In this experiment baby red mangroves are placed in both a tank (9A1) and the sump for that rack of tanks. Being placed in both environments will determine which would be more efficient and have a better success rate for growing baby red mangroves. Red mangroves naturally grow in tropical estuaries, like in Florida. Red mangroves thrive in salinity environments, yet they are able to sustain themselves in both freshwater and saltwater ecosystems. Red Mangroves filter out a lot of the salt at their roots, up to 90%, and also have salt glands in their leaves, which excrete excess salt (Gill/Tomlinson 106). The red mangrove’s filtration system also is able to replace sodium ions with magnesium ions, allowing them to thrive and grow in any water ecosystem. Red Mangroves can be grown in various areas of the marine aquarium system. They can be grown in the sump, the refugium, the mud bed, and a separate designated aquarium or even in the display aquarium.
Since red mangroves can grow in varies ecosystems, the red mangroves are placed in both the sump and the tank. Other organisms in the tank are likely to impact the mangroves growth because of their interactions. Aside from the live rocks, red and green algae, also found in the tank are: anemones, xenia, aptasia, one fish and two snails. The Sun Anemone (Stichodactyla Helianthus) is a flattened oral disc covered with hundreds of short, thick tentacles with rounded tips, with colors from green to brown. Only one Two-Spot Cardinalfish (Apogon Pseudomaculatus) lives in the tank. The Cardinalfish stands out for its pinkish to fiery red color, it also has large eyes, separate dorsal fins, and a short snout with a large mouth. Another identifying feature is a number of black spots along its sides. Two Snails (Astraea spp./ Lithompoma spp.) also live in the tank, these algae eating snails are also known as reef janitors. Their red algae cover shells make them easy to spot inside the tank. In addition to the tank mangroves, some baby red mangroves will be placed in the sump, an area where they are floating in constantly filtrated water with algae. Overall this experiment will observe the baby red mangrove’s growth both within the tank and sump to determine which is a better enviroment for the mangrove’s development and evaluate how the organisms within each enviroment impact the mangrove’s general growth.
Questions
1) How do the other organisms in the tank affect the growth the red mangroves? 2) How does the filtration system in the sump affect the growth of the red mangroves? 3) How does high flow and low flow water levels in the sump impact the growth of the red mangroves? 4) Does the water flow in the tank alter the growth of the red mangroves? 5) How does the reverse daylight schedule impact the red mangroves growth?
Hypothesis If the red mangroves are placed in both the tank and sump, the red mangroves in the sump will develop with a higher quality then those in the tank due to the interference with other organisms and nutrient levels.
Design of Research
To research the growth of red mangroves and discover the best contained enviroment for the red mangroves to develop within. The analysis will be based off of several months of substantial research and observations that will be taken daily and weekly. The experiment will involve the baby red mangroves to be placed in both the sump and the tank (tank 9 A1). The difference between the two ecosystems will alter the growth process of the red mangroves. Later in the research changes in the sump and the tank’s nutrient and chemical systems will be made to evaluate if those changes effect the red mangroves growth process. The enviroment of the tank will be altered as well, with the possibility of the water flow system having effect on the growth of the red mangroves. Observations will be continually made to gather whether or not there is a difference in the red mangroves growth patterns. To achieve this the red mangroves from the sump will be switched with the red mangroves living in the tank (tank 9 A1), and vise versa. Daily and weekly observations and research will be recorded and analyzed to determine whether or not the difference in the red mangroves enviroment effects their overall growth.
Schedule Water tests will be taken daily, testing the all the chemicals by the end of each week. Alkalinity and pH will be taken twice a week; Mondays and Fridays. Calcium will be tested once a week; Tuesdays. Nitrate and Nitrite will be tested once a week; Thursdays. Salinity and temperature will also be taken daily, along with daily observations and questions will be recorded about the red mangroves growth in both the sump and the tank. The length of the red mangroves from both the sump and the tank will be recorded weekly, measured in both millimeters and centimeters.
Month 1- Red Mangroves will be placed in both the sump and the tank. Daily observations will be made.
Month 2- Increase the daylight schedule in the sump and record any changes in growth patterns.
Month 3- The water flow system in the tank and the sump will be positioned next to the red mangroves, to determine if the water flow alter the growth of the red mangroves.
Month 4- Review notes to determine if the other organisms living in the tank have impacted the red mangrove’s growth.
Month 5- Switch the red mangroves from the sump to the tank, and the red mangroves in the tank to the sump. Observe to see if there are any changes in the red mangroves growth pattern with the addition of a completely new environment.
Month 6- Determine the overall growth of both the red mangroves in the tank and in the sump to decide which enviroment (sump vs tank) is a better for the red mangrove’s growth.
Supplies and Equipment Tank Red Mangrove’s Crushed Coral Live Rock Protein Skimmer Sump Chiller Overflow Power head Power Compact Light Siphon Filter Thermometer Refract meter Mud
In this experiment baby red mangroves are placed in both a tank (9A1) and the sump for that rack of tanks. Being placed in both environments will determine which would be more efficient and have a better success rate for growing baby red mangroves. Red mangroves naturally grow in tropical estuaries, like in Florida. Red mangroves thrive in salinity environments, yet they are able to sustain themselves in both freshwater and saltwater ecosystems. Red Mangroves filter out a lot of the salt at their roots, up to 90%, and also have salt glands in their leaves, which excrete excess salt (Gill/Tomlinson 106). The red mangrove’s filtration system also is able to replace sodium ions with magnesium ions, allowing them to thrive and grow in any water ecosystem. Red Mangroves can be grown in various areas of the marine aquarium system. They can be grown in the sump, the refugium, the mud bed, and a separate designated aquarium or even in the display aquarium.
Since red mangroves can grow in varies ecosystems, the red mangroves are placed in both the sump and the tank. Other organisms in the tank are likely to impact the mangroves growth because of their interactions. Aside from the live rocks, red and green algae, also found in the tank are: anemones, xenia, aptasia, one fish and two snails. The Sun Anemone (Stichodactyla Helianthus) is a flattened oral disc covered with hundreds of short, thick tentacles with rounded tips, with colors from green to brown. Only one Two-Spot Cardinalfish (Apogon Pseudomaculatus) lives in the tank. The Cardinalfish stands out for its pinkish to fiery red color, it also has large eyes, separate dorsal fins, and a short snout with a large mouth. Another identifying feature is a number of black spots along its sides. Two Snails (Astraea spp./ Lithompoma spp.) also live in the tank, these algae eating snails are also known as reef janitors. Their red algae cover shells make them easy to spot inside the tank. In addition to the tank mangroves, some baby red mangroves will be placed in the sump, an area where they are floating in constantly filtrated water with algae. Overall this experiment will observe the baby red mangrove’s growth both within the tank and sump to determine which is a better enviroment for the mangrove’s development and evaluate how the organisms within each enviroment impact the mangrove’s general growth.
Questions
1) How do the other organisms in the tank affect the growth the red mangroves?
2) How does the filtration system in the sump affect the growth of the red mangroves?
3) How does high flow and low flow water levels in the sump impact the growth of the red mangroves?
4) Does the water flow in the tank alter the growth of the red mangroves?
5) How does the reverse daylight schedule impact the red mangroves growth?
Hypothesis
If the red mangroves are placed in both the tank and sump, the red mangroves in the sump will develop
with a higher quality then those in the tank due to the interference with other organisms and nutrient levels.
Design of Research
To research the growth of red mangroves and discover the best contained enviroment for the red mangroves to develop within. The analysis will be based off of several months of substantial research and observations that will be taken daily and weekly. The experiment will involve the baby red mangroves to be placed in both the sump and the tank (tank 9 A1). The difference between the two ecosystems will alter the growth process of the red mangroves. Later in the research changes in the sump and the tank’s nutrient and chemical systems will be made to evaluate if those changes effect the red mangroves growth process. The enviroment of the tank will be altered as well, with the possibility of the water flow system having effect on the growth of the red mangroves. Observations will be continually made to gather whether or not there is a difference in the red mangroves growth patterns. To achieve this the red mangroves from the sump will be switched with the red mangroves living in the tank (tank 9 A1), and vise versa. Daily and weekly observations and research will be recorded and analyzed to determine whether or not the difference in the red mangroves enviroment effects their overall growth.
Schedule
Water tests will be taken daily, testing the all the chemicals by the end of each week. Alkalinity and pH will be taken twice a week; Mondays and Fridays. Calcium will be tested once a week; Tuesdays. Nitrate and Nitrite will be tested once a week; Thursdays. Salinity and temperature will also be taken daily, along with daily observations and questions will be recorded about the red mangroves growth in both the sump and the tank. The length of the red mangroves from both the sump and the tank will be recorded weekly, measured in both millimeters and centimeters.
Month 1- Red Mangroves will be placed in both the sump and the tank. Daily observations will be made.
Month 2- Increase the daylight schedule in the sump and record any changes in growth patterns.
Month 3- The water flow system in the tank and the sump will be positioned next to the red mangroves, to determine if the water flow alter the growth of the red mangroves.
Month 4- Review notes to determine if the other organisms living in the tank have impacted the red mangrove’s growth.
Month 5- Switch the red mangroves from the sump to the tank, and the red mangroves in the tank to the sump. Observe to see if there are any changes in the red mangroves growth pattern with the addition of a completely new environment.
Month 6- Determine the overall growth of both the red mangroves in the tank and in the sump to decide which enviroment (sump vs tank) is a better for the red mangrove’s growth.
Supplies and Equipment
Tank
Red Mangrove’s
Crushed Coral
Live Rock
Protein Skimmer
Sump
Chiller
Overflow
Power head
Power Compact Light
Siphon
Filter
Thermometer
Refract meter
Mud