Mudskipper paludarium- an alternative solution

[hydrophyte]

Hey HX67 did I ask you yet if you had ever purchased from that seller in Austria with the wide variety of mangrove propagules? I would be interested to know more about that.

[reybie]

Can something like this be pulled off in an open top tank?

[hydrophyte]

An open top tank could be better in some ways. Those mangrove plants like to have lots of air and an open top would give them more room to grow up.

Here's my mangrove riparium planting in a 65G open top...

[HX67]

Originally Posted by StraightAddicted

One of the best tanks that I have seen. Its paradise for any mudskipper. Great to see everything come along over time. I like when you trimmed up the plant into several smaller ones. Gave it a more open feel to the tank, but im sure others would disagree with me. Keep it up and goodluck down the road.

Thank you.
I'm a very lazy gardener, so the difference before-after tends to be huge. The rate of Samolus reproducing, spreading and filling up the tank has been a really big surprise.
Black mangrove has grown quite well recently, and I need to figure out a strategy to go with it. I have a dream I could help it to grow up bonsai-ish in there, but I'm still building up courage to prune it accordingly.

Originally Posted by LyzzaRyzz

Absolutely wonderful! Keep updating! I think I'm addicted!! Lol

Thank you!

Originally Posted by hydrophyte

Hey HX67 did I ask you yet if you had ever purchased from that seller in Austria with the wide variety of mangrove propagules? I would be interested to know more about that.

I haven't gotten around to it yet, but am still intending to. Will update when there's something to report. They still look very promising.

The seller in question is http://www.mangrove.at/
Anyone with any word on them, please chime in!

Originally Posted by reybie

Can something like this be pulled off in an open top tank?

An open top or a partially open front. Sure.
The only restrictions I can think of are the need for higher humidity the chosen flora and fauna may have and escape-proofing the tank.

My tank is open on the front of the top, which keeps the front glass nicely dry.

[HX67]

An exceptional pic of the tank, showing how the lighting rack sits on top of it, from today.
Just before I started harvesting it. Needed a scythe and a sickle...


Some nice stems Samolus makes when blooming

This is just the harvested blooming:


Thanks for looking.

[hydrophyte]

That is some happy Samolus that you have in there!

I think that I might send an email to that vendor in Austria.

[HX67]

Hehee, she's exstatic!

I've got this new/old tank coming along. It might be nice (height at 6') for some mangroves. It's going to take awhile to finish the tank to a state that it's ready to receive mangrove propagules...
Please, please. Do share your experience on the vendor, if you get any. Mkay?

[HX67]

Black mangrove is doing pretty good in this tank.
Taking pics of it is a bit hard to me, but some of the growth can be seen in this:


It's not behaving the way I want, either. Forcing some of the stems to grow horizontally to let them grow a bit longer is not proceeding the way I expect. Leaves are taking their time to turn upwards, towards the light, to look more natural...


I need a bigger/taller tank. Or a greener thumb.

[LyzzaRyzz]

You DO have a very green thumb! Look at your project as a whole! Not many people would have been able to do what you have.
Time is key, friend. Patience is a virtue, and its not one of mine! I can understand your frustration in waiting on the plant. I just got a package with ludwiga cuba in it, and they have HUGE stalks! Im guessing the package was tossed around, cause they ended up in squiggle shapes! Im lucky they didnt just snap! Im waiting for them to straighten out, and behave, but they are taking forever. Okay, well, two and a half days..but really cuba, straighten up!
I like that the mangrove is growing differently! I like the look. Is there a reason its behaving this way?

[HX67]

Originally Posted by LyzzaRyzz

Im waiting for them to straighten out, and behave, but they are taking forever. Okay, well, two and a half days..but really cuba, straighten up!
I like that the mangrove is growing differently! I like the look. Is there a reason its behaving this way?

Man, a couple of days... I've been waiting for a few weeks.

The reason is I'm forcing them down and horizontal, so they'd fill up the tank a bit wider than just growing up. They reach the cover pretty quick and have to be cut all the time otherwise.

Good luck with the cubinos.