Show your Mangrove Systems

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well what happen suddenly no more posts?

I'll post some ideas for you in case you decide to make a little forest like me


For this project you need

a 40 gallon tank Breeder type

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you can drill 2 holes for over flow

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At the bottom two under gravel filter plates and on top some egg crate

This is to create a plenum type and help reduce Nitrates

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On top of your egg crate use window plastic or vinyl mesh to support the sand

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Perfect now you are ready for the next step
 
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Choose oolitic aragonite this type of aragonite has valuable properties among them dissolves fast and releases all the elements your corals love a 6 or 7 inch layer will reduce NO3 so fast you will be amazed and offers the type of muddy substrate for your mangroves

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The plumbing can be directed to your main sump wherever it is

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Mine is a display setup, so more on the form and less on the function. I just posted a thread in the nano section with more pics.

ry%3D480


ry%3D400


My mangroves are pretty immature compared to some of the ones pictured in this thread. The oldest ones were just seeds in september, and the younger ones were collected at Christmas time.
 
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Well time to bring the water in and run the system.

Remember to have plenty of extra saltwater on hand since this system is connected to your sump and it will make the function of a refugium.

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Mangroves do not look like great at the beginning but don't worry everything will catch up as long as the light and R/O misting is there..
 
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Do not forget to have a tray to place all the dead leaves this leaves carry all the nasty stuff and shouldn't be left in the water

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After a few weeks the trees start to catch up

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the stuff that also starts happening under water is of tremendous benefit to your whole system

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I use a few for aesthetic reasons in my overflow. There are also some in the sump, i actually just ordered 36 more and will be putting something together in the sump. I will have the Auto Top off hooked up to a spray system that will water the mangroves for me. I'll post more pics when its running.

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Thank you

Thank you

^^^^Wow this is impressive, thank you for such an awesome tutorial keep up the great work :thumbsup:

Well I'm always nervous when the P/R is low (Mangroves been in some debate) what troubles me is that they are almost always present as a part of the ecosystem in coral reefs so shouldn't be a problem adding them to our systems...

Cheers!

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Hello Frank,
verry nice projekt :beer:

Mike

Hey Mike Thank you...

Best regards,

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Thank you

Thank you

Awesome! ^^^ Thats one of the healthiest mangrove bunch ive seen,good job.

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I have mangrove leather fern and black mangrove going in my 50-gallon riparium setup...

4-i-11-tank-ii-m.jpg


This is still freshwater at this point, but I am removing the mangroves to another tank that I am setting up as a brackish system.
 
You can debate anything you want I want to see results show us

What are we debating? Qty of nutrient uptake? I really wish I could quantify your mangrove sump to my invasive vegetable filter to see if I should just switch over. I don't think the GSM would like their home overtaken by mangrove roots.

Truly on a side note, have you seen the root growth explosive enough to split plastic/clay containers? If so, I should probably look into switching out the containers. I have a few in either rubbermaid disposable containers or spare breeding pots. They sit right next to a south-facing window and seem to be in a growth lull. The Caulerpa taxifolia, C. serrulata and C. prolifera I have sit under a 23W 3000K with 2 hrs of full sunlight and are growing above the water surface.

I'm just wondering if this is a case of nutrient deprivation and the mangroves have the short end of the stick.... Any thoughts?

AWESOME system though. Your system and scubabum1983's setup are two of the best I have ever seen next to Margarita Man's setup from Anthony Calfo's article on mangroves in RK mag.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/ac/feature/index.php

I think they work, but i question the ability of these wonderfully photogenic specimens versus invasive work horses.
 
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