pulsating xenia questions

[jcm1229]

I bought some TR Xenia about a month ago. It has grown qute nicely.

Recently several "knobs" have developed on the stalks. Is this just budding??

I would like to take a cutting to put into my nano. Can I just cut a stalk off?? Would this be good/bad for the cutting or Mother colony?? Any chance this would release any toxins??

Thanks!

 

[Reallybigtoad]

The simplest way I found to frag is to just place a small piece of rock next to the Xenia stalk and let it spead naturally. (the patient way)

If your like me, and have a hard time waiting, you can cut the Xenia off at the base of a stalk. Be aware, they are really slimy and can be difficult to attach. I've tried all kinds of ways to atach them (netting, Superglue, rubber bands, fishing line) The best method I've found is to find a small piece of rock that has a small crevice or hole in it. Take a toothpick, spear the Xenia cutting and stick the toothpick into the rock. Place the cutting in moderate current (Not too much or the cutting will be blown off the rock) and it shopuld attach with 2 days. Once attached, remove the toothpick and your all set. The stub you left behind will grow back into another Xenia and you can repeat the process all over again.

This is the method that works best for me and in no way is intended to be "the only way" to do this.

 

[jcm1229]

Can this be cut in the tank?? Will it release any toxins??

 

[kevinpo]

The best way is to place a small rock touching the small knob on the side of the main stalk. It will attach to the rock and split itself in two in less than 1 week and pretty soon it will look like this

Regards,
Kevin

 

[reefworm]

Kevinpo gives good advice, and whether he meant to or not, a good warning as well. If you're putting Xenia into a nano and the colony takes to it - you may soon have more Xenia than you bargained for. It's like a weed! Great for fragging though, and selling or trading. In my tank, I found the method that was easiest was the one of putting a piece of rubble in the direction it's spreading. Only a matter of days and you've got a new stock. Just cut the "runner" and put the rubble elsewhere or sell/trade. No appreciable toxins of which I'm aware.

good luck,
-rw

 

[Garry thomas]

The best thing for xenia is to abuse it rip it,tear it , cut it and watch the new growth! they like shedfulls of light and good varying flow, they will then thrive! :lol:

 

[esmithiii]

No toxins that I know of, but you will see some "smoke" when you cut them, but nothing to worry about. Mine seem like the more you frag them the faster they grow. Beware. I have so many that they are at plague proportions.

Ernie

 

[LFS42]

:twisted: I agree, The stuff is almost as bad as apstasia.

You'll be throwing this stuff away if your too carfull when you frag it. :wink:

 

[esmithiii]

I throw a tall drinking glass full of xenia once a month.

Ernie

 

[the7ferret]

Next time anyone around riverside, ca wants to toss some xenia away call me Ill come pick it up.

 

[esmithiii]

I have since torn down my tank and set it up anew and I will never again add xenia to my tank as it grows like crazy.

Reefers beware of the white weed!

Ernie

 

[pwj1286]

seriously when it takes off and starts growing all over the place and some places you dont want it to grow. You will say "AHH! Xenia is aggrevating, growing all over the place and taking up all the room..sucking up all the iodine!"

You will eventually rip out large chunks and throw it away and not care. Just wait a couple of months.

Pulsing Xenia is easier to control by placing it up High in the tank rather than the bottom of the tank. It tends to grow up the tank.
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[Chubosco]

Pulsing Xenia is the only Zenia worth having as far as I'm concerned. It grows slow and if it does spead, it's very easy to remove. It's pulsing always is an eye getter.

 

[esmithiii]

I disagree. All the xenia I had before was the pulsating kind. Under the right light, it will grow so fast that in a matter of a couple weeks, you will not be able to control it.

My whole tank got taken over (180 gallon reef) by the stuff.

Ernie

 

[DavidY]

What about adding a Flame Angel to an overgrown Xenia tank? Mine makes sure that no xenia will survive for more than a couple of days! I'm in the process of trying to trap him to get him out of my display tank. I actually bought a small xenia frag at my lfs to use as bait. 8O

Unfortunately, Flame angels will also nip at clams and other soft fleshy LPS corals (the reason why I'm trying to remove him). But their favorite seems to be the xenia. I wonder if they had an abundant supply of xenia, if they would leave the other corals alone?

 

[ReefTiger]

A few years back I tried and tried to get Xenia to grow until I finally got a colony to take. And then it took and took and took. Still I like the coral because it blows in the current and the hundreds of pulsating tips are mesmirizing. Everyone who came over loved it.

The colony grew up the back of my glass and spread along the length of the tank. I enjoyed it for a while until the stalks began to stretch from the back of the tank towards the front and it started to cut off the light supply to the rest of the tank. When I moved I took it all out.

In the future I plan on having a tank of just mushrooms, green star polyps and xenia and stocking it with angels once the corals have filled in everywhere.

Enjoy your xenia!

 

[Chubosco]

Wow, I stand corrected! I have it in my first nano and the light must be right not to spread it. I can't imagine a 180 covered with the stuff. Glad you told me cause I have been putting a 180 togeather very slowly.

 

[pwj1286]

It stinks too. Do not smell your fingers after playing with it. EWWWWAAAK.
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[das75]

Love pictures and at http://garf.org/ in the How To-Movie section there's a clip showing xenia propagation.

And Kevin, great picture.