How to properly cull pulsing Xenia

[TAHK]

The title pretty much says it all. I have pulsing Xenia all over the tank. They smother other corals. Would just cutting it around other corals work or should I do something different?
thank you in advance for the advice.

 

[Isopod80]

Cut and pull out what you don't want. Try to confine what's left to an island if possible. Unfortunately, it's one of those corals that grows like a weed and needs constant attention in some systems.

 

[MaxTremors]

The title pretty much says it all. I have pulsing Xenia all over the tank. They smother other corals. Would just cutting it around other corals work or should I do something different?
thank you in advance for the advice.

There are a couple ways. You can get some large tweezers (like the ten inch kind) and pull individual strands out if it’s not too matted to the rock, the other option is to get a stainless steel straw (the bent ones), and connect it to as siphon tube, and then you scrape/suction it out doing sort of a liposuction maneuver (if you’ve ever seen video of someone getting liposuction, you’ll know what I mean). You can usually get 99% of it doing the latter.

 

[Rmckoy]

I’m having a similar issue and was going to ask for advice .

I have a encrusting monti starting to take off on a rock but noticed the Xenia have also started taking over that same rock

 

[Pistondog]

The title pretty much says it all. I have pulsing Xenia all over the tank. They smother other corals. Would just cutting it around other corals work or should I do something different?
thank you in advance for the advice.

Use hemostats and grab main trunk as close as you can to attachment point on rock.
Clamp and twist, comes right off.
Remove this way to keep some distance between the xenia and other corals.

 

[Irongolem411]

I have come to the point that I utilize the Xenia as a nutrient dump, and remove the Xenia that is close to any other corals on water change day. this keeps my nitrates and phosphates at 3-5 and .03. If I ever upgrade my aquarium , the Xenia will not be something I add again. This allows me to grow very nice acropora. Just have to keep up with the weeding.

 

[Isopod80]

Some people add their xenia cuttings to their refugium.

 

[rockdiver]

I use an exacto knife and cut it out.
Then put it in my sump

 

[Sebastiancrab]

I use an exacto knife and cut it out.
Then put it in my sump

Can you expound on why you are putting it in your sump? Thanks.

 

[rockdiver]

Well I can't see throwing it out since it is living. In the sump it seems to survive and help like they guy a few post before me said.
Also I give it away then
But just can't seem to throw it away

 

[kittenbritches]

Can you expound on why you are putting it in your sump? Thanks.

Xenias feed on nitrates, so they have a utility function. You'd still want to cull them in the sump so they can regrow and absorb more NO3, much as you'd trim chaeto back. Xenias grow like weeds. I've got mine on a rock away from my main aquascape to keep 'em in check.

 

[Orion1885]

I used to inject any ones i didnt want with vinegar