M A N G R O V E S

Mangrove Pods

Mangrove pods can now be purchased through Coral Dynamics. We have in our sump under GE grow lights and they are doing GREAT! We recommend about 10 mangroves per 55 gallons. We ship mangroves on Mondays so they do not sit over the weekend. The pods are anywhere from 4 to 16 inches for $6.00 each. During the Spring, pods with leaves and roots are becoming harder to find. After May, pods may or may not have roots and leaves so you may have to root them yourself. A minimum of 6 mangroves per order.

Mangroves are on sale while they last... $3 each / $18 per 6 pack!

Culupra Mangrove Filtration

We have received numerous e-mails asking us to explain how we utilize mangroves within our reef system. Since we enjoy sharing our years of knowledge and experience with other reef hobbyists this page has been added in hopes it will be used as a resource.

We have had success using both protein skimmers as well as only mangroves/macro algae as a means to export excess nutrients from our aquariums. It is not our intent to indicate that one cannot have a successful reef aquarium using a protein skimmer or that using mangroves is the best way to achieve success. We simply want to offer an alternative to reef keepers.

In addition to the filtration methods previously mentioned, we also utilize a plenum to assist in the processing of nitrates into nitrogen gas. We find that the deep sand bed is beneficial environment for the planktonic life that resides in our reef tanks. A healthy population of plankton helps provide a natural food source for our corals and other small invertebrates.

Mangroves

How to:

We use Red Mangroves that are placed in the sump under one 18 watt GE Plant fluorescent light. The light remains on 10 hours per day.

We planted some of our mangroves several years ago. We used a small container filled half way with a fine silty substrate (oolite sand). We drilled small holes in the bottom of the container to allow water to flow through the entire container. We have not had to prune our trees as they have remained 12"-18" in height.

Mangroves in Decline

Experts estimate that less than half of the mangrove forests that once covered the world's tropical coastlines are now left. Mangroves are one of the world's most species-rich ecosystems and help to protect coasts from storms and floods. They also serve as a valuable source of protection for coral reefs, helping to filter out sediment run-off from construction and deforestation that can otherwise smother and kill the reefs. Shrimp farming has been cited as one of the major causes of this decline - inexpensive mangrove lands are often cleared to create shrimp farms. Other threats to mangrove forests include charcoal and chip-milling operations, tourism, pollution, and population pressures.