Mangroves

well i got this free mangroves and i was wondering what are the requirements to make them grow?

 

light, saltwater. and the tip should be help out of the water.

 

does the roots have to be in sand?

 

you don't have to have the roots in sand... they also take in magnesium.

 

i have cheato on my refugium and 18w 50/50 light will this cause any problems?

 

Nope, that's how mine are growing. Just make sure they get enough light and a normal photosynthesis period. My mangroves used to stay pretty stationary on their growth until I switched to night/day lighting cycle on them, then they took off.

I planted mine in the sand, but I've read around that the roots can find their way into the silicone seals and brake through them, then you have leaks, etc. So if you have the possibility, have the roots suspended in the water and trim them when they're about to reach the sand.

- Mag.

 

No roots do not have to be in sand but they grow better and faster if they are. I grow mine in my sump in a plastic shoe box full of sand. They are really slow growers so don't expect much out of them.

The tips also do not have to be out of the water, they will grow just as a stick until the tip breaks the water then it will sprout leaves. I have one that was about 6" long and was 4" below the top, its now almost 20" long and has about 10 leaves on it.

Never heard that they use up Mag, but I know that they are PO4 sponges for sure.

 

the way mangroves grow in the wild, the pods fall off of trees and float in the water until they reach a spot in substrate where they can attach and grow roots/ leaves... the ones I've purchased don't seem to float on their own, but I'm not sure why this is, because the ones I've seen in the wild always float before they sprout roots.

I've snorkeled in mangrove "swamps" before... the kind of animals you'll see living and growing in their roots is pretty amazing... fish spawn in the roots of mangroves because the root masses can become so dense that they are a great place for small fry to hide...