Organic potting soil in a reef tank?

[CHSUB]

My 5.5 month reef tank is doing great, except my mangrove is slowing dying over the last 2 months. All corals, including sps are showing excellent growing. Parameters are solid, I feed heavy and run very low inorganic nutrients, po4 0.0-.02, no3 undetectable; probably to the detriment of the mangrove? I recently inserted a root tab in the base of the mangrove but it still is in decline. So here is my solution: above my 33 gal Red Sea I’m adding a 16 gallon tank plumbed into the main display that will be home to my new mangrove. I will have a square layer of organic potting soil, capped with argonite sand and rock around the mangrove. Not certain what else but typically reef stuff. This is a common approach in freshwater planted tanks, but only found one example in a reef tank and it was only a “thought”. Mangroves are root feeding plants and I hope the soil will provide excellent nutrients while not polluting the water with po4 and no3. The cap of argonite will be 4”, preventing up welling of nutrients. Any thoughts?

 

[Salty_Northerner]

Braver then I'd be, have you maybe thought of using AquaForest life source mud? The mangrove would thrive in it. Just an idea on what I'd do then adding soil into my reef.

 

[divewsharks]

Braver then I'd be, have you maybe thought of using AquaForest life source mud? The mangrove would thrive in it. Just an idea on what I'd do then adding soil into my reef.

I was thinking the same, AF Mud or Miracle Mud. But first you could reach out to 2 Little Fishies to get advice.

 

[DaJMasta]

I wouldn't. Even a very thin layer is a massive amount of 'bioload' for your filtration, and would immediately cycle it. The ammonia that comes from breaking down the soil is more toxic in our higher pH, even with a layer of sand the higher flow is more likely to dig it out, and it's not so much a natural thing in the ocean, since the dirt present in coastal ecosystems is being swept in on the top from rivers and erosion.

You can get similar results in a freshwater tank with maturity and a developed mulm layer, so I'd advocate for developing that. Feed a little extra gradually, leave the sand bed a bit thicker and maybe use a coarser layer on top and let it catch stuff. Avoid stirring up the sand bed. Let a layer of nutrients develop over the course of months rather than shocking the system with a huge boost of nutrients and a wholly turned over sand bed.

 

[CHSUB]

!

 

[CHSUB]

Braver then I'd be, have you maybe thought of using AquaForest life source mud? The mangrove would thrive in it. Just an idea on what I'd do then adding soil into my reef.

I was thinking the same, AF Mud or Miracle Mud. But first you could reach out to 2 Little Fishies to get advice.

Yes , and thanks...have thought about both, but don't think they will provide NPK that organic potting soil will.

 

[CHSUB]

I wouldn't. Even a very thin layer is a massive amount of 'bioload' for your filtration, and would immediately cycle it. The ammonia that comes from breaking down the soil is more toxic in our higher pH, even with a layer of sand the higher flow is more likely to dig it out, and it's not so much a natural thing in the ocean, since the dirt present in coastal ecosystems is being swept in on the top from rivers and erosion.

You can get similar results in a freshwater tank with maturity and a developed mulm layer, so I'd advocate for developing that. Feed a little extra gradually, leave the sand bed a bit thicker and maybe use a coarser layer on top and let it catch stuff. Avoid stirring up the sand bed. Let a layer of nutrients develop over the course of months rather than shocking the system with a huge boost of nutrients and a wholly turned over sand bed.

Good point and agree. However, Im only using a small amount of soil and going to run it separately for awhile. One reason is to adjust the mangrove to full saltwater. Still in thought phase...

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

For my mangrove, I used AF life force mud, then put a layer of sand on top, my tree is going on 3 years now and growing steadily.

 

[divewsharks]

I would ping 2LF and ask for advice, lots of mangrove experience there. They were down at RAP Anaheim selling/talking mangrove and sea grass (which i meant to purchase).

 

[CHSUB]

I would ping 2LF and ask for advice, lots of mangrove experience there. They were down at RAP Anaheim selling/talking mangrove and sea grass (which i meant to purchase).

I have watched all his videos and many others. Inland Reef guy has been very helpful. However, the actual grower has given the most detailed info on how she grows mangroves. I’m also getting a black mangrove but growing that in freshwater. Have failed a number of times in my reef tank, but growing in freshwater they are easy. I believe my system lacks NPK to grow mangroves and this is my attempted solution. Also maybe to quick from brackish water to full salt. I have tons of pods floating by my house daily, so going to try to root one too in main tank if current one dies.

 

[CHSUB]

 

[CHSUB]

All done!

 

[CHSUB]

Nearly 3 weeks in and the mangrove seems to be doing well. During the first 2 weeks it dropped some leaves, but lately none and the upper leaves have opened. Nh4 rose some but today was at 0. I have raised salinity to 23 and planning to get to 25 this week. I removed the mangrove from display tank and replaced with two pods from my yard. Happy so far….

 

[CHSUB]

Organic potting soil has been a major success in growing mangroves so far, As expected…I’m now at full strength saltwater, 4 snails, 1 barnacle thing, and 2 Capnella Corals from main display. Mangrove growth on propagules is ~10x greater in soil vs attached to rock in main display. Large tree is growing well with new growth almost daily. I’m not seeing any negatives in using soil. Parameters are consistent between the two yet to be connected displays. Will be adding 20 lbs of Tampa Bay Live Rock to mangrove system in 2 weeks and connecting systems in the following week.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The mangrove is looking good!

 

[CHSUB]

Today was another step in the Mangrove Lagoon with organic potting soil. When to Tampa to get 20 lbs of live rock.

 

[CHSUB]

After rock and %75 WC yesterday, felt today was the day to connect the system.
All parameters in range with no3 and po4 at 0 in main DT, and Mangrove tank with [email protected], [email protected]; feel the extra nutrients will only benefit the main DT. However, nh4 in mangrove display is > .5. Thinking the new rock and aggressive WC caused a mini cycle which should easily be handled with the live rock but going to wait until nh4 is at least dropping.

The TB Rock is quite amazing with the additional life. We are really missing something in the hobby now with the dead rock trend. Hearing the pop sounds again of pistol shrimp reminds me of 30 years ago hearing that sound and not knowing what was going on…haha!

 

[CHSUB]

Today I connected the two systems. I think Organic Potting Soil is definitely an option with mangroves in a mix reef. I have clam, anemone, SPS, LPS, NPS, softies, inverts, crustacean and fish; very diverse mixed reef.

 

[CHSUB]

1

 

[Tahoe61]

Today I connected the two systems. I think Organic Potting Soil is definitely an option with mangroves in a mix reef. I have clam, anemone, SPS, LPS, NPS, softies, inverts, crustacean and fish; very diverse mixed reef.

That's amazing. I have been contemplating adding Organic Potting Soil for sometime now. Lighting?