Plants
Mangroves
Rhizophora mangle
Also called: Avicennia marina
Key facts
- Temperature22–30 °C
- pH7.5–8.5
- Adult size30 cm
- Difficulty★★★★☆
- WaterFresh
Full profile
- Family
- Rhizophoraceae / Acanthaceae
- Origin
- Pantropical (coasts and estuaries worldwide)
- Size
- Plants ranging from 30 cm to 1 m in an aquarium (in nature, they are trees)
- Temperature
- 22 – 30°C
- pH
- 7.5 – 8.5
- GH
- 15 – 30 °dGH
- Difficulty
- ★★★★☆
- Light
- Very high (requires sunlight or powerful lights)
- CO2
- Not applicable (emerged plant)
- Fertilization
- low
- Growth
- very slow
- Position
- emerged (roots in brackish water, stem and leaves out of the water)
- Substrate
- sand or gravel
- Propagation
- propagules (seeds that have already germinated)
Notes: Mangroves are the symbol of the brackish water biotope. They are planted with their roots submerged in brackish water and their stems above the water. They grow very slowly (taking years to reach 30 cm). They require plenty of light to prevent etiolation. Propagules can be purchased at specialty stores: these are seedlings with already-formed roots. Over time, they create a spectacular mangrove aquarium-terrarium.
