Mangroves

[scubadude]

Where do you get them....I know it sounds stupid cuz I live down here in florida and I dont know where to get them....if there wasnt such a big deal about them I could drive half a mile and pul a few out of the ground....but you got to have a permit just to trim them!:eek3: Is there certain kinds that are best for reef tanks? How much should I pay for them? how many do I need say for a 220g tank w/ a 55g. refugium? Downfalls? maintenance? websites? Food? chemistry? hehe....ok I will stop...y'all get my point I think.

[golfish]

Hey Dude, I'd like to know what the big deal is about them. Why do you NEED them?

[scubadude]

Well they are supposed to be able to scrub your tank from excessive nutrients. I dont really want them for my display tank cuz I dont think I have enough room but I can definately see a use for them in the coral greenhouse farm im gonna be building....and Some tanks that I have seen them in (usually SPS tanks) have stunningly beautiful frags in there...and the water quality seems very nice. I think they are very similar to the purposes of macroalgae, but maybe on a different level....Im not sure though Mark....thats why im askin Bro!

[Ltspd]

http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...threadid=52549

Mine are doing great!

[Sker]

Ltspd have you noticed a difference since adding the mangroves to your tank? (i.e. water quality, healthier corals etc.)

[Sker]

How about this one...

http://www.globaldialog.com/~jrice/m.../mang_farm.htm

[Ltspd]

Originally posted by Sker
Ltspd have you noticed a difference since adding the mangroves to your tank? (i.e. water quality, healthier corals etc.)

No, but its only been a little over a month. They are cool looking and since I can see thru my sump and look at the base of the mangroves I can see them sprouting new roots in addition to growing new leaves.

I have planted a few in the rocks in the sump just to see how they do as compared to the floaters. I need to re-do my styro so they are closer to the bottom of the sump so they will grow into the LS.

Pictures are on the link on RC

[ranaman]

The law protects trees and plants but not seeds, so you can collect your own seeds. Any mangrove will have plenty of seeds floating about. Most native plant nurseries in south fl might have them since they will grow in freshwater.

[scubadude]

Originally posted by ranaman
The law protects trees and plants but not seeds, so you can collect your own seeds. Any mangrove will have plenty of seeds floating about. Most native plant nurseries in south fl might have them since they will grow in freshwater.

Hmmm....interesting....so now im curious if I have a refugium with a 4" SB can I just totally submerge the seed in water? cuz my whole SB is in water....I would think looking at other pics of ppl growing seeds that you need the top part of that long seed sticking out of the water.....Paul...the styro you are using...does that hold them up at a certain level? Did you put the roots in the SB or are they just kinda hanging in the water? Also did you use this mud? they are talking about a mud substrate

[scubadude]

http://www.aloha.net/~hqf/indexmangroves.htm

[Ltspd]

Originally posted by scubadude


Paul...the styro you are using...does that hold them up at a certain level? Did you put the roots in the SB or are they just kinda hanging in the water? Also did you use this mud? they are talking about a mud substrate

Yes, but I need to re-do the styro to get them closer to the SB, about 1-2" above it. That will allow the roots to root into the sandbed.

No to the mud. But, as usual I am always open minded to new stuff.

[Ltspd]

My word, that place in Hi is expensive compared to what I paid. 30 plus shipping which in my case was 8. I got 30 very very nice mangroves about 12" tall, all with leaves and good looking roots. IMO your wasting your money if you buy them anywhere but the guy I got them from.

[scubadude]

Originally posted by Ltspd
IMO your wasting your money if you buy them anywhere but the guy I got them from.

Not for me, cuz they are all over where I live Should get them for free...at least the seeds. But yes....you are correct paul....that is a good price....My LFS wants $6 ea for them. check this out though

Some U.S. states, like Florida, consider the mangrove to be a "protected species", with hefty fines incurred if you are caught with them, while others, like Hawaii, consider them to be a "weed", having little or no concern about anyone collecting or having them

Im gonna be in hawaii in one week....I can collect them there but, and I can collect seeds here in florida, Yet Im not allowed to grow them? Now thats a Catch22 if I ever seen one! My idea was to get different kinds of them for diversity. there is 3 different kind that can be applicable for nitrate,phosphate scrubbers

White (Laguncularia racemosa), Oriental (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza), and Red (Rhizophora mangle L.).

The Red seems to be the most popular....and the Oriental seems to be the least popular....I think I will for sure try the Red and the White. Well I guess I know what Im gonna do tommorow.....go look for some mangrove seeds and get sum styro

[Venaman]

hey man im going to florida soon
where abouts can these magroves be found?
i might pick up some seed while im there

thankz

[Biomanjcs72]

Venaman:
First of all, you'll have to be coastal, If you're going to ORlando, you're nowhere close (smack dab in the middle of the peninsula).

Now, once you're at the coast, find a LOWenergy bayou/bay/inlet, etc. check the shoreline, you should be able to find some there.

[Venaman]

sweet thanks man
wut do u mean low energy?

im going to be in Ft. Lauderdale

[Biomanjcs72]

GO to a bay, not a high energy beach with a bunch of wave action,

Beaches with no natural wave barrier ie: a reef or barrier island, are usually classified as "high energy" due to the fact that waves of varying sizes and speeds smack them all day long.

Beaches behind such a structure, on the other hand are classified as "low energy", since the biggest waves that hit them are usually from boat wakes.


THese are two different ecosystems, and the animals found in one, won't usually be found in the other (excepting birds, and a few other things). Mangroves don't grow on high energy beaches, they grow in bays, lagoons, rivers that dump out into one or the other, etc.

I could keep going on and on about this, since I studied it in college. (Dauphin Island Sea Lab), the island, off the coast of Alabama has both, high energy on the south shore(gulf of Mexico) and low energy onthe north shore (mississippi sound).

and no, there aren't any mangroves there, it's too far north.

HTH

[scubadude]

I found some seeds....just went down to a boat launch and I walked quite a way away from it cuz I didnt want any gas/oil remnants and I found some seeds.....yeah I know there are some seedlings in there...I bought those ;; I put the roots of 3 of the seedlings directly in my SB of my refugium...and put the seeds and a couple of small ones in styro. Im gonna see how this works out.

[scubadude]

Venaman,

The seeds are allover!! near coastal areas...here is what a mangrove looks like...see how the roots go right into the water...if you see big trees like this look on the ground around it and you will see seeds like the pics i posted.

[FISHme]

I 've had these for 2 years. They have been trimmed once . I just placed them into this old 20 long that I drilled a few weeks back. I had them in 2 other cotainers before this one .At first I planted them into a shallow tub with them planted directly into the sand . After a year I pulled them out when I was having a severe green hair algae problen in my system and floated them in a rubbermaid.
I wanted to be able to see the root system so I placed them here with the styro and eventually the roots will grow back into the sand.
You can float them several inches from the sand bed and the roots will eventually reach the bottom.
The tap roots grow rather fast trying to reach the sand .
My water never turns yellow , it always is super clear.
I enjoy plants so this is just more fun to watch them grow in my system.