Aquarium trees

[Moon]

I have a greenhouse and I have been growing cypress, water tupelo, mangrove trees and pond apple trees in the manner of bonsai planted inside full aquariums. I have had great success in the greenhouse but now I plan to do the same thing indoors under artificial light. I've tried this once before with metal halides but they were too hot and only mangrove trees could survive. I've been doing this for more than 30 years out side and the effect on the aquarium is fantastic. Not only does the water stay clean without any mechanical filtration the root system makes for a unique substrate. the problem is getting light into the aquarium in a hood so that normal aquarium plants will grow and leave room in the hood for the trimmed back or "bonsai" tree limbs growing above the water. This project will take several months just to start and any ideas about lighting the enlarged hood will be welcome.

 

[blackwolfXKAV]

Let me just start by thanking you!

You've done exactly what i've wanted to do but never had the room for!

*beggs for pictures*

Mangroves have been kept under strong fluorescents, and i believe that your local hardware store like home depot or lowes should be able to carry a cheap lighting system.

What species of manngroves did you cultivate, and what were your methods for trimming, fertilizing, and substrate?

Thanks again for the pics *cough*

 

[Moon]

Mangroves are very easy to grow under tank conditions, not even needing soil or fertilizer. I am going to set up what will ecentially be a swamp tank. Lots of swamp plants emersed from the water, moss back round and sides. Cypress trees and water tupelos, probably some mangroves too. I have some pics of one set up somewhere but no scanner to put them online. I plan to record the process with pics this time. I think this might be a new branch of aquarium keeping. (well maybe for me anyway)The tank is an antique aluminum framed 75 gallon. I'm not sure if it was home made or not. It had a thick slate bottom I replaced with glass. the frame is about 1/8 inch thick.I've had it for 35 years and it was very old when I got it. I plan to have dwarf sirens and dwarf mudpuppies as well as lots of swamp fish and animals.

Moon

 

[Studdlygoof]

Interesting thread...I talked to a guy in another forum that had success growing a Ficus in his tank...I just ordered a Dwarf Schelferra (sp?) to add to my Vivarium that is currently under construction...i too have several outdoor bonsai that have been in training for some years and wanted to try an indoor tank one after some inspiration from the Baltimore Aquairium...

I want the same root over rock style to take place on the wall of my viv with the D.Schelferra in my setup...

Are your mangroves growing in a salt/brackish setup up or is it strickly freshwater...I have always been attracted to their root structure but been turned away because of my beliefs that they were strictly a saltwater species...if not i would definatley like to try one in my setup and any advice you could give would be appreciated...

 

[Shocker6966]

I have red mangrove props germinating in freshwater right now, under normal fluorescents at that.

 

[Moon]

Mangroves will grow under varied conditions, they grow best of course in sunlight but metal halides are about as good. Flourescents will grow mangroves reletively well but for some reason cypress trees go down hill pretty fast under artificial lighting. I think it has to do with day lenth but I'm not really sure at this point.