Zostera marina in tropical environment

[morphriz]

Hi all!

I've found a local seagrass that have been talked about here on RC, Zostera, eelgrass. It's an endangered grass around the northsea, the "normal" nutrient pollution and outfishing causing accelerated eutrophy(translation warning).

Sarah and Howard, you referred to zostera species in this thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=828633

The grass is very widespread so I wonder if I might be able to use it in my tank.
What do you think?
cheers
Mattias

 

[graveyardworm]

Perhaps Sarah can expand on this, but here is a quote from her recent article. "Zostera marina, is an unusual find among hobbyist sustained systems as it is a candidate only for temperate aquaria not exceeding an average of 68Ã"šÃ‚°F (20Ã"šÃ‚°C)."

She may be refering to a particular species collected off the shores of the US here, and since you're located in Sweden perhaps the species available to you is tropical, and can withstand normal reef temps.

 

[morphriz]

Ahh, darn.. Memory is short

Thanks for you time on this! I'll just go pester thoose french again

 

[graveyardworm]

I've googled it and found alot of info, but everything seems to indicate that it is a temperate-cold water species even growing in the Arctic, but no references to a tropical species. Therefore unless you are maintaining a coldwater tank it would be an inappropriate choice, and would most likely perish.

 

[morphriz]

Yes, I see that. I acted on a source from teh swedish environmental agency making a reference to eelgrass growing in africa. I didn't think africa as entire afria including temperate waters in the south but just north africa which is tropical. A well, got a bit overexited.

It turns out thar marine-life in france, mentioned in the "Where to get.." thread in this forum have some cool macros. I haven't found any reliable source of eagrasses for tropical tanks yet. Might have to just go fetch myself but it's a long drive down to the mediterranean

 

[Samala]

Most of the Zostera genus is full of colder water plants. In the summer months here in the Chesapeake Zostera marina usually dies back to some degree, and at least slows down in leaf production a good bit. The water will push upwards of mid-70s at this point. So.. while the plants are surviving, they really dont seem to survive at those temps.

NW Africa in the Atlantic has Zostera noltii with a few more tropical species in the mix. SW Atlantic Africa only Halodule wrightii, rounding down towards the Indian Ocean we start mixing again with what you might consider temperate to subtropical species - Halodule, Zostera capensis, Halophila ovalis, etc. The East, particularly in the Red Sea area, is loaded with treasures - Thalassia, Enhalus, Zostera capensis again, five Halophila, two Halodule, etc etc.

The other issue with eelgrass is that they have a die-back phase here in my area, in the winter they lose all their leaves pretty much to the rhizome and lie dormant. I had planned on Zostera in my own tanks in the beginning, and then backed out because of this die back phase. I dont know if they would continue this cycle in steady-state aquariums or not.

I still think your best bet is to win over a wholesaler/importer who is willing to track down a few plants from you, even if they area coming from the Pacific.

>Sarah

 

[morphriz]

Well, it does seem to be quite troublesome this getting seagrasses. I'll have to start calling around. It's a small buisness opportunity if nothing else! Keep writing thoose articles Sarah!!

Thanks for you time all!
cheers Mattias

P.S. I just found out DHL overnights packages from the US to Sweden, have to check on the environmental parameters on thoose flights though. If they are acceptable I'll come harass you guys instead