be growing pretty fast.

What lighting you used on the tank, how many hour do you leave it on? The tank look great by the way

 

[saltwater sam]

Thank you! I have 6 PAR 38 LEDs, running at 13 hours with an initial 1 hour sunrise/ramp up.

 

[leonel619]

Great looking tank

 

[bimini_bread]

This tank is awesome.

 

[d2mini]

Very cool tank!

 

[saltwater sam]

Thanks guys, this has been and continues to be a very rewarding project, and I'm glad I can share it with you.

 

[Umbra]

I love seeing setups like this, I'd also like the ID on that red macro!

 

[saltwater sam]

The prop root on my red mangrove has made it to the substrate






And for some more fun news.. My tall-stilted mangrove (Rhizophora apiculata) appears to be sending out prop roots as well. Hooray!

 

[Devaji108]

wow what a tank just read from the begging!
I so waan do a macro tank. I also was thinking of a mr aqua 12 gal. or when petco has there next sale pick up a 20 long...

OR was thinking i could do a macro display refuge for my DT no filtration both 40br

how deep of a sand bed do you have?

LOVE IT
it's fun we can all geek out on marine plats!

 

[saltwater sam]

I have almost no sandbed at all. In the front of the tank I have maybe 1/2 inch of rubble that I got from live-plants.com, which serves as an anchor for the caulpera running along the glass. Most of the tank's substrate is contained in the mangrove pots.

 

[saltwater sam]

My extremely photogenic snail climbed up my big mangrove's prop root out of the water, and the clownfish couldn't stand me taking a picture of it without a photobomb

 

[saltwater sam]

Here's an updated pic of the R. apiculata's prop roots. You can see them a little better now that they're a little longer. I'm still pretty amazed how fast this plant developed them.

 

[carmelpi]

I got this red algae for almost free, can anyone id it?

That would be Gracillaria hayi

Your little red branchy one

Orange mangroves and new unidentified red macro

is a Nemastoma. Not sure on species.