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WhiteReef 
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 Topic: 10 gallon mangrove tank
Posted: February 25 2011 at 11:38am |
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Well I have been thinking about a low maintenance tank for my office. I have a south facing window and wanted to get a little tank setup that would not cost much and require minimal equipment and maintenance. Adam's recent comments about mangroves has me thinking about doing that. What I would do is take my old 10 gallon tank that I currently have no plans for and add in about 4" of sand seeded with LS from my tank, some macro algae, 4-6 mangroves, a few damsels or chromis, and a small pump for circulation. Would I need anything else? I don't plan on running a heater or lights since it will be getting sunlight from the window and should stay around 74 since the office has a constant temp.
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Richard
Former 47G Column Reef, Magna
20" x 18" x 31"H
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 11:52am |
Don't you hate it when you type a long reply.... and then get disconnected.
Okay 1) AWESOME! 2) I would highly consider adding an external light. They like light, and warmth and I'd really think about not using only sun light. 3) Having that 4 inches of sand is a great idea and somewhat necessary. 4) The size of them to begin with is something of importance. If you get them with roots I'd like you to try some root dip. I'll even buy it for you.
I'm actually writing an article today on mangroves so you caught me at a really good time when I'm thinking about them. I'm going through photos and I'll send you some this weekend of my mangrove tanks.
Adam
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WhiteReef
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 12:35pm |
Sweet! I appreciate the feed back. I would be game to try the root dip and such, also I will need to locate some mangroves too, so if you could help out with that it would be great. The only issue with the lighting is finding a light fixture that I can use that will be above the tank. I'll have to look around for one or if someone has one that would work. Probably something like a desk lamp. What lighting should I use since it is only for the mangroves?
Also is there any kind of supplemental feeding that I would want to use for them? Iron, manganese?
Also is a small pump all I need or should I get a bio wheel? My thought on not getting a bio wheel was that the algae and mangroves would be sufficient and I just need to move the water around to keep it oxygenated. |
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Richard
Former 47G Column Reef, Magna
20" x 18" x 31"H
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MadReefer
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 12:44pm |
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I think your plan is great. A couple small pieces of LR wouldn't hurt. Try to get a type of macro that doesn't grow too fast. Stay away from grape caulerpa. There are plenty of other types of caulerpa that don't grow so fast. If you add any filter, I would see it as a place to add carbon, and that is about it. I think a south facing window would be good enough for lighting, but mangroves will use any additional that you add, they love light. A small desk lamp might be perfect.
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 1:07pm |
Some people add iron and plant fertilizers. I like adding them directly to the substrate and not to the water column. I'll get you some photo of lights I've used (currently using a large floor lamp).
Adam
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ptronsp
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 2:28pm |
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Adam, are you going to post your article here and pics? I would be really interested. I have one mangrove now and was thinking of adding a few to my Seahorse tank? What do you think? Where is the best place to buy them?
Pam
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 3:01pm |
Pam- will be posted online next week (I think). Need editors to review it. I love mangroves, and I highly recommend a couple of the sellers on ebay. Great place for mangroves.
Adam
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 4:38pm |
The same clip-on cone reflector and twist PC daylight color lamps we use for Refugiums, will work perfectly. I'd mix in a cup or two of garden dirt with the 4" of Aragonite sand. This will be plenty of minerals for the mangroves. The "Eco Rreef miracle mud" is just garden dirt. Mangroves grow great in mud. Biowheels should never be used because they produce more nitrates than can usually be handled by a sand bed. I'd use a small powerhead or an airstone bubbler. Either one will work.  |
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ptronsp
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 4:44pm |
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WHAT? seriously add dirt to the tank??
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Josh95
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 6:01pm |
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Adam, post some pics of your magroves
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 9:50pm |
Okay okay, I'll try to get them up tomorrow while the kids take a nap.
Adam
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Lewy
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 9:54pm |
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do you have to have the roots in the sand or mud?
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40 gal w/ 20 sump
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 10:04pm |
Either sand or mud or both. This is Miracle Mud. Though it is mostly silica sand, it is the major component of the Eco Reef system. The dirt is meant to provide Iron and other essential minerals for a Refugium full of Macroalgae. it's not necessary though, because I've grown lots of Mangroves in Refugiums of just our normal Aragonite Live Sand 
Edited by Mark Peterson - February 25 2011 at 10:08pm
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MadReefer
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 11:11pm |
These are mine near three years old. I'm thinking about setting up a tank to give the roots more room. They are in aragonite sand.
Edited by MadReefer - February 25 2011 at 11:12pm
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: February 25 2011 at 11:42pm |
Those are awesome. Did Adam know about those for his article?
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ptronsp
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Posted: February 26 2011 at 12:55am |
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Those are awesome!! Madreefer do you sell them?? I would like to get my hands on a couple of them?
Pam
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: February 26 2011 at 8:39am |
Mark- yes, been to MadReefer's and seen his mangroves as well. Pretty darn cool!
Lewy- you don't need to plant them in substrate.... at least not for a very long time. The roots will grow in the water and the plan will grow for a long time. At some point (after a couple years) the roots need to reach the bottom and anchor the plant into the substrate. But to start with it is very common to have the plants floating on top of the water, held vertical.
Adam
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Lewy
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Posted: February 26 2011 at 7:39pm |
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Adam, Thanks. I've got mine right now just sitting on top of my rock and sticking out of the top of the tank. I think it's actually anchored itself a bit to the rock.
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40 gal w/ 20 sump
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Pinner Reef
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Posted: February 27 2011 at 3:13pm |
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We have a half dozen mangrove pods at Fish 4 U... They're in the brackish vivarium so they're 6" to 1' tall but I can't remember how much they're going for.
-pinner
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WhiteReef
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Posted: February 28 2011 at 1:14pm |
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Well, I just got the go ahead from the HR department, so now to make the plans real. Adam, you mentioned adding fertilizer directly to the sand, how and what do you add? Also what are the eBay retailers you like? I wanted to shop around a little to see what I can find, and I might just use Fish4U or someone on the board to just keep'n it local. Adam, also I am willing to do the root dip thing, just let me know. Also I could use some sand if someone has a half bucket full of it and some live rock to add some variety to it.
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Richard
Former 47G Column Reef, Magna
20" x 18" x 31"H
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