Bald cypress trees

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by 459b, Sep 27, 2018.

  1. 459b

    459b

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    Just a thought; seeing as marine keepers seem to love putting mangroves in their tanks, how come freshwater keepers dont do the same with cypress trees (Taxodium distichum)? They really easy to keep small and grow under a range of conditions and light.

    Pic in their natural habitat:
    cypress.jpg


    Pics of mine:

    DSC_1605.jpg
    DSC_2640.jpg
    DSC_2642.jpg
     
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  3. Jaco83

    Jaco83

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    Looks pretty cool.
     
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  4. MariaS

    MariaS Retired Moderator

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    That's awesome.

    Have you got them in a pond?
    Would they not get too big for a tank?
     
  5. OP
    459b

    459b

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    At the moment they in a shallow fishtank. They can be cut rather aggressively and they resprout. I have some that are three years old and are maybe 20cm high. A good root cutting also slows their growth.
     
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  6. reuben

    reuben

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    459b wondering if it work in a malawi tank
    where would one get a couple of trees
     
  7. OP
    459b

    459b

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    Dont see why not. Provided the trees arent totally submerged they should be fine.
    Nurseries sometimes have them, i grew all mine from seed
     
  8. SalmonAfrica

    SalmonAfrica Batfish

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    Does it not come with a worry about balance?

    Much as some marine keepers experience similar problems, you'd want to provide an environment that is nutrient rich. While this isn't necessarily hard to do, it does sometimes come at the the expense of your livestock, or with algal concerns, or particularly affecting your water chemistry. I'm not sure about the specific nutrient requirements of Cypress, but with mangroves you needed to ensure there was sufficient "fertilizer" in the way of fish waste (and supplementation where necessary). One species needed less than others. In the end, we had greater success out of the tank, than in one.

    My 2c.
     
  9. OP
    459b

    459b

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    not sure you can compare a low nutrient marine tank and planted freshwater. For one mangroves do prefer deep estuarine sand, which vey few reef tanks provide. The cypress I have in a tank are potted in coconut coir, tank is fish less, receive zero fertilizer, and they doing just as well as the ones I have potted in richer media.
     
  10. Hendre

    Hendre Polypterus freak

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    Looks cool! Maybe more suitable for a pond than indoor tanks?
     
  11. SalmonAfrica

    SalmonAfrica Batfish

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    In my case, they were rooted in deep sand in a pretty nutrient rich brackish tank. But you're right, the marine guys might struggle to accommodate ideal mangrove conditions in their reefs.

    Though it's tough to compare two plants from differing environments, despite the superficial similarities between them.
     

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