Any "Safe" Xenia?

[cdw79]

Admittedly I miss the coral from my early reefer days, but the horror stories have prevented me from even entertaining it since. I learned recently, though, that the biggest issue is Xenia even on an island is that they can bud off and pop up across the tank, a goose chase I'm not looking to have.

So, simple question- is there any pulsing variety that doesn't bud off, in which case I'll feel comfortable with a little island of it? If not I will accept defeat, but figured maybe there might be one out there. Thanks!

 

[blaxsun]

Vigilance is the key to success with xenias. You just have to keep an eye out for new colonies and prune them accordingly.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I dony have issues with xenia. My worse case is the xenia going up the glass which i'm ok with

 

[cdw79]

I dony have issues with xenia. My worse case is the xenia going up the glass which i'm ok with

This is what I find interesting- some people say if you keep them on an island you're golden, others say that once they spread over an island they'll start breaking off en masse and colonizing the whole tank. So it makes me think maybe it's different depending on the species?

 

[dvgyfresh]

Before after about ten minutes lol , Xenia is real easy to prune. I don’t even need a blade it just pulls off

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

I had them on their own bommie no issues but donated them to a fellow reefer for other coral options. I also like the blue cespitularia easier to maintain but no pulse.

 

[vetteguy53081]

This is what I find interesting- some people say if you keep them on an island you're golden, others say that once they spread over an island they'll start breaking off en masse and colonizing the whole tank. So it makes me think maybe it's different depending on the species?

I have pom Pom and some pulsing and in another tank , anthellia xenia

 

[cdw79]

Before after about ten minutes lol , Xenia is real easy to prune. I don’t even need a blade it just pulls off

You're certainly braver than I am to put it on the display lol

So is it a matter, then, of just being disciplined with it rather than hoping the strain you have isn't one that buds off? I can deal with a new bud here and there but if it's launching them off like popcorn then that's an issue- I don't want to be releasing a beast here and find myself constantly spending time picking them off from every tiny crevice they can squeeze into

 

[dvgyfresh]

You're certainly braver than I am to put it on the display lol

So is it a matter, then, of just being disciplined with it rather than hoping the strain you have isn't one that buds off? I can deal with a new bud here and there but if it's launching them off like popcorn then that's an issue- I don't want to be releasing a beast here and find myself constantly spending time picking them off from every tiny crevice they can squeeze into

Lol it’s great at nutrient export , mine don’t bud but they spread by creating new stalks in a mat . The stalks are easy to take off

 

[MaxTremors]

It’s not like it takes over overnight, its easy to keep in check if you don’t let it go. Its very easy to pull off a rock, even easier is a stainless steel straw attached to a tube, you just scrape it off while siphoning it out. If you like it, go for it, it’s really not that difficult or that much work to keep it contained.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

My red xenia grows in stalks and not a mat. It's a little more rare but also more desired imo. Lol.
It doesn't pulse though. :/
D

 

[cdw79]

It’s not like it takes over overnight, its easy to keep in check if you don’t let it go. Its very easy to pull off a rock, even easier is a stainless steel straw attached to a tube, you just scrape it off while siphoning it out. If you like it, go for it, it’s really not that difficult or that much work to keep it contained.

That's a great idea, never thought of that approach with the straw / siphon!

But yes makes sense that it's not somehow an insta-plague, just trying to determine how much of a pain it would be. But it seems pretty doable if you dd it to part of your WC regimen.

I also had an idea of making a small island with some quarter-half dollar sized rubble around it, with the goal being to let it grow off onto the rubble and then sell the chunks off to the LFS to help subsidize food, chemicals, etc at my LFS. Any thoughts as to whether these chunks would be too small? Don't have tons of real estate in my display to make a Xenia farm but I've heard of this being a way to both limit the floaters and to make a few bucks here and there

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

Tidal Gardens sells some sort of red xenia that grows in stalks and is less invasive. It also looks really good.

 

[cdw79]

Tidal Gardens sells some sort of red xenia that grows in stalks and is less invasive. It also looks really good.

But it doesn't pulseeee