Too much Xenia - Help me frag!!!

pezcubano · 03/26/2008, 03:14 PM

The xenia has basically taken over 1/3 of my 75G reef. Its all over the LR and is covering the light from one of my MH and getting in the way of the other corals that are trying to grow. The xenia has multiplied to 15x the size it was when I introduced it!!!
I'm planning to trade it in to my LFS. How can I remove it from the LR?
Thanks!!

sufunk · 03/26/2008, 03:33 PM

I had the same in my 36g and would just use a small pair of sharp scissors and cut them off as close to the base as i could. I'd have the frags to trade in and the little bit of tisue left on the rock would eventually grow back into more xenia.

pezcubano · 03/26/2008, 03:42 PM

Thanks for the tip...
My pompom xenia has grown a lot, but its still under control and it doesn't take up nearly as much space as the silver branch xenia that I'm planning to remove.
Incredible how fast this stuff grows. I'm at the point where I have to mount new corals on extra tall plugs so that when I insert them close to the xenia I know they will be relatively safe from rubbing up on the xenia.

rmw4547 · 03/26/2008, 03:44 PM

If you can get a grip on it you can peel it off the rock.

pezcubano · 03/26/2008, 04:02 PM

The stalks on these Xenias are so big that I think I might be able to get a grip. I'll give it a shot first, and if it doesn't work out just slice and dice with a razor blade

fuschia_red · 03/26/2008, 04:21 PM

Wow...I wish I had your guys' problem. I've spent over $100 in xenia (pom pom, blue, waving hand, pulsing, etc.) and I have yet to have one live beyond two weeks.

jackets22 · 03/26/2008, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fuschia_red
Wow...I wish I had your guys' problem. I've spent over $100 in xenia (pom pom, blue, waving hand, pulsing, etc.) and I have yet to have one live beyond two weeks.

I just spent an hour fragging mine off of the main rock formation. To afraid that it is going to take over. It has split 3 times in 3 weeks and growing like a weed.

Stick a toothpick thru the base then cut below that then you can rubberband the toothpick to rubble and then you can sell it.

ahullsb · 03/26/2008, 06:38 PM

If it is large enough you should be able to scrape it from the rock. But xenia is fairly slippery. If it is bad enough, just trade the xenia with the rock attached. If you don't it will come back eventually anyway. Does it look like this?

I had to get rid of the rocks on the left side of the tank

exoticaquatix · 03/26/2008, 10:52 PM

i use a razor blade to cut it off at the base. the stump regrows, usually bigger than the original. i have stalks about as big as the palm of my hand at the base. I prob get about $100 in credit every month or 2 just on xenia. no complaints about that, they are however shading some of my acros which is a big pain.

im also pretty sure they are part of the reason my Nitrates are zero in a crowded tank. when my stocking density was lower they didnt grow much at all.

-nick

Kootch · 03/27/2008, 01:12 PM

I just moved a bunch of xenia in my tank.
I had no trouble peeling it off of the rocks without leaving any pieces behind.
I used a razor blade to scrape under the xenia to get it started then just pulled it gently until the whole stalk came off the rock. It was very easy.
Then I threaded a needle with fishing line, pierced through the bottom of the stalks and tied them to seperate pieces of rubble until they attach themselves.

downhillbiker · 03/27/2008, 02:03 PM

pezcubano: did you take care of you xenia problem? how did it go? what solution did you use?

Kep · 03/27/2008, 02:23 PM

After you cut them and want to make sure they don't grow back in that area, cover the remaining tissue with kalkpaste. Fries the tissue right off. I used this technique to completely rid my overgrowing xenia. That stuff gets everywhere! :S

Gdevine · 03/27/2008, 04:17 PM

If you want to kill off your Xenia just drop a Fluke Tab into your tank then be prepared to syphon out the dead Xenia. However, you'll never be able to grow Xenia in the tank.

pezcubano · 03/30/2008, 06:04 PM

Ahullsb - That's exactly what it looks like, only mine has also gotten along the top of my rockwork and since xenia always grows towards the light, it tries to claim as much shelf space along the top as possible. Today I took out the pieces that were towards the front of the tank.

So I tried being gentle and tugging the Xenia off the rock, but it wasn't having any of it.
The stalk I was peeling off was HUGE, so I had a good grip, but it got so slimy after I started handling it that I couldn't keep my grip. I took a razor blade and and tried scraping it off the rock, but eventually I just wound up cutting it along the base. It shrivelled up immediately, but by the time I got to my lfs it was already opening up again and pulsing. There's plenty of tissue still on the rock, and I'm interested in watching it come back. At least I've claimed back some tank space!!

ExoticAquatix - My nitrates have never been detectable and I'd be willing to bet my overcrowded Xenia have something to do with it.

pezcubano · 03/30/2008, 06:06 PM

One more thing...
Does cutting Xenia in the tank release any chemicals that I'm not aware of? Leathers release some pretty vile stuff when they die (so I've been told) and I also heard that Xenia might do the same. Thanks for all the responses...

Bri Guy · 03/30/2008, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gdevine
If you want to kill off your Xenia just drop a Fluke Tab into your tank then be prepared to syphon out the dead Xenia. However, you'll never be able to grow Xenia in the tank.

What else does it kill!!!!

Imanz0 · 03/30/2008, 07:05 PM

WOW, once i saw that amazing pic, i got to ask you guys this. Ok, so i went to the shop to go see how much it would be for corals, so then the guys like you can pick any of these, and then you need this, this, that, this, and finaly this. So then, im like, ok so i just drop this on the top of my tank or mix with water, and he tells me no, you get a turkey baser, and you spray it gently on the coral. So you guys take the time and put it on every single one of your corals?

Imanz0 · 03/30/2008, 10:02 PM

anyone know the problem to this?

smoothdog · 03/30/2008, 10:45 PM

I just let mother nature take it's course to frag my xenia. I'll get a few 2-3" pieces of LR rubble from the LFS and place them so that they rub up against the larger stalks. The xenia will then form a foot at the point where it rubs and split. No muss no fuss no razor blades and no slime!

It does take a little longer this way but it's soooo much easier.

slumpysix · 03/31/2008, 04:27 PM

I used to think it was cool....

I just cut it back and it just grows back. My clowns host in it so I can't get rid of their home. Sometimes when I go into clip some they get p'ssd and go after my fingers... kinda funny

fuschia_red · 03/31/2008, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ahullsb
If it is large enough you should be able to scrape it from the rock. But xenia is fairly slippery. If it is bad enough, just trade the xenia with the rock attached. If you don't it will come back eventually anyway. Does it look like this? I had to get rid of the rocks on the left side of the tank

ahull,

Wow! Shoot some of those my way. I live in the Sac area too.

Sheol · 03/31/2008, 05:47 PM

I had this problem during my tank's first year and a half. No longer though, after dominating the top tier of the rockwork, the Xenia got into a war. With my Rhodactis Sp. mushrooms. One stalked remain when I did my last ( 2 mile only) move. And that quickly melted. Now the mushrooms are taking over. I wish the Xenia was back, at least it didn't kill hard corals!

Matthew

pezcubano · 03/31/2008, 08:08 PM

I like smoothdog's method. I had a piece that over time split itself over two rocks. Getting the foot off the rocks once was cake once it had spread out over 2 rocks

briangg57 · 03/31/2008, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rmw4547
If you can get a grip on it you can peel it off the rock.

Yes, this way works great, just peal it off. If you snip it, it will just grow back. I like it, but it is just like a pretty weed.

pezcubano · 04/04/2008, 06:07 PM

Yeah, the tissue I left behind has some growth starting up already. Its incredible how quickly it comes back. At least the corals underneath it have some light shining on them now!!

03/26/2008, 03:14 PM	#1
pezcubano Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Miami Posts: 416	Too much Xenia - Help me frag!!! The xenia has basically taken over 1/3 of my 75G reef. Its all over the LR and is covering the light from one of my MH and getting in the way of the other corals that are trying to grow. The xenia has multiplied to 15x the size it was when I introduced it!!! I'm planning to trade it in to my LFS. How can I remove it from the LR? Thanks!!

03/26/2008, 03:33 PM	#2
sufunk Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Davie, Florida Posts: 2,004	I had the same in my 36g and would just use a small pair of sharp scissors and cut them off as close to the base as i could. I'd have the frags to trade in and the little bit of tisue left on the rock would eventually grow back into more xenia. __________________ Florida President of J.S.S.J (Jessica Simpson is a Shemale Jinx!!!) Current Tank Info: 36g reef and 180g reef, 3x250w Phoenix 14k MH's and 8x39w T-5's, 2 Tunze 6100's with 7095 controller, 2 Koralia 3's, ASM-G3 skimmer, mag-12 return, eco systems sump/fuge

03/26/2008, 06:38 PM	#8
ahullsb Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: sacramento, ca Posts: 2,729	If it is large enough you should be able to scrape it from the rock. But xenia is fairly slippery. If it is bad enough, just trade the xenia with the rock attached. If you don't it will come back eventually anyway. Does it look like this? I had to get rid of the rocks on the left side of the tank __________________ Andy Sacramento, CA Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef w/20 gallon sump/ER135/ 75 pounds of live rock, 4 in sandbed, 2 b&w ocellaris clowns, yellow watchman/pistol, rosy scaled wrasse, Mystery wrasse, Copperbanded Butterfly, Lighting 48" outer orbit 2 150 mh/ 4 t5 actinics

03/26/2008, 10:52 PM	#9
exoticaquatix Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: baltimore, MD Posts: 536	i use a razor blade to cut it off at the base. the stump regrows, usually bigger than the original. i have stalks about as big as the palm of my hand at the base. I prob get about $100 in credit every month or 2 just on xenia. no complaints about that, they are however shading some of my acros which is a big pain. im also pretty sure they are part of the reason my Nitrates are zero in a crowded tank. when my stocking density was lower they didnt grow much at all. -nick __________________ This dude either has two glass eyes or he's wearing his patch on the wrong sa-sa-sa-side. -Aesop Current Tank Info: 120gal 500w MH 10K XMs 30g sump, MSX-200 skimmer, vortech MP40w and Tunze nanostreams; 9 gal, 29gal FW planted tanks

03/27/2008, 02:03 PM	#11
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	pezcubano: did you take care of you xenia problem? how did it go? what solution did you use? __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

03/26/2008, 03:42 PM	#3
pezcubano Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Miami Posts: 416	Thanks for the tip... My pompom xenia has grown a lot, but its still under control and it doesn't take up nearly as much space as the silver branch xenia that I'm planning to remove. Incredible how fast this stuff grows. I'm at the point where I have to mount new corals on extra tall plugs so that when I insert them close to the xenia I know they will be relatively safe from rubbing up on the xenia.

03/26/2008, 03:44 PM	#4
rmw4547 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: ny Posts: 119	If you can get a grip on it you can peel it off the rock.

03/26/2008, 04:02 PM	#5
pezcubano Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Miami Posts: 416	The stalks on these Xenias are so big that I think I might be able to get a grip. I'll give it a shot first, and if it doesn't work out just slice and dice with a razor blade

03/26/2008, 04:21 PM	#6
fuschia_red Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 471	Wow...I wish I had your guys' problem. I've spent over $100 in xenia (pom pom, blue, waving hand, pulsing, etc.) and I have yet to have one live beyond two weeks.

03/27/2008, 01:12 PM	#10
Kootch Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Burlington, CT Posts: 56	I just moved a bunch of xenia in my tank. I had no trouble peeling it off of the rocks without leaving any pieces behind. I used a razor blade to scrape under the xenia to get it started then just pulled it gently until the whole stalk came off the rock. It was very easy. Then I threaded a needle with fishing line, pierced through the bottom of the stalks and tied them to seperate pieces of rubble until they attach themselves.

03/27/2008, 02:23 PM	#12
Kep Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 225	After you cut them and want to make sure they don't grow back in that area, cover the remaining tissue with kalkpaste. Fries the tissue right off. I used this technique to completely rid my overgrowing xenia. That stuff gets everywhere! :S

03/27/2008, 04:17 PM	#13
Gdevine Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pompano Beach, FL Posts: 1,232	If you want to kill off your Xenia just drop a Fluke Tab into your tank then be prepared to syphon out the dead Xenia. However, you'll never be able to grow Xenia in the tank. __________________ What's good having a monkey if you can't play with it? Current Tank Info: 65g Mixed Reef - 35g Fuge - EcoSystem Method

03/30/2008, 06:04 PM	#14
pezcubano Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Miami Posts: 416	Ahullsb - That's exactly what it looks like, only mine has also gotten along the top of my rockwork and since xenia always grows towards the light, it tries to claim as much shelf space along the top as possible. Today I took out the pieces that were towards the front of the tank. So I tried being gentle and tugging the Xenia off the rock, but it wasn't having any of it. The stalk I was peeling off was HUGE, so I had a good grip, but it got so slimy after I started handling it that I couldn't keep my grip. I took a razor blade and and tried scraping it off the rock, but eventually I just wound up cutting it along the base. It shrivelled up immediately, but by the time I got to my lfs it was already opening up again and pulsing. There's plenty of tissue still on the rock, and I'm interested in watching it come back. At least I've claimed back some tank space!! ExoticAquatix - My nitrates have never been detectable and I'd be willing to bet my overcrowded Xenia have something to do with it.

03/30/2008, 06:06 PM	#15
pezcubano Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Miami Posts: 416	One more thing... Does cutting Xenia in the tank release any chemicals that I'm not aware of? Leathers release some pretty vile stuff when they die (so I've been told) and I also heard that Xenia might do the same. Thanks for all the responses...

03/30/2008, 07:05 PM	#17
Imanz0 Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 404	WOW, once i saw that amazing pic, i got to ask you guys this. Ok, so i went to the shop to go see how much it would be for corals, so then the guys like you can pick any of these, and then you need this, this, that, this, and finaly this. So then, im like, ok so i just drop this on the top of my tank or mix with water, and he tells me no, you get a turkey baser, and you spray it gently on the coral. So you guys take the time and put it on every single one of your corals?

03/30/2008, 10:02 PM	#18
Imanz0 Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 404	anyone know the problem to this?

03/30/2008, 10:45 PM	#19
smoothdog Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: St. Charles, MO Posts: 4,916	I just let mother nature take it's course to frag my xenia. I'll get a few 2-3" pieces of LR rubble from the LFS and place them so that they rub up against the larger stalks. The xenia will then form a foot at the point where it rubs and split. No muss no fuss no razor blades and no slime! It does take a little longer this way but it's soooo much easier.

03/31/2008, 04:27 PM	#20
slumpysix Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 837	I used to think it was cool.... I just cut it back and it just grows back. My clowns host in it so I can't get rid of their home. Sometimes when I go into clip some they get p'ssd and go after my fingers... kinda funny

03/31/2008, 05:47 PM	#22
Sheol Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Waxahachie, Tx. Posts: 3,610	I had this problem during my tank's first year and a half. No longer though, after dominating the top tier of the rockwork, the Xenia got into a war. With my Rhodactis Sp. mushrooms. One stalked remain when I did my last ( 2 mile only) move. And that quickly melted. Now the mushrooms are taking over. I wish the Xenia was back, at least it didn't kill hard corals! Matthew

03/31/2008, 08:08 PM	#23
pezcubano Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Miami Posts: 416	I like smoothdog's method. I had a piece that over time split itself over two rocks. Getting the foot off the rocks once was cake once it had spread out over 2 rocks

04/04/2008, 06:07 PM	#25
pezcubano Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Miami Posts: 416	Yeah, the tissue I left behind has some growth starting up already. Its incredible how quickly it comes back. At least the corals underneath it have some light shining on them now!!