Mangroves for nitrAte reduction

[Dirt Diggler]

I'm looking at using mangroves to help control nitrAtes and ammonia in my aquarium. I know that water changes are the end all be all, but I'll be returning to Afghandyland soon and I'm trying to minimize the amount of maintenenace my wife has to do while I'm gone. Does anyone have experience with mangroves?

 

[jetajockey]

I've got a few small black mangroves and all I can say is that they grow super slow. I'd look into using something that grows a bit faster, as it'll be a better nutrient sponge.

 

[Dirt Diggler]

I have african cichlids and I need a plant that they won't destroy or require a lot of maintenance on it's own. I don't think the 3 moss balls I have in there are gonna get the job done.

 

[jetajockey]

I understand. Mangroves would work good for that. Lucky bamboo would probably work well also.

 

[Dirt Diggler]

how well do you think they'd do for nitrate reduction? I have an overstocked tank and while the bio filter can handle the ammonia, I'm left with a lot of nitrates at the end. I need a way to deal with the nitrates effectively. so I need a plant that can survive the fish doing what they do, and help deal with the nitra

 

[Dirt Diggler]

nitrates

 

[Mebbid]

It might not be a terrible idea to add some water sprite to the tank. It grows like CRAZY and will do just fine if you grow it while it's floating; so its not a big deal if it gets chewed up a little bit.

 

[Dirt Diggler]

Awesome. We'll see how it does. Just ordered some plants and water sprite is one of them.

 

[Dirt Diggler]

Hopefully these plants don't obscure too much light as a floating plant. I should be able to hack these apart to maintain their growth right? I don't want them to take over the whole aquarium, but I do need their growth to keep nitrates at a minimum.

 

[Mebbid]

They can overgrow really easily. I have let mine grow to take up about 1/3 of my 55g tank. The good thing is you can trim them and either let them grow floating or just plant the stem in the substrate and let it grow from there.

 

[Dirt Diggler]

I'll be sure to keep an eye on it as it grows.

 

[jetajockey]

Water sprite grows insanely fast, the good news though is that you can grow it above water. I have some in one of my grow beds and its got stems easily a foot out of the water.

 

[Dirt Diggler]

Yeah, I'm going to have to trim those quite a bit then.

 

[Scottyhorse]

Duckweed is real good for sucking nutrients out of the water.

 

[Dirt Diggler]

I'm looking at getting some duckweed and water sprite plants.

 

[jetajockey]

Bad idea if you won't be able to scoop it out weekly.

 

[Dirt Diggler]

did some more research on the duck weed. I'm going to avoid it.

 

[Mumma.of.two]

It won't last long enough to over take the tank IMO. My Africans eat it like candy.
What about peace lily, arrowhead vine and pothos growing out the top of the tank? If there is enough ambient light in the room then they won't need a light.