What is the advantage of having mangroves in a reef tank?
Mangroves take the nutrients necessary for their growth from the aquarium water. This means that we have a means of exporting phosphates and nitrates. Macro algae do the same, but they easily set those nutrients free when they are eaten by fish or die and dissolve. With mangroves this is different, at least if the aquarist succeeds in preventing the mangrove leaves from falling into the water and dissolving there. While many mangrove species export excess salt by depositing it on the surface of their leaves for the rain to wash away, some mangrove species deposit excess salt inside of their oldest leaves, which then will turn yellow and drop down. This is a natural process,
but in the reef tank we just have to make sure that the leaves will not dissolve in the aquarium water and release nutrients back into the aquarium water. Mangroves in the Reef Aquarium
OK, I was wrong, anyway I can't find it. I think what I was thinking was the leaves droping in the tank. they DON'T go sexual. anyway the link above is great info on it. I was having such a hard time with algae, I think that I though I didn't need anything to make it worse so I stayed away.
Sorry about the confusion
, it's just the leaves you have to was off and removed. I sware I saw that somewhere. If I find it eventually I'll post it, but considering how hard I searched the web, it must be wrong info.