12 g Aquapod
9 lbs live rock
1 1/2 inch live sand(have never stirred the live sand before)
Gold Stripe maroon clownfish (juvenile)
Lawnmower Blenny
Turbo Snail
0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 20ppm nitrate, 82 F (API Saltwater Master test kit)
Stock lighting(set to turn on for 12 hrs to create enough algae for Lawnmower Blenny which seems like not enough algae is growing for this hungry blenny) and filtration
Seaclone 100 (which don't know if it is working properly :<)
Water changes (4 gallons) every week to keep nitrate levels down, which I don't know why my nitrate levels keep going up so high.
Question: I just received my 7 8-12" mangrove plants. However, I just ran accross a website saying that it should be 1 per 10 gallon. My tank is a 12 gallon, but I have 7 mangrove plants! I did the proper acclimation, however, I threw all 7 of them into my tank(with the leaves out of the water of course) because I didn't want them to die. Will I have a problem in the oncoming future with these plants, like it dying? Will nutrient deficiency be a problem? Anything else that I do not know of or mentioned?
In the 2004 issue of aquarium fish magazine Julian sprung did an article called "Beautify Your tank With Mangroves". From what I understand they require brackish conditions and lots of room. They require their roots to be submerged and the leaves above water as you have stated. I believe they will need much more room very shortly
carol
I would say give 6 of them away to a fish store or to people you know that have a SW tank. Then just make sure the one has adequate lighting. And it is possible to trim back the leaves if I'm not mistaken.
Last edited by travie; March 19th, 2009 at 10:20 PM.
Never dose anything you're not testing for. Why did you get iron? What reason do you have to think it's low?
As for the mangrove, research has shown that they aren't that great for nutrient export when compared to the numerous other macro algaes out there. A buddy of mine ran a dedicated 40gallon mangro fuge for his 140 display. It was a 2x2 setup with a deep sand bed and about 36 mangrove plants with about 200gph flow. He said he noticed no significant drop in nitrates over a 6 month period, but when he took the mangroves out and put in chaeto, the nitrates dropped significantly within 2 weeks to near undetectable levels. He had the mangroves because they looked nice, but kept the chaeto because it works.
"The general care for these plants includes; wiping excess salt from the leaves with fresh water a few times per week, and trimming the growth tip of the plant to control growth. These plants will benefit from the regular addition of an iron supplement, and trace elements. " (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...77&pcatid=1477)
That is why I purchased an iron supplement assuming it will help the plants grow. I added the iron not because it was low.
I am confused now. Maybe I will go purchase some chaetos tomorrow. Thanks au01st, I didn't realize that I shouldn't be dosing anything that I'm not testing for.
By the way, the LFS said that if the chaetos die in my tank it will release all toxins, phosphates, nitrates back into my tank. Is that correct?
I've never heard of anyone killing chaeto and having it nuke their tank. They may be thinking of caulerpa which can go sexual, dye, then poison your tank.
Matt, yes, the video above is the updated vid of the mangrove plants taken jus 2 days ago. I will post again another video within a wk or so. As for the Chaeto, I will go back and ask LFS. Thanks.
I agree with au01st that mangrove plants are not that great for nutrient export. I also agree with your LFS, that if chaeto dies (from lack of light). It can release phosphates and nitrates back into the water. Not sure what toxins he is referring to.
Yes, I think they were referring to just phosphates and nitrates being released into the water if the chaeto dies. I will keep the mangrove plants in the mean time to see if it wakes up and grow.
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