Keeping Xenia Alive
- Thread starter dawgface
- Start date
I can't get rid of it!!! But I can't grow cheato.
Xenia seems to like a bit of nutrient in the water (something we work hard against).
I had the worst time keeping it in the shop for the longest time - then I was given some that seems to have adapted to "cleaner" water and it does well enough to propagate.
It does not do well in shipping, as Barbara mentioned. Could also be due to temperature swings (in transit) - it's usually the first thing to crash if the tank temp gets too hot or too cold.
Some of the most prolific Xenia in tanks I've seen is where there's more nitrate than one would consider acceptable. Could be coincidence, but methinks not.
Jenn
I had the worst time keeping it in the shop for the longest time - then I was given some that seems to have adapted to "cleaner" water and it does well enough to propagate.
It does not do well in shipping, as Barbara mentioned. Could also be due to temperature swings (in transit) - it's usually the first thing to crash if the tank temp gets too hot or too cold.
Some of the most prolific Xenia in tanks I've seen is where there's more nitrate than one would consider acceptable. Could be coincidence, but methinks not.
Jenn
As mentioned, Xenia seems to be one of those things that either evaporates or explodes in a tank. There's little middle ground. I picked up some like 2 months ago and it has easily increased 5x in size/quantity (if not more) by now.
And this weekend I picked up some GSP to go with it. LOL..
And this weekend I picked up some GSP to go with it. LOL..
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I can't keep it either. I've been told it's a combination of high temperature, clean water and pH. I think I've got all but clean water taken care of and may try it again.
I think there is a similar issue with flower pot corals.
I think there is a similar issue with flower pot corals.
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I'm one of those that can't get rid of it. I've got some left in my old 20 gallon system that I've neglected since my upgrade, and it's doing great, unfortunately. At one point the stuff had spread so much that I considered tearing everything down. I absolutely despise the stuff.
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I love the movement it adds to the tank. I had it in my 12 NC, but I'm not gonna chance it in my 180. No desire to try trimming it in that tank and having it end up where I dont want it.
I'm in a weird kind of limbo. It's happy in my tank, but not spreading. Best of both worlds?
My maroon clown loves to sleep in it. It's so cute.
As far as my tank goes, my lights are so-so (PC), my parameters are probably not the awesomest (ie nitrate a little higher than optimal).... but I'm doing much better with water changes than I used to once upon a time. Maybe I found the happy medium for xenia.
My maroon clown loves to sleep in it. It's so cute.
As far as my tank goes, my lights are so-so (PC), my parameters are probably not the awesomest (ie nitrate a little higher than optimal).... but I'm doing much better with water changes than I used to once upon a time. Maybe I found the happy medium for xenia.
I can't keep it. It all disappeared as soon as I went to an algae scrubber. I do miss the movement in my tank.
I can grow this stuff in my sump...lol, but I have clean water, tons of water movement and stable temp...IDK. Its one of those starter corals IMO once you get into the SPS and LPS and some of the nicer softies you will want to get it out of the tank. At least thats what I did when I redid my tank from mostly softies to all SPS and a few LPS.
I have 2 75 pound rocks that I purchased off a member that was breaking down his tank when I first got into the hobby. When I bought from him my tank was in the process of cycling (may have got the LR too soon). On one of the rocks was a colony of xenia that he said wouldn't survive the communite much less the dechlorinated hose water i started out with (yes I do have a RODI unit now). Long story short, they spread and grew QUICK! Funny how they can be so hardy in some tanks and not in others.
