How to Make a Mangrove Aquarium Decoration

Red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle) inhabit shallow salt water and brackish lagoons and ponds. They are sometimes called "walking trees" because of their "aerial prop roots," or their root system that grows exposed in and above the water while the canopies hang over the water. Many creatures live, hide and hunt among the underwater roots of mangroves. Mangroves are relatively easy to grow in a home aquarium, and can be made to exhibit aerial prop roots.

Things You'll Need

  • Sand or gravel substrate
  • Slender PVC piping or rigid airline tubing
  • Flexible gardener's tape
  • Plant grow lights or daylight spectrum lighting
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fill an aquarium or refugium 3/4 with salt or brackish water.The tanks should have a thick substrate of sand or gravel. Because the mangroves will grow out over the tank, you won't be able to cover the tank completely.

    • 2

      Bind each seed pod to its own slender PVC pipe or rigid airline tubing, using flexible gardener's tape. Keep in mind that the bottom halves (with the thick brown end) of the pods must to be completely suberged, while the top halves (slender, green end) must stick out of the water.

    • 3

      Place the tubes securely in the substrate so that the bottom halves of the mangrove pods are completely submerged in the aquarium, but the top halves of the pods stick out into the air. These plants can live fairly close together comfortably, but remember that they will eventually grow quite large. Make sure the roots will not be in a spot where they will impede your filters, protein skimmers, heaters, or other mechanical devices.

    • 4

      Install lighting over the mangrove aquarium. A plant grow light or daylight spectrum lighting will encourage growth.

    • 5

      Move the pods upward on the tube to encourage aerial prop roots as roots and leaves begin to sprout. Eventually, the roots will reach the sand substate and you can remove the tubing and stick the ends of the aerial props into your substrate.

    • 6

      Spray the plant's leaves with fresh water daily to remove salt buildup.