Xenia fuge!

[steven11]

Has anyone else tried a xenia fuge? On my 75 that I had setup a while ago, I had a whole chamber in my sump dedicated to xenia. I also had a chamber that was full of cheato. When i would harvest the cheato, i wouldnt notice any difference. But when i would thin out a 1/4 to a half of the xenia, i would have to scrape the glass on my display every two days instead of 4-5. I am setting up a new 125 and thinking of setting up a 29 gallon tank that is dedicated to a xenia fuge. I will try to pull up some old pictures of my 75. I am currious as to if anyone else has or is running a xenia fuge and how it was tied into the system.

 

[mojoreef]

Well its something you could do, but as with most it has its good and bad. In terms of nutrient uptake and thus export, Xenia is second to none and I mean that. Things to worry about would be broadcasting while harvesting. I will do a little digging for ya on this.

Mojo

 

[mojoreef]

Ok I was wrong they arent broadcasters but instead are brooders, so they have eggs basically. SO in knowing that we also must know that they will/can spawn, which could create something not desired in the rest of the tank. So in order to control that you must keep them happy (lots of of food) or you run the risk of a spawn and to be honest they can spawn for a number of reasons.

So upside= great nutrient uptake
downside= if they spawn you could end up with Xenia growing everywhere?

Mojo

 

[Faciosity]

I think it would be really cool! I love my pulsing xenia.

 

[user 2204]

Mojo is correct, but it depends on the type of Xenia species that you'll be keeping.

They all do a great job of nutrient exportation and there has been only one species that I've ever had an issue with as for taking over a tank.

Of the 5-6 strains of Xenia that I have in my care, the Pom Pom Pink and White Pulsing aka Red Sea pulsing Xenias are the ones you'd need to keep a close eye on. As long as you're very careful they will not take over. But with that said, I've had a small bucnh of them in my prop/frag tank months ago and now I am seeing some small pulsing stalks all over that tank.

Yet on the other hand, my Xenia Species tank I have been able to keep them at bay in one section of the tank. Mind you that this tank has the most population of Xenia's. Probably around 5-6 different species. The Silver Tip Xenias I have yet to have an issue with, as with the Blue Xenia, African Blue Cespitularia Xenia, Bali Xenia, and Waving Xenias.

In my experience with Xenias, the more different strains that you keep in one tank, the happier they all seem to be. I've been keeping Xenias for 8 years now and have only lost one thus far. The key ingredient to keeping Any Xenia species happy is Iodine and nutrient rich waters.

Hope this helps,
Alex

 

[steven11]

Never heard of it spawning before and sprouting up. I have only used pom pom for my fuges though. The only way that i have noticed it spread is by "carpeting" an area or stalks detaching and floating away. Nothing like green pocillapora sprouting up out of no where. On my 75, i had the xenia fuge for over a year and it never made its way into the display. I couldnt say that it was always happy either. The thing that i like most about it is that the xenia tells you when you need a water change. I have never been one to test water which i would never recommend.

 

[tat2z_21]

I actually was going to try this a couple of months ago. I also thought of a high flow sponge brigade, or an army of TRIDACNIDS.

 

[user 2204]

The thing that i like most about it is that the xenia tells you when you need a water change. I have never been one to test water which i would never recommend.

I can attest to that. Xenia as with some other corals will tell you what is up with your system if you learn how to read the corals. If that makes any sense, guess it's getting late.

 

[ReefLogic]

Yes tried it and it works.....all systems in the future will have one

Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk

 

[steven11]

Reeflogic - what kind did you use.