Xenia!!!

[Reef69]

Ok, im tired of xenia growing back..its like grass and it wont stop!!! >_< Is there a way to kill it or get rid of it for good?..Thnks! >_< >_<

[GaryP]

If you find one, let us know. Its the holy grail of reefkeeping. The only thing I have found that is good at it is a pair of forceps. Some fish will eat it, but its a hit or miss type thing. If it tastes anything like it smells that would be understandable.

[jaded]

I've been told that you can just treat them like aptasia... inject them with Kalk paste, vinegar, etc. (but thats just hear- say... I've never tried it)

[GaryP]

The problem with Xenias is that they tie up a lot of toxic stuff and if you kill them off like aiptasia you are going to be releasing a lot of that back to the water. That's why a lot of people use them in their fuge.

[Reef69]

******TT!!!!!!! :cry >_<

[jaded]

If you just "did" one each week do you think a 90 gallon reef w/ 20 gallon sump could handle the release of toxins? It would take awhile, but eventually...

[Reef69]

Well..What im going to do is get the piece of rock out and scrape it with a razor....

[Polkster13]

Or trade the rock to someone that wants the xenia and has an equal size rock that is without xenia.

[Reef69]

Anybody?..!! :cry

well, the problem is, its tonga and its really nice..LOL

[jaded]

now thats a good piece of advice!!!

[Shark_Bait]

I know (from experience) that they don't like heat. So if you could put the rock in a container with a heater and get the heat up. Probably about 85 since thats's were my colony died off. Then you could sort of 'recure' the rock in a different container to get rid of the toxins. Just a thought.

[Reef69]

hmmm, that sounds like a good idea..

[jaded]

this site rocks!!! that is a good idea

[GaryP]

If you just "did" one each week do you think a 90 gallon reef w/ 20 gallon sump could handle the release of toxins? It would take awhile, but eventually...

One of the good things about Xenia is that they take up heavy metals. A sump will not absorb heavy metals. About the only way to remove them is with heavy duty water changes or treating with Kalk. Heavy metals will precipitate as the metal hydroxide, but will remain in the aquarium.

[Kylaohhh]

I have a xenia free tonga that I might be willing to trade. Can you send me a pic of yours?

[Kylaohhh]

LOL...I'll show you mine, if you show me yours....

[Reef69]

AHHH, too late Kylaohhh, i chizzled the breaks of that mutha@#$% 5 mins ago. i chizzled it off with a hammer and a screwdriver, looks really neat and didnt have to do anything "drastic"... :shades

[Reef69]

:blink I hope you are a girl.... :skeezy

[Kylaohhh]

LMAO! I am a girl!

[Reef69]

LOL...I'll show you mine, if you show me yours....

Im game..!!!...LOL..jk

[GaryP]

AHHH, too late Kylaohhh, i chizzled the breaks of that mutha@#$% 5 mins ago. i chizzled it off with a hammer and a screwdriver, looks really neat and didnt have to do anything "drastic"... :shades

Don't be surprised if the Xenia comes back. All it takes is a little fleck of remaining tissue.

[Reef69]

well, what i did was, i scrapped it all off after being chizzled with a brush that has those metallic bristles, i brushed it really good, i didnt see any tissue left..

[GaryP]

It can be microscopic. I've heard of folks having Xenia sucked through a power head. It was chewed up into tiny pieces and sprayed all over their tank. Within a few monts they had a Xenia tank. The same sort of thing can happen with Aiptasia.

[Reef69]

well, If theres any left, it will start to grow in a couple of days, that thing would just GROW in my tank...hopefully its all gone..i wont mess with Xenia ever again!!!

[GaryP]

They're not bad as long as you keep it trimmed. Its sort of like a hedge, it just needs to be groomed. It actually has some pretty good properties as far as water quality is concerned. I do think its better in a fuge though. We usually complain when our corals DON'T grow.

[Reef69]

You're right, It just grew way too fast, and to be honest i couldnt really frag it properly..

[GaryP]

I think I have found the perfect low maintenance way to frag Xenia.

I pull it off the rock with hemostats and then throw it into my fuge and let it attach to the rubble on the bottom. After a week or so I take it to the LFS and trade it for something new as well as some rubble to replace what its attached to.

[Reef69]

Thats works..

[SuperXdude]

I have finally gotten my Xenia to NOT die off, but I can't get them to Xeen.

That's what Xenia do right? Xeen? Or is it pulse? Oh whatever...


SuperXdude

[Reef69]

Pulse..

Everybody i ever gave xenia to or has bought any, i tell them to becareful with where they place it..i didnt listen to my own advice..lol

[GaryP]

Pulsing is supposed to depend on pH. The lower the pH, the slower they pulse. Try checking your pH. They also won't pulse noticeably if they are in a strong current.

[gjuarez]

Reef69, are you selling it. A friend of mine wants it. How much would you sell it for? Let me know. We will be in San Antonio and Austin for the meeting this weekend.

[Reef69]

Its all gone except for a frag I have left..and I Pmed Kylaohhh ealier cause she wanted it, but if it doesnt go thru, you can have it for free.

[gjuarez]

Thanks Reef, Ladies first right?

[JEREMY78247]

just my 2 cents, but I have tried numerous times to introduce xenia into my aquarium (150g) and every time I do my cow fish eats it like its candy, but won't touch any other corals in my tank. Maybe you could give it a try and get one of these fish....just my 2 cents.

[Reef69]

Nah..I would never buy a fish just for the mere purpose to get rid of something..although they are cool looking fish..Plus they are difficult to keep as far as i know, plus its poisonous when they die and mess up your water, plus they are not really reefsafe..

[JEREMY78247]

well I have had the fish for over a year now and its never touched a coral in my tank or bothered any other fish for that matter, this fish will eat out of my hand. I hear what your saying though but I have had nothing but a pleasant experience so far with this type of fish.....to each his own:)

[Reef69]

yeah, ladies always first!! :innocent :skeezy

[djmc7300]

i'll be more than happy to take them off ur hands. just scrape them off or cut base with razor and put in a bag and i'll swing by and take them from ya if u want.

[Reef69]

I Dont have any left, except for a frag that gjuarez wants.. I got rid of all of it..

[Mykeytoe]

how fast do xenia grow? I aquired a small piece a couple of weeks ago and It looks like it's starting to take off. I have it in my fuge. I seldom see it pulse though.

[Thunderkat]

AHHH, too late Kylaohhh, i chizzled the breaks of that mutha@#$% 5 mins ago. i chizzled it off with a hammer and a screwdriver, looks really neat and didnt have to do anything "drastic"... :shades

Use tools for what they are intended for. Screwdrivers are not chisels. If you get into the habit of using tools for things other than what they are designed for you could get hurt.

You can also get rid of them with a large cowrie.

[alton]

Sounds like a safety director?

[Polkster13]

If you are squeamish, do NOT read any further. Just go to another thread. You have been warned!



[Climbing up on soapbox]

Yeah, its "all fun and games until someone loses an eye" is not just a saying.

Several years ago I had a co-worker whose husband was working on their dryer. He was using too small of a screwdriver trying to loosen something. He slipped and the screwdriver deflected off of the dryer (while he was still holding it and pushing with all of his weight) and went right through his eye into his brain. It was small enough that it did not kill him. He lost the lens and all of the fluid in his eye before he made it to the ER.

It took over a year, but they were able to successfully reintroduce fluid into his eyeball, reattach his retina and then surgically implant a new lens in his eye. He now has about 50 percent of his vision. They were unable to repair the back of his eye.

After he went through this, I had a new respect for hand tools and power tools! You can't be too careful. The person laughing at you for taking precautions will be the one that is found later bemoaning the fact that they had injured themselves and now wished they had taken those "ridiculous safety precautions".

Okay, okay; [stepping down from soapbox].

Ya'll kiddies go play now; and be safe!

[Reef69]

Never heard of a xenia eating cowrie, or a flake eating cleaner wrasse, but then again...

Anyways, time to re-chizzle, i missed a spot and it grew back...

[Thunderkat]

Never heard of a xenia eating cowrie, or a flake eating cleaner wrasse, but then again...

Anyways, time to re-chizzle, i missed a spot and it grew back...

You live in San Antonio, come over to my apartment and see with your own eyes as Lil'Piggy (my cleaner wrasse) eats flake food. It also eats newly hatched brine shrimp but will not eat mysis.

PM me if you do want to see it and bring a digital camera so you can have proof. I gave the snail to Alex and I think he still has it, the thing is larger than my fist. I don't know if the snail will eat the xenia but I have read they can eat soft corals but I got rid of it because it kept plugging up the discharge to my pumps.

Oh, and don't laugh at all the cyano I have, it makes me cry.

[freeman.matt]

You may try dremmeling off the top surface of the rock where the xenia was attached...