Mangroves as reef filters?

[Original Fin]

Anybody here used mangroves for nutrient export with any success? Just wondering if this is this a viable alternative to chaeto in a reef system? I'm setting up a chato fuge right now regardless, but thought it might be interesting to plan a future system with mangroves instead.

The benefits would appear to be:

-Natural and effective way to reduce nitrate, phosphate, and even silicate levels.
-More pleasing to the eye than macro algae if you want to put your refugium on display. (Although, one man's ball of slime is another man's treasure)
-Minimal maintenance. These are relatively slow growers, and need only be pruned occasionally to keep from growing a tree in your house...unless you want that?
-Once root system is matured, provides an interesting display area for some fish and inverts.
-Protein skimmer may become unnecessary or redundant once mature.
-Cost savings in salt due to lower water change frequency...some have reprtedly run for years without any water changes.
-Like macro, it will outcompete other nuiscance algaes for nutrients

Potential drawbacks:
-If purchased from seedlings, I've read it can take months before any signifcant growth and nutrient export benefit.
-It is reported that many experience a yellowing of the water durring the maturation period. Supposedly not harmful to anything, just ugly for a while.
-May compete with corals for certain trace elements. Increased dosing may be needed.
-It is suggested to keep the same lighting cycle as the display tank, so you lose the ph stability benefit you'd have when compared to macro on an opposite lighting schedule....something to do with the CO2 needs of the mangroves. If I understand correctly, CO2 levels rise durring non-photo periods (in the absence of photosynthesis?), and this is how mangrove's CO2 needs are met without the use of a reactor. Can anybody let me know if I've got this right, or has anyone had success with mangroves on an opposite lighting schedule?

[Parrothead]

They do export nut. but it takes alot of them and it is a slow process......

Stick with the Cheato

[twisted]

i agree. when i had my first fuge i had some mangroves in it and feel the cheato is much better.

[berkdog]

I have Mangroves (2 in my mini refugium). They work great in complement with cheato. In fact, the cheato can act as a mud/sand bed for their roots, and the mangroves can act as a barrier to prevent the cheato from floating away in the current.

Mine didn't start as seeds, but they came without roots or leaves. They didn't turn the water any color, but I only have 2.

[kevinpo]

Hello,
I have run both standard and reverse photo periods on my Mangroves since 2003 and the growth rate was about the same. The leaves are larger and the spacing between new leave sets is further under VHO lighting than with Halides. In Jan. 2007 I collected some as seed pods on the beach in Maui . They are now about one meter tall (3ft.). Because of their slow growth they do little for nutrient export in the home aquarium but make for an interesting conversation piece. I originally grew them directly in the refugium sand bed but transferred them to pots filled with sand. It makes it easier to move around and will prevent the roots from breaking the sump when they become large. The only maintenance I do is to spray the trees every day or so with DI water to clean the leaves.

My original Mangrove from 2003 was killed when a polyp of Pocillopora settled on the trunk. As the coral grew and encircled the trunk completely it killed the tree.

Regards,
Kevin

[Aloha Corals]

To get the benefits of mangroves you will need a lot more than 2 or 3. A minimum of 10-15 is more like it. I've seen separate tanks set up just for a mangrove forest.

AC-Kevin


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[Original Fin]

To get the benefits of mangroves you will need a lot more than 2 or 3. A minimum of 10-15 is more like it. I've seen separate tanks set up just for a mangrove forest.

AC-Kevin


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I've browsed quite a few etailers that specialize in mangroves, and they seem to be split down the middle on the subject of qty. Some say you only need 2-3 for beneficial nut exp, and others say 1 for every 2 gallons of system volume. The latter really would constitute a forrest for anything other than the smallest nanos.
I'm not sure where I could put more than 2 dozen mangroves for my 55 gal tank...they certainly wouldn't fit in sump under the stand. I'd probably need one of those plastic preformed ponds.
While some people might consider this an interesting water feature for their living rooms, I'm doubtful my wife would agree! If I can ever come up with enough space for a real fish room, I'd probably be all over it.