How much light do Mangroves require?

unhpian · 09/24/2009, 04:42 PM

How much light do Mangroves require? Would sunlight through a window be enough to keep them alive? I have sort of a unique problem - no room for a full sump w/ lighting - and asthetics and room layout prevent me from placing any other form of sump in the vicinity of the tanks, and energy concerns are pushing me away from having a seperatley-lit sump- so one idea I had was a small sump (10 gallons or lesS) that could be disguised as a planter - with mangroves for nutrient export that would could be placed in front of a window that gets about 4+ hours of direct sunlight per day (i.e., facing the sun). Now, I know that they certainly won't thrive - but would it be enough to keep them alive, growing, and exporting nutrients?

madean · 09/27/2009, 12:53 PM

I think that it could possibly work. Give it a try and if you find that it does not work just add a decorative spot lamp, one that uses like a flood light or can use a flood light. Aim the light to face the mangroves to supplement light later in the day. You could even put it on a timer. Also I would position the 10 gallon higher than the sump and use a pump to push water to the 10 gallon from the sump. use gravity to return water to the sump by way of bulkheads and pipe. Also not a bad idea to have a few return lines in case one gets clogged. like an emergency back up return line. The last thing you want is a return line getting clogged and water continuosly being pumped into the 10 gallon.

madean · 09/27/2009, 12:55 PM

Make sure you read up on mangroves and how to take care of them. Also figure out how many you will need. I thought I remember seeing like 1 mangrove per 10 gallons of tank water to be effective nutrient exporters. Could be wrong but that number is stuck in my head right now.

09/24/2009, 04:42 PM	#1
unhpian Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 85	How much light do Mangroves require? How much light do Mangroves require? Would sunlight through a window be enough to keep them alive? I have sort of a unique problem - no room for a full sump w/ lighting - and asthetics and room layout prevent me from placing any other form of sump in the vicinity of the tanks, and energy concerns are pushing me away from having a seperatley-lit sump- so one idea I had was a small sump (10 gallons or lesS) that could be disguised as a planter - with mangroves for nutrient export that would could be placed in front of a window that gets about 4+ hours of direct sunlight per day (i.e., facing the sun). Now, I know that they certainly won't thrive - but would it be enough to keep them alive, growing, and exporting nutrients?

09/27/2009, 12:53 PM	#2
madean Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 994	I think that it could possibly work. Give it a try and if you find that it does not work just add a decorative spot lamp, one that uses like a flood light or can use a flood light. Aim the light to face the mangroves to supplement light later in the day. You could even put it on a timer. Also I would position the 10 gallon higher than the sump and use a pump to push water to the 10 gallon from the sump. use gravity to return water to the sump by way of bulkheads and pipe. Also not a bad idea to have a few return lines in case one gets clogged. like an emergency back up return line. The last thing you want is a return line getting clogged and water continuosly being pumped into the 10 gallon.

09/27/2009, 12:55 PM	#3
madean Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 994	Make sure you read up on mangroves and how to take care of them. Also figure out how many you will need. I thought I remember seeing like 1 mangrove per 10 gallons of tank water to be effective nutrient exporters. Could be wrong but that number is stuck in my head right now.