I need help!!!!! Someone has to know!!!

[DerekRBarnes]

OK, heres the story line....

4 Months ago:
Set up my new 150gal reef tank with 60 gal sump and 80gal refugium, My dream tank. Spent countless hours setting up my rocks welding them together to give me perfect arches that would lay a great foundation to place my future frags on (rocks are welded together, this is good info to keep in mind). I waited for perfect water conditions!

2.5 Months ago:
After water quality was met and things were starting to look up i started adding my coral including many LPS, SPS, and many softies. Some include my 16" square monti, Open brain the size of a bascket ball and my acro the size of a football. I also decided to add a frag of pulsing xenia(the plot thickens) i hate this S*** however my wife LOVES it, so sense she spent weeks going to bed alone while i wasted away setting up my tank i figured i would indulge her wishes.

1 Month ago:
The tank looks AWESOME, with the exceptions of Xenia taking over the largest support rock in my tank that holds up everything!!! It cannot under any surrcomstances be removed unless the tank is replaced, these rocks are welded together with a cement compound that is stronger than the rock itself. So i decided it was time to get mean with the Xenia, i pulled it, i brushed it i cut and i yelled curse words at it (alot). It refuses to subside infact it seems to be laughing at me as it continues to grow! i continued to push through and keep trying however it has now come to close to important corals, it has already claimed the lives of two coral in the last month.

Today!!!!!
I decided its WAR!!!!! i need to kill it!!!! i dont want to frag it, i dont want to save it i want to KILL it. Yes even if you were my best friend and lived on my street i would still rather kill it than give it away!!! so this being said i started some reasearch on my local forum as well as on RC however i have seen alot of inconclusive comments as to how to rectify this issue. heres what i have so far.....

1. Pickeling Lime mixed to a thick consistancy that can still travel through a suringe.
- Will this cause a PH spike in the rest of my tank, causing mass causualties as this has happened to me in the past?
- If not how much can be injected/dosed prior to it becoming an apocalyps (it is 2012)

2. 1.2w or 2w Laser Shot directly at it will inturn kill it for good.
- Does it work? lots of people in the hobby seem to have tried it with aptasia however i have yet to see any hard physical first person evidence that it worked to kill Xenia?
-They are expensive, anyone know if theres an inexpensive one on the market?

3. Fluke tablets, this seems to be popular and has alot of conclusive data that yes it will kill the Xenia. However i also see alot of people that are only dipping, not doesing the entire tank, again i can not remove the rocks.
- I understand fluke tablets will kill Xenia, leather, GSP's and aptasia, however what else will they kill??? if they kill numerous softies will they effect my open brain (its my baby, even when i have a kid it will come first )
- Can i dose the whole tank with out major reprocutions, will i need to run carbon?
-Is there anyone who has done this, first hand and come out with a living tank?


4. Aptasia X/ Joe's Juice, both seem to work similarly and i have seen a few articles where people have used it before.
-What i have read is veuge and has very little information, manufactures do not specify this as a use either.
-How much can be dosed on the Xenia before you send the whole tank to death row???
-what else will trace amount of this kill, on both website it says "coral safe" this emphysis to me that it may not even effect the Xenia, wouldent their packaging specify this a a possible out come if it does infact kill it?

Over View:
Cursing does nothing but scare the dog!!! i need some help here before it gets to the point of no return and the xeina start commiting hate crimes toward my zoas

[platylover]

Get a Majano Wand and vaporize them

[bmooney31]

I had the same issue and used kalk paste to kill it and what was left I said heck with it and took reef epoxy putty, and covered it up. It looks ugly for a bit but coralline will grow on it eventually. I wonder if you could find a fish that would eat it? That stuff is the devil. It took me awhile to get it all killed. Good luck

[3Watt]

I hate that stuff. Pulsing Xenia took over my first reef, it was in obvious cahoots with the GSP.

Out of all the options I read in your lengthy post I would try the kalk paste. I'd do a very small area every other day or so and run carbon. Maybe do a few extra water changes as well. No matter what you decide you gotta remember that dying coral leaves nasty's behind.

[DerekRBarnes]

Originally Posted by platylover

Get a Majano Wand and vaporize them

The wand looks pretty cool, have you used it on xenia before? what type? did it work well??

[DerekRBarnes]

Yea Its deffinetly close with the devils right hand, it sucks. Did the kalk work pretty well or was it more of a deturent?

[Metal Man 1221]

Try reducing the photo period and try to get the water very clean. No simple task considering it is the primary reason we spend so much darn time and money on this hobby.

Xenia thrives in "dirty" nutrient rich water, limiting its food source will at least slow its growth. Filter socks, wet skimming, lots of water changes, and reduced feeding will reduce the amount of suspended particles in the water column.

Kalkpaste (lime mixed to a thick consistency) is almost just like aptasia-x. I've used it on a few tanks with no negative effects. Possibly try cutting as much off as possible, and kill the remaining tissue with kalkpaste. Let the paste sit on the treated areas for 15-20 minuets. You can let it sit longer if you want to be absolutely sure. Just make sure you have NO flow in the tank when applying it. When it comes time to remove it all, just have a water change prepared and simply siphon off the rocks. Repeat treatment as necessary.

I'm sure others will chime in (as they already have lol), but I think this would be a good place to start.

[DerekRBarnes]

Originally Posted by platylover

Get a Majano Wand and vaporize them

Originally Posted by Metal Man 1221

Try reducing the photo period and try to get the water very clean. No simple task considering it is the primary reason we spend so much darn time and money on this hobby.

Xenia thrives in "dirty" nutrient rich water, limiting its food source will at least slow its growth. Filter socks, wet skimming, lots of water changes, and reduced feeding will reduce the amount of suspended particles in the water column.

Kalkpaste (lime mixed to a thick consistency) is almost just like aptasia-x. I've used it on a few tanks with no negative effects. Possibly try cutting as much off as possible, and kill the remaining tissue with kalkpaste. Let the paste sit on the treated areas for 15-20 minuets. You can let it sit longer if you want to be absolutely sure. Just make sure you have NO flow in the tank when applying it. When it comes time to remove it all, just have a water change prepared and simply siphon off the rocks. Repeat treatment as necessary.

I'm sure others will chime in (as they already have lol), but I think this would be a good place to start.

This seems to be the most popular cure all for the issue between both forums, Unfortuantly you are right Xenia thrives in water that contains higher levels of suspended particles, however i have sponges and filter feeders only throughout the tank so the water has to maintain a level at which it can support them. Not saying that may be the best way but i auto feed phyto three times daily and eveything is thriving with it (including Xenia)

I like the idea of sucking it off rather than letting it stay in the water colum, however i may have misunderstood but do you vacume it off immediatly after your 20 min soaking? whats the time period before you should try this, i have a feeling i could only safely shut down all water flow for 1hr max, as my sump pump runs many of my power heads so all circulation would be down for any period of time i wish to elimate water current.

On a diffrent subject i like the comment on below you post!!

[Metal Man 1221]

IMHO you should stop dosing phyto. Most corals do not eat it and it gets left to break down or be consumed by filter feeders (which will establish themselves long term any way). Dosing phyto is a good way to crud up water quality pretty quickly.

Just my experience and $0.02

To answer your question. Yes, you will want to siphon it off the rocks as soon as it has treated. You system will be fine with ZERO flow in the mean time. I really have to push this because it is vital to achieve optimal results.

On a diffrent subject i like the comment on below you post!!

Are you referring to my signature?

[DerekRBarnes]

I will cut it back, I have not had any problems yeat as i run a very heavy filration but i would agree it probably a little exsesive.

Do you vacume the contents up immediatly after your treatment?

[3Watt]

Originally Posted by DerekRBarnes

Yea Its deffinetly close with the devils right hand, it sucks. Did the kalk work pretty well or was it more of a deturent?

I've never tried it. Just seemed like the best option.

The wand would be definitely more fun.

[Metal Man 1221]

Originally Posted by DerekRBarnes

I will cut it back, I have not had any problems yeat as i run a very heavy filration but i would agree it probably a little exsesive.

Do you vacume the contents up immediatly after your treatment?

Yes, After letting the kalkpaste sit for your desired time, siphon as much off the rocks as you can. The Kalkpaste will come off easy, but the remaining xenia tissue may kinda stick, so you may have to get a tooth brush and scrub it a bit.

Do this as often as you do water changes (or even more frequently) until it is gone.

[DerekRBarnes]

Originally Posted by Metal Man 1221

Yes, After letting the kalkpaste sit for your desired time, siphon as much off the rocks as you can. The Kalkpaste will come off easy, but the remaining xenia tissue may kinda stick, so you may have to get a tooth brush and scrub it a bit.

Do this as often as you do water changes (or even more frequently) until it is gone.

Ok, Thats what ill do, If that does not work i will buy the laser.... it looks a sweet toy!

Still open to other ideas in the event this does not work out.

Thanks Metal Man!

[Metal Man 1221]

NP

Hope it works out for you.