Mangrove tank

[Elan L.]

I am thinking about starting a small mangrove tank (maybe 5 gallons). What kind of filtration would this tank need, if any? What would be a good addition for livestock?

Thanks, Elan

 

[dwimber]

I think that this is an interesting idea. I'd love to hear about how this turns out, and some pics would be great!

I can just see a small school of chromis playing in the root-structure! I am staring a 30 gallon (relatively soon) That would be a neat set-up.

 

[Elan L.]

well, right now it is just an idea. I havnt started anything yet, but i got some birthday money i will use on it. I first want to sprout some seeds. right now one is in the overflow. i need to find a tall light that can be ajusted like a lamp.

 

[TwoShoesVans]

This idea has crossed my mind as well, except i would use the mangrove system for breeding carnals. Like a lagoon of sorts for juvinal and breeding fish. Any input on a nano mangrove system sounds great.

Where are the experts!? Or must we be the first pioneers?

 

[dwimber]

Hey 2Shoes,

breeding carnals? What are they?

 

[Elan L.]

Anthony Calfo wrote in his book about. It is great for breading fish like cardinals if that is what you meant.

 

[dwimber]

oh, carDInals... I'm slow!

 

[dwimber]

Elan, any updates?

Are you going to try this out?

 

[scottallert]

i was also thinkning of doing ithis too, with my 10 gallon, i have an ubundance of mangroves, ive seen it done before with about 6 inchs of sand and like 6 inchs of water
my plans are about 4 inchs of sand 5 inchs of water a small power head and a whisper filter.

 

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

A mangrove tank isn't a bad idea, but 5 gallons might be too small as their root structures will eventually start growing very large, you'll have to keep them properly pruned and make sure you're keeping tabs on how much the roots are spreading out. They don't grow terribly fast so it's not impossible.

Now, as for the tank setup, just make sure you have some water flow, cause the mangroves act somewhat like macros in that they uptake nutrients

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

i would say a 5 g is a bad idea for mangroves, i have 15 of them in my sump in a 3 g compartment in my baffles they grew so quick and thick they popped the baffles out...i am just glad they didnt break the tank...

i would say a 20 at the smallest and getting thicker then 1/4" glass would be best...if you custom make the tank then go what ever size just use thicker glass....

there are several things you can do to speed and inhibit the growth of the plants too....daily rinsing with freshwater will encourage growth, as will allowing the roots to air for a hour or so...pruning is your only real option for slowing the growth aside from teh complete opposite of what makes them grow faster that i mentioned above..

 

[Biotoper]

If you are just interested in growing mangroves, then I would recommend a rubbermaid/plastic tub over a glass tank - no need to look through the sides into sand. Also, note that mangroves don't need saltwater - they will grow faster in fresh or slightly brackish water, but it you want Rhizophora stilt roots to form you need brackish/marine water (and preferably a set-up that raises and lowers the water level). The most common mangrove, Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), is relatively slow growing, even in fresh water - Bruguiera gymnorrhiza is one of the faster growing mangrove species, if you can find it.

Here is a good site with lots of info.