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can you put mangrove shoots in a newly setup system or do you have to wait till it's cycled?
You can but depending on the bioload they may not make it. If nitrates are high they will but watch your mag levels they will suck the mag right up.
They will try to grow out of the water like they do in nature and eventually they will. You can try trimming it before it gets to the top but I don't think you can keep them long term under water since they secrete the salt they take in from the water through their leaves. If you look at a mature mangrove they have no leaves under the water line. I also read of a mangrove that was allowed to grow unchecked and eventually the roots burrowed into the silicone in the tank. Although mangroves grow pretty slow so it shouldn't be a problem for a while. I've also read that you can trim the leaves to keep it from growing too big above the tank. There is actually a lot of info on them if you google them.
I've had them before the wife got her cats (they like to chew on leaves so no more mangroves) but I never put them into the tank. I didn't want a tree sticking out of the top. I've been to a mangrove forest in a lagoon in PR. Snorkeling was awesome with all the fish swimming through the roots.
OhYeah, please keep us updated on how they do. Are you planning on letting them grow out of the water?