Mangroves

[weehian]

anyone has any idea where to buy mangoves? plant or seed form. read that it works wonders on the tank. thanks in advance

[veliferium]

hi bro .for mangroves, u can pick them up near parent plants.the pods,and plant them in refugium.

[boxfish]

I got mine from pasir ris beach...

heard takes a lot to be effective... gave up liao

[weehian]

hi guys, thanks for you replies. i found this on the net

[using Mangrove Plants

Using mangrove plants to reduce and control nitrates in a saltwater aquarium is being discovered as an ecologically correct choice, because it is "natural", no chemicals or additives needed. Mangroves have the ability to survive and actually thrive in a saltwater environment. Their root cells have the unique ability to strain freshwater from saltwater, and they feed on nitrates and other organics they derive from aquarium water.

Albert Thiel was a fore-runner in the research of using the natural properties of the mangrove to filter nitrates and other toxins from a saltwater aquarium. When filtering with mangroves, you can actually remove the protein skimmer from your system after a period of time. ] from saltwateraquaria website

Do you all find it effective in removing nitrates? my nitrate level in the tank is sky high. thanks again.

[RockyBoy]

Heard they need strong lights to be effective.

[boxfish]

maybe that guy who use mangrove has a big pond of them

you know the angmo got so much space ....compare to our small sump

[Tanzy]

Mangroves are tried and tested to do nothing to the nitrates level. You will have to wait till they take root and switch over to full time photosynthesis using leaves for it to start taking fertilizer from the water. Don't forget mangroves grow in the air not underwater and directly receiving sunlight. Unless you intend to light many many of them with a few 1000W MH, they won't be effective at all. One reefer has a couple of mangroves growing under the sun, yet the impact on water quality is negligible.

Albert Thiel's book is very old and he no longer updates it so I would get a few basic principles from it but screw the advice.

[Marineman]

Based on my research, mangrove only has it's use if you do it in a BIG way like some public aquariums, for hobbyist, how many mangroves can you keep to make it effective compared to the wild. What Tanzy said is also true.

If you have high nitrates and want to reduce it within a relativley short period, I stromgly recommend AZ NO3.