Cheap Xenia Prop. System... Opinions?
 

I'm getting ready to set up a cheap Xenia propagation system, and am wondering what others have experienced when atempting something similar.

The Plan is:

20 Gallon Long Aquarium (Shorter Tank to maximize light)
Bare Bottom
A Shelf for the Zenia no more than 6" below the surface.
Something along the lines of a Hydor Koralia 2 for flow.
Small Power Filter for occasional Carbon and Media usage as needed.
Auto Top Off to keep Salinity stable.

Now the big question is lighting. I have a PC fixture, but would like to do something else to avoid high bulb replacement expense.

Has anyone tried growing xenia under the 6700k 18w Compact Florescent Spot Lights (aka 'Fuge Bullbs) in a clip on dome reflector? They are rated to be equivilant to 65w and to my eyes where at least as bright as a standard 65w PC Bulb.

They are cheap to replace, and to run. Would 2 or 3 of these, equal to roughly 130-195 watts grow Xenia?

The other option would be PC or possibly a low end 2 Bulb T5 setup for a much greater price tag.

I've read about people growing xenia in their fuges to feed off excess nutrients. Maybe your lights will be good enough.

I had a pc light on my 55 gal frag tank and I started with 3 stalks of xenia's when I moved in to a larger system I had over 100 stalks and that wa in less than a year. My point is xenias do very well under pc lights. At least that was my experience.

Lay rubble all along the bottom of the tank. You'll never have to frag again...the xenia will do it for you.

yup. lighting should be enough.

You could use those daylight deluxe bulbs from HD.There cheap, inexpensive,and have a color temp of 65k.

Also keep in my mind the majority of people that I know that have grown xenia in the past,did it with great results.Meaning,when it starts growing,its going to be like a weed.I actually had a friend that threw a very very large colony in the garbage because he couldnt give it away anymore.

That light should work fine. I don't know that you need to build a shelf. Like mentioned above, toss in LR Rubble and some Xenia stalks then just start cutting and selling (giving away) the stuff later on.

Lights are fine. Again, be sure to line the entire tank with rubble and put the xenia in the middle and it will grow exponentially. I used to dose with Lugol's Iodine, but water changes on a tank that small will be just fine. Have fun with it!

Thanks for the info all.

Went with the 2x PC Spotlight bulbs 6500k from HomeDepot, looks nice and bright so and a pretty high rock shelves along the back of the tank which I'll be pilling rubble on, then adding several types of Xenia and Anthellia, then some Sarcophytons along the bottom of the tank.

Just have to hook up the ATO, add the corals, and watch the fun.

If anyone is interested, I can post a build thread later on.