question on Black Mangrove Sprouted

[nightfire76]

can anyone tell me if mangrove is the best thing to help remove nitrates and other things,im asking cause i want to add one or two macros to my tank soon and i might as well add ones that will help me out

[kilted celt]

I don't know if it is the best thing for nitrate removal, but I have red mangrove propagules in my freshwater tank. They seem hardy and easy to grow. Perhaps someone else uses them for more than just decoration...

[nightfire76]

thanks,yea just looking for advice on what might be the best one to have

[nightfire76]

anyone?

[BLAKEJOHN]

Mangroves a very good at removing nitrates from the water. But there is more to it than just ploping them into the sump. do the research and see if that is what you want to do. Alot of us use cheatomorpha. And that you can pretty much just plop in the sump and put it on a reverse light schedule.

[nightfire76]

well i wasnt sure if i wanted that or cheato...dont have a sump but a spot im making in my preskimmer for it in my tank

[johnmaloney]

do both...

if you want the "best" for nitrate removal...caulerpa is it
most people go for chaeto because it is easier to keep than caulerpa, and has less associated risks.
mangroves and chaeto are a good team, as mangroves take up little water volume and the chaeto will grow around it.

[nightfire76]

sounds good to me thanks alot,hope after i build my preskimmer that ill have enough room to add enough to male a helping diff

[sjsoto]

Originally Posted by johnmaloney

if you want the "best" for nitrate removal...caulerpa is it

1+ its simply the best,

[DaveK]

The thing about mangroves is that you ar in effect planting a tree. In other words they get big. Unless you have a large sump on the floor and full height ceilings above it, you don't have enough room.

This is why most of us are better off using various macro algaes.

[nightfire76]

i see,well i dont want a out of control tree lol

[johnmaloney]

or you can trim it and "bonsai" the tree. unless you ignore it for a year or so it shouldn't be much of a problem.

[nightfire76]

ahhh another good point,thanks john

[ARA]

You definitely want a Red Mangrove, (Rhizophora mangle), not the Black Mangrove, (Avicennia germinans) The later grows more like a sea-grass, interconnected below the substrate with a labyrinth interconnecting roots, and snorkel-like Pneumatophores that protrude from the water-logged soil straight up as to deliver oxygen to the plants root system.

Cool plant, don't get me wrong, but the wrong one for your sump.
The Red Mangrove also sends out aerial roots, yet they are mainly for support, and grow downward from the plant's trunk into the substrate.

[nightfire76]

good advice,though i dont have a sump so that plants out for sure