Mangrove requirements (1 Viewer)

[oguzman]

Having this new refugium has sparked my curiosity into mangroves. What are their requirements for keeping them in the refugium? Do they require a substrate or will they root out with a bare bottom? Are they effective for nutrient removal? Where can I find them cheap or free !!

-Oscar

 

[Tenny]

I know you are supposed to spray their leaves every day or so to get the salt off them, but I really do it like once a week and mine are growing just fine.

I've read you don't need substrate and mine are not in substrate and seem to be doing fine.

Can't comment on removal, and mine weren't cheap, bought them from PodMyReef to get free shipping.

 

[phhoth]

check ebay...there are a bunch available at a reasonable price

 

[gregg]

Check fjw he usually has some.

 

[Tangs]

I see them often at the marine stores I go to. They are reasonably priced and like most plants do require a lot of light. That is the first I have heard about spraying to get the salt removed but makes sense.

 

[Reefahholic]

The Red Mangrove (Rhizophora Mangle) is the most popular for the reef aquarium hobby, because they can grow completely submerged in water. A lot of people don’t realize that they can be grown in 100% freshwater as well. I’ve done it and they thrive! The red Mangroves are actually salt excluders. They exclude salt from entering the roots. Let me just tell you...they are extremely effective too. The percentage of excluded salt will baffle your mind. I forget the actual percentage, but it’s very high.

Unlike the Red Mangroves, Black Mangroves (Avicennia Germinans) do secrete excess salt through specialized glands on the surface of their leaves. I know because I have one. They do use “root ultrafiltration” similar to Red Mangroves. So to answer the question... do the leaves need to be sprayed?....It just depends on the species.


Black Mangroves need their leaves to be sprayed. However, their roots can filter 30-90% of the salt from seawater. The reports vary.

Red Mangroves really don’t need their leaves sprayed. You can spray if you like though. It’s not gonna hurt.


One thing I’ve noticed that they both need and love is strong lighting. They can grow in the shade and my black Mangrove has been grown in the shade all summer, but it would have been twice the size (and thrived) had I been able to grow it in the sun. In apartments...i’m kinda forced to take what I can get. My garage doesn’t face the sun and I have the Mangrove sitting just outside my garage door.

 

[oguzman]

I checked around town, no one seems to have the red variety. I'll wait until later Dennis told me he may be getting a shipment over the next couple of weeks. They look like fun to grow out!