removing xenia from rock

Mazzy · 05/28/2007, 07:48 AM

A week ago Sat. I purchased a xenia and put it in a holding tank (I've been a little lazy about getting the main display up and running). It was on a pc. of rubble rock already and I placed it on top of a pc. of LR in the holding tank just to give it a stronger current postition while it waits to go into the main tank.
I didn't expect it to attach to the holding tank rock so fast!! Now I need to get it off of there. Should I just chip the LR that it's attached to off (it's only attached to about 1/2" right now) or am I supposed to cut it off??

I was not planning on having to deal with cutting any corals until well after my actual tank was set up and running and I had some experience so I'm a little freaked about the second possiblility.

PS - the holding tank has been running for a long time; know I shouldn't buy corals before I'm ready for them; just got the bug and the holding tank is a fully functioning, cycled, tank so I went for it.

Henry Bowman · 05/28/2007, 07:54 AM

You can cut xenia without a problem. It will retract for a day or two and then come right back. Your holding tank must be doin allright for the xenia to grow so quick !

Mazzy · 05/28/2007, 03:54 PM

Am I supposed to try to keep it submerged during cutting?? I tried to check out just how much was attached a bit ago and it's probably more like 1/4" but it sure is stuck good. It's pretty slimey and gross feeling really.

Damsel13 · 05/28/2007, 04:08 PM

Xenia = slimey and gross

Mazzy · 05/28/2007, 04:17 PM

yeah, thanks for the heads up

zma21 · 05/28/2007, 04:33 PM

If it grows that fast, do you really want to put that pest in your display tank that you'll have to prune weekly?

Mazzy · 05/28/2007, 04:52 PM

True. But it didn't grow THAT much. Like I said, I was probably overestimating with the 1/2" and it's more like 1/4" growth. Maybe it doesn't seem so bad right now cuz it's just little - it's only a frag, albeit a semi large frag, still not very big.

It was more of a "can I really keep a coral alive" kinda purchase (along with just wanting to see something besides "bugs" in the tank). I heard they were easy to keep so I figure if I can't even keep a xenia healthy what hope is there for my success in this hobby.

Hopefully it's not one of those last ditch efforts to try to survive before it perishes kinda things and it actually keeps growing.
If it grows super fast then I guess I'll just give frags away. It also will give me a chance to learn how to frag if I can keep it healthy. And I do like watching it "grab at the water"

zma21 · 05/28/2007, 04:54 PM

Xenia are not exactly easy to keep. It's not uncommon to have success with them, but some people could keep every rare coral in the world only to have their xenia frag melt.

Henry Bowman · 05/28/2007, 07:35 PM

You can cut it in the tank with a razor-blade. It willaslo survive if taken out of the water for 3-4 minutes while cutting also.

Napervegas · 05/28/2007, 07:44 PM

Every once in awhile I accidentally whack mine with the scaper, then a few weeks later it starts popping up everywhere.

kb0vhy · 05/28/2007, 09:06 PM

They smell really strong!! But you can just grab them and yank them off the rock!! And then just wedge them somewhere and they will attach, I do it all the time, havnt lost one yet..............

Mazzy · 05/28/2007, 09:15 PM

Thanks for the tip. That's a little violent for me

plus the squishiness issue is enough for me not to want to hold it any tighter than I have to. Just looking at it to see how much was attached was creeping me out

feels like something inside the body. I will be investing in gloves prior to having a whole full tank of corals

zma21 · 05/28/2007, 09:16 PM

The weeds of the ocean...

05/28/2007, 07:48 AM	#1
Mazzy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Michigan! GO BLUE!! Posts: 172	removing xenia from rock A week ago Sat. I purchased a xenia and put it in a holding tank (I've been a little lazy about getting the main display up and running). It was on a pc. of rubble rock already and I placed it on top of a pc. of LR in the holding tank just to give it a stronger current postition while it waits to go into the main tank. I didn't expect it to attach to the holding tank rock so fast!! Now I need to get it off of there. Should I just chip the LR that it's attached to off (it's only attached to about 1/2" right now) or am I supposed to cut it off?? I was not planning on having to deal with cutting any corals until well after my actual tank was set up and running and I had some experience so I'm a little freaked about the second possiblility. PS - the holding tank has been running for a long time; know I shouldn't buy corals before I'm ready for them; just got the bug and the holding tank is a fully functioning, cycled, tank so I went for it.

05/28/2007, 07:54 AM	#2
Henry Bowman Reefing since '87 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Allegheny Mountains of VA Posts: 2,162	You can cut xenia without a problem. It will retract for a day or two and then come right back. Your holding tank must be doin allright for the xenia to grow so quick ! __________________ Have a good'un Current Tank Info: 90 gl SPS dominant / upgrade in the works

05/28/2007, 04:08 PM	#4
Damsel13 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Costa Mesa, Ca Posts: 48	Xenia = slimey and gross __________________ Deb Current Tank Info: 55 gal. live rock and a few fish

05/28/2007, 04:33 PM	#6
zma21 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NOLA Posts: 1,453	If it grows that fast, do you really want to put that pest in your display tank that you'll have to prune weekly? __________________ SCA 50 Starfire: In Progress Current Tank Info: 20 High -> 40 Cube -> Nanocube 12 DX -> 25 Gallon Rimless -> 10 Gallon AGA Temporary Tank -> JBJ 24 LED -> SCA Starfire 50 Cube

05/28/2007, 04:54 PM	#8
zma21 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NOLA Posts: 1,453	Xenia are not exactly easy to keep. It's not uncommon to have success with them, but some people could keep every rare coral in the world only to have their xenia frag melt. __________________ SCA 50 Starfire: In Progress Current Tank Info: 20 High -> 40 Cube -> Nanocube 12 DX -> 25 Gallon Rimless -> 10 Gallon AGA Temporary Tank -> JBJ 24 LED -> SCA Starfire 50 Cube

05/28/2007, 03:54 PM	#3
Mazzy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Michigan! GO BLUE!! Posts: 172	Am I supposed to try to keep it submerged during cutting?? I tried to check out just how much was attached a bit ago and it's probably more like 1/4" but it sure is stuck good. It's pretty slimey and gross feeling really.

05/28/2007, 04:17 PM	#5
Mazzy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Michigan! GO BLUE!! Posts: 172	yeah, thanks for the heads up

05/28/2007, 04:52 PM	#7
Mazzy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Michigan! GO BLUE!! Posts: 172	True. But it didn't grow THAT much. Like I said, I was probably overestimating with the 1/2" and it's more like 1/4" growth. Maybe it doesn't seem so bad right now cuz it's just little - it's only a frag, albeit a semi large frag, still not very big. It was more of a "can I really keep a coral alive" kinda purchase (along with just wanting to see something besides "bugs" in the tank). I heard they were easy to keep so I figure if I can't even keep a xenia healthy what hope is there for my success in this hobby. Hopefully it's not one of those last ditch efforts to try to survive before it perishes kinda things and it actually keeps growing. If it grows super fast then I guess I'll just give frags away. It also will give me a chance to learn how to frag if I can keep it healthy. And I do like watching it "grab at the water"

05/28/2007, 07:35 PM	#9
Henry Bowman Reefing since '87 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Allegheny Mountains of VA Posts: 2,162	You can cut it in the tank with a razor-blade. It willaslo survive if taken out of the water for 3-4 minutes while cutting also. __________________ Have a good'un Current Tank Info: 90 gl SPS dominant / upgrade in the works

05/28/2007, 07:44 PM	#10
Napervegas Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Naperville Posts: 225	Every once in awhile I accidentally whack mine with the scaper, then a few weeks later it starts popping up everywhere. __________________ Caution, driver does not carry any corals or inverts...just cash... Current Tank Info: 90 G mixed reef

05/28/2007, 09:06 PM	#11
kb0vhy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 209	They smell really strong!! But you can just grab them and yank them off the rock!! And then just wedge them somewhere and they will attach, I do it all the time, havnt lost one yet.............. __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 75 D.A.S. Reef, 55 gallon Goldfish Bowl (Wifes Tank)

05/28/2007, 09:15 PM	#12
Mazzy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Michigan! GO BLUE!! Posts: 172	Thanks for the tip. That's a little violent for me plus the squishiness issue is enough for me not to want to hold it any tighter than I have to. Just looking at it to see how much was attached was creeping me out feels like something inside the body. I will be investing in gloves prior to having a whole full tank of corals

05/28/2007, 09:16 PM	#13
zma21 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NOLA Posts: 1,453	The weeds of the ocean... __________________ SCA 50 Starfire: In Progress Current Tank Info: 20 High -> 40 Cube -> Nanocube 12 DX -> 25 Gallon Rimless -> 10 Gallon AGA Temporary Tank -> JBJ 24 LED -> SCA Starfire 50 Cube