How much light does Red Mangrove need?

Medium light, around 40–60 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ of PAR. Watts are not comparable between fixtures; PAR is. If the manufacturer does not publish PAR, pick one band lower than the tank depth suggests.

Does Red Mangrove need CO₂?

No. Marked "not needed": it grows normally in a tank with no CO₂ at all. These are usually slow growers that are also forgiving about light.

What water does Red Mangrove want?

22–28 °C, pH 7.5–8.4, 7–12 dGH. At 5 dGH wide it is one of the more forgiving ranges.

How fast does Red Mangrove grow, and where does it go?

Growth rate: slow. Placement: specimen. Substrate: substrate required, reaching about 30–90 cm. Difficulty: moderate.

G-02 / 27Marine

Red Mangrove红树

Rhizophora mangle · Rhizophoraceae

The one mangrove seedling that becomes a genuine above-water plant, provided the crown stays out of the water and the leaves are rinsed free of salt.

Illustration to come

G-02 / 27 · Red Mangrove Rhizophora mangle

SpecificationsPlant atlas

Name: 红树
Scientific name: Rhizophora mangle
Family: Rhizophoraceae
Origin: Intertidal mudflats of tropical American and West African coasts (Florida, the Caribbean, Brazil)
Light: Medium light
PAR: 40–60
CO₂: Not needed
Hardness: 7–12 dGH
Growth: Slow
Placement: Specimen
Substrate: Substrate required
Height: 30–90 cm
Level: Moderate

Water requirementsMarine

Temp.22–28 °C

pH7.5–8.4

Salinity1.015–1.026 SG

Alkalinity7–12 dKH

Units: temperature in °C, hardness in German degrees (dGH / dKH), marine salinity as specific gravity at 25 °C, volume in litres. These are the values recorded for the species and do not follow the site unit switcher.

Growing notes

1The roots and propagule must sit in soil or live sand with the crown fully above water, because a drowned seedling rots.
2Medium light or better and 25 to 28 °C keep new leaves coming, while too little light yellows and drops them.
3The leaves excrete salt that crystallises on them, so rinse them with fresh water weekly rather than letting it block the stomata.
4The propagule roots where it is planted, and once the prop roots form they need room away from the glass and any plumbing.
5It is slow, adding only ten-odd centimetres a year, so in a covered tank watch for the crown reaching the light and prune the tip if needed.

Frequently asked questions

How much light does Red Mangrove need?: Medium light, around 40–60 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ of PAR. Watts are not comparable between fixtures; PAR is. If the manufacturer does not publish PAR, pick one band lower than the tank depth suggests.
Does Red Mangrove need CO₂?: No. Marked "not needed": it grows normally in a tank with no CO₂ at all. These are usually slow growers that are also forgiving about light.
What water does Red Mangrove want?: 22–28 °C, pH 7.5–8.4, 7–12 dGH. At 5 dGH wide it is one of the more forgiving ranges.
How fast does Red Mangrove grow, and where does it go?: Growth rate: slow. Placement: specimen. Substrate: substrate required, reaching about 30–90 cm. Difficulty: moderate.