How to grow mangrove Q&A

[framerguy]

I'm sure there are some folks here who have successfully grown mangroves. I have recently aquired a number of propagules and have planted them according to the instructions in the Reef Invertebrate book by Calfo and Fenner. They say if you want aerial roots you should float them so the green part is out of the water. Here is how I've done it...


Planting them that way is supposed to take a long time to grow. According to the book, if you want faster growth without the aerial roots then simply stick them like darts in the sandbed. Here is how I've done that...


I would like some of you mangrove experts to critique the way I have them planted and offer advice or links on growing them. I have found very little in my search for reference material. Thanks!

[Frankie]

I am getting aerial root growth. I just planted them in the substrate. It took some time but they are pushing up out of the sand now.

[Varga]

I think you've got it. expect a good 2 months for acclimation, then they start to grow pretty fast

[framerguy]

Thanks you two. I read that they are fairly slow growing so it's down to a waiting game now. At least I have the piece of mind that I did it right!

[framerguy]

If once the plants that are floating start to root, do I
A:leave them floating, or
B: plant them in the sand bed

If I am supposed to plant them, at what point do I do it? If I am supposed to leave them floating will they eventually seek out the sand bed by themselves?

[framerguy]

consider this a bump so you late nighters can chime in ...

[Frankie]

I never bought Mangroves without roots so I would think once you see them growing it is safe to plant.

[framerguy]

Originally Posted by Frankie

I never bought Mangroves without roots so I would think once you see them growing it is safe to plant.

Thank you Frankie. That's what I was looking for.

[burning2nd]

Mines doing good.. its starting its 2nd layer of leaves..

Im worries tho.. since ive heard of story's of mangroves roots busting glass

so ill keep an eye on that. I just keep the top off the water.. and put the bottem in sand. rooted itself. and grew in about 5 montsh times.

T5's lit

[coraldynamics]

Hi there, I start mine out like you did on the styro. I group them together though in a tight cluster. For no other reason than it seems to make the platform more stable and it does not tip over.

Also, I find the fastest results under 6700k PC lighting as far as growth. In this first pic, these have been under the light less than two weeks...just starting to get root growth. I have burned up many of them under halides. Being out under the sun I would think they could handle it, but I get better results under PC's.



Here is a shot of the new roots



These next few have been growing for about a month now. Starting to get leaves and more root growth.







We are taking these to MACNA with us, so they will be available there.

[framerguy]

Thank you Stephen, that was extremely helpful. I would like to build on this thread with more information on how to care for mangroves.

Things I know so far...
1) Mangrove leaves should be misted at least three time per week to keep the salt from building up on the leaves
2)Mangroves deplete magnesium so one must watch the magnesium levels closely and dose as necessary
3)Mangroves remove toxins and excess nutrients from the water but due to their slow growth, they are less efficient than seagrass and macro algaes.
4)Mangroves provide shelter and an anchor surface for beneficial organisms such as sponges, barnacles, crabs, shrimp, etc.
5)Care should be taken to ensure the structural integrity of the tank isn't compromised by the root system. Just how to do that I am not sure and hope someone can elaborate on this.

I will edit this list as I learn more, feel free to add to it yourself.

[johnmaloney]

+1 on growing them floating. THey do take off quicker in the sand, but just after spouting in the sand the growth tip should be above the water line. so... Plus you have to trim the roots to sufficiently stunt them, easier if they are floated.

[Varga]

I found them to be fast growers, check out the progress in my chronicle, last page.

[swissgaurd]

to get a bushier plant i clip the tips of the leaves also this kept the leaves from falling off.
i just gave a plant away that was 3ft tall it took about 2 years to get to that hight, with misting daily with ro water and clipping ends of leaves.

vic

[framerguy]

Originally Posted by johnmaloney

+1 on growing them floating. THey do take off quicker in the sand, but just after spouting in the sand the growth tip should be above the water line. so... Plus you have to trim the roots to sufficiently stunt them, easier if they are floated.

A few Q's here. When you say "sprout" to you mean the roots or the upper/leaf part? If you mean roots, can you tell they have taken root while they are in the sand? If you mean the leaves, do you just use the styrofoam like the floating method? When do you plant them in the sand and leave them here?..or do you?