Xenia and Iodine Discussion

[Reef_Angel]

That's for sure. We really like it and all we have are two small clumps. I think they like their water a particular way or something. We must not have enough of something in our water that it likes. Anyone know the secret?

[peregrinus]

they love iodine. form what i hear.

[davejnz]

xenia can be unpredctable,My first Xenia was the pom-pom variety and it never took off.'I bought some X.elongata and that stuff grew like a weed.I have since removed it from my system and transferred the pom-pom to my LPS tank.I placed it next to the glass and it really started to grow fast.I think with vertical placement,it encourages it to divide and spread..BTW,never added iodine.

[Whoyah]

I remounted the xenia again tonight and moved it in to better spot. The super glue didn't hold the first time. He was looking pretty good until started messing with him. All bunched up tight right now. Maybe I will post a pic this weekend.

[Buiryn]

I hear Xenia is a hit or miss for most tanks. I must be lucky because it grows like a weed in my tank. I got a small frag with maybe 3-4 stalks of it and in a month it's doubled in size, then doubled again the next moth. I placed it up high near some indirect water flow then placed a torch coral next to it to stop it's side-wise progression. The only place it has to go now is up the side of the overflow box which is fine by me. When ever I want to create a frag, I just place a small rock in the center of the patch and in a week it'll be covered.

Matt

[dakar]

I remounted the xenia again tonight and moved it in to better spot. The super glue didn't hold the first time. He was looking pretty good until started messing with him. All bunched up tight right now. Maybe I will post a pic this weekend.

We've found superglue to be a waste of time trying to mount xenia, so far the best method has proven to be a needle and thread to tie them to a rock, or letting that naturally attach.

[Grandmaster_Toad]

!st of all like to say thanks to angel for inviting me to join CR. I will pass on info to all of WWRC.

Xenia Xenia Xenia.... I have had tons of that stuff (mostly pulsing) in my tanks....
It grew like a weed....on glass, overflows, rocks, everything...
Xenia loves lottsa light, medium flow,good ph, and CALCIUM.... lots and lots of calcium. Xenia is a calcium hog. I watched a fellow reefer add teaspoon after teaspoon to his top off water and after 4 days...his calcium levels barely moved...his coraline algae wasnt growing and his sos were slow to prop. He took out Xenia by the hand fulls....3 days later....calcium back up to acceptable levels.

Great stuff to watch....hard on a captive system if colonies start to grow out of control.

My sugesstion is to keep it secluded on a rock in the sand bed...keep you colony a reasonable size.

Happy Reefing
GT

[Grandmaster_Toad]

Have to agree with Dakar.... super and Xenia dont mix. The xenias protective slime coat makes the glue almost worthless.
I have never tried the needle and thread..sounds like a great solution. I have tried with good success the toothpick method.
Simply take a toothpick and poke it through or into the Xenia frag then secure the toothpick ..... The xenia will grow around the toothpick and eventually dissolve it.
I have found this works with some mushrooms as well.


GT

[dakar]

Actually, GT that green sinula (sp?) frag you were kind enough to share with us a little while back decided it didn't like the glue either. So I used the thread trick, attached herself in a few days or so and is doing quite well

BTW Welcome Aboard!!!!!!!!!

[peregrinus]

BTW,never added iodine.

why do you say this? just curious. i don't add any my self thats just what i'v heard. mine grows like crazy and to attach cuttings i just make a rubble pile and put the xeina there and it attaches it self.