Xenia replaces macroalgae in export of nutrients

[Gary Majchrzak]

I removed the good majority of my DSB and the macroalgae (Chaetomorpha/Caulurpa) mix in my 'fuge crashed shortly thereafter (due to a lack of nutrients). I turned the lights out over the refugium.
Ever since that day my Xenia in the main tank have taken off growing faster and stronger.
I'm convinced that Xenia have taken the place of macroalge in the role of nutrient export in my system. (FWIW!)

[Guy]

I have always recommended Xenia for nutrient export (on other sites) for those that are space impared. It actually has more nutrients/ounce than Macro but requires significanly more light.

[Stoller]

I believe that softies in general are good nutrient exporters

[Kent E]

This makes sense, but they contain different materials. Would they remove those different materials from the tank? Wouldn't both be better than one? How does Xenia fare when you have angels and other chompers in there?

[parkavenuereef]

If this is the case, I will add plenty to my tank soon...

[der_wille_zur_macht]

There was an article in Reefkeeper about a year or two ago comparing the nutrient export capabilities of different tools we use (skimmers, xenia, macro, etc). I can't find it. Anyone have a link?

[Guy]

I think it might have been several years ago by Dr. Ron. I know it was before I built my Lagoon because I remember harvesting Caulerpa from a sterilite container for the study.

[Kent E]

I believe that softies in general are good nutrient exporters

This is funny, now all the sps tanks are going to be full of toadstools for harvesting.

This is a really good one Gary. We should collectively explore this.

Good timing. I just added xenia to the twig tank because I missed it, floated tothe rockwork though

[moriartiholmes]

Just remember that a lot of softies give off chemicals to retard the growth of stonies. From what I've read Xenia isn't believed to do that, it just grows over the competition.

[Conceyted]

okay, i am confused. Macro algae like chaetomorpha is supposed to reduce nitrates and such. Are you saying xenia will do the same?

[bigjdotcom01]

If anyone needs some xenia, I have plenty of it. Elongata and Red Sea.

Lew

[bkiba]

i have elongata as well, what does the red sea stuff look like?

[ming81]

red sea looks shorter and pinker
it also pulses a lot better IMO, but grows slower then elongata

[Gary Majchrzak]

Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht
There was an article in Reefkeeper about a year or two ago comparing the nutrient export capabilities of different tools we use (skimmers, xenia, macro, etc). I can't find it. Anyone have a link?

If anyone finds this, please post a link.....

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Originally posted by Guy
I think it might have been several years ago by Dr. Ron. I know it was before I built my Lagoon because I remember harvesting Caulerpa from a sterilite container for the study.

Guy, speaking of your lagoon - I still have that big hairy 'shroom if you want it!

[racrumrine]

I have a low light tank without a sump with some Xenia in it.

I recently put the xenia in it. I have a log for months of nitrates. I'll have to see if the addition of the xenia changes anything.

In order to use xenia for export, would you have to cut and trim it like you would a macro algae?

Thanks in advance for your prompt response.

Roy

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Cut it and attach it to plugs and sell it to the LFS!

[Guy]

Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht
Guy, speaking of your lagoon - I still have that big hairy 'shroom if you want it!

Dang, I definately want it. I'll PM so I can come visit this weekend. Unless you'd like to come down & be the first to have a beer on my new Black Walnut Bar.

[racrumrine]

Is Xenia easy to frag? It seems like it would be hard to glue to a plug (like a colt coral).

Regards,

Roy

[Gary Majchrzak]

Originally posted by racrumrine
Is Xenia easy to frag? It seems like it would be hard to glue to a plug (like a colt coral).

Regards,

Roy

Xenia is simple to "frag"- just cut it with a pair of scissors.
Don't glue it. You can use mesh to anchor it down on rubble- or simply let it settle to a quiet spot in the aquarium where it will attach on it's on. There's also the option of flushing it.

[drtango]

I've noticed, in reeftank v2.0 (DSB) and v3.0 (BB), that the health and vigor of Xenia is inversely related to the growth and coloration of SPS. In both tanks, there was a 6-12 month period where everybody was happy, the "perfect nutrient balance" that perhaps can be acheived by some long-term. In the DSB tank, eventually Xenia won; in my current BB tank, Xenia is now extinct, even in the sump.

Reeftank v1.0 was an underskimmed, DSB, well water fed, mostly softie tank where Xenia grew in great fields. Never tried SPS in that tank...



John

[Guy]

Originally posted by racrumrine
Is Xenia easy to frag? It seems like it would be hard to glue to a plug (like a colt coral).

Regards,

Roy

Xenia can attach very very fast. Sometimes in hours. Set a small chunk of rock next to a Xenia stalk and once it attaches just snip it off the colony and it's already attached.

[Gary Majchrzak]

Originally posted by Guy
Xenia can attach very very fast. Sometimes in hours. Set a small chunk of rock next to a Xenia stalk and once it attaches just snip it off the colony and it's already attached.

That's for sure.
Xenia has now tried to attach to the Oxypora frag I just got from Randy @ the Buffalo/Helinski meet. (Oxypora is fairly high on the stony coral toxicity scale). I also have Xenia attached to the Protopalythoa plug I got from kmagyar. I have Xenia growing on my clam's shell. I think Xenia would grow on my arm if I kept it in the aquarium long enough!
Fortunately, my SPS are growing and their coloration is great.

[Guy]

I had a snail that tried to crawl through a Red Sea Xenia Colony. The Xenia attached to it before it made it to the other side.

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Guy, lemme know when you want to come out. I'm pretty busy with a new baby and plenty else going on, otherwise I'd love to make a trip out to Rochester.