Mangroves starving out chaeto...

[Troy Valentine]

Interesting thread!

Troy how many gallons is your Xenia fuge? Do you run bio pellets or gfo?

The fuge is 30 gallons. I do not run bio pellets, however I need to use gfo periodically to bring my PO4 down to <.04. The Gigas clam seems to keep the nitrates at an undetectable level, but phosphates do creep up over a few months. Once they get to >.06 I add gfo.

how did you start your fuge? Did you have to start with a skimmer and then slowly take that down as the Xenia grew? I'll be picking up a large tank and have a ton of decisions to make regarding filtration

I started a Xenia fuge back in '01-'02 when I had a 135. At that time I was using 400 watt 6500k Iwasaki bulbs to grow two types of Xenia; Elongata and Red Sea, and it sure grew. It grew to a point where I could use store credit in '04 to purchase my next system; an Oceanic 240/w stand.

You will need to start off with a skimmer then slowly ween the system off the skimmer while the growth of the Xenia picks up the slack for the absent skimmer. If you plan using a Xenia fuge, make sure you keep a good separation between the fuge and the DT. If not your tank will turn into one giant Xenia fuge.

He is a pic of my Xenia infested 135


Here is the current Xenia fuge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKfhOu2GBaA

[Troy Valentine]

In my next system I would love to have both a Xenia fuge and Mangrove fuge at the same level as the display. So they can be enjoyed without looking under the stand.

[LuckySingh]

In my next system I would love to have both a Xenia fuge and Mangrove fuge at the same level as the display. So they can be enjoyed without looking under the stand.

U know Troy quite an interesting fuge u got there . I still remember seeing ur tank probably 6 years ago and that clam was giant back than also . Don't know if remember I bought the Lm3 from u .
Any ways in my current system my sump is built with a fuge section , however I am never really convinced to run fuge for nutrient export up till now.
My system has no nitrates no phosphates and no algae ,don't run carbon or any other chemicals )what so ever but after reading many articles online and seeing ur fuge setups i am some what convinced running a mangrove plus Xenia fuge if I can find a correct led low temperature light for it . Would like to chat with u regarding setting it up maybe in next few days if u r available ??