Pulsing Xenia Question/Problem

[Rob Rowe]

Here’s my pulsing Xenia farm. I know a lot of folks don’t care much for them. I started off with about 10 of these guys a year ago and they have took over. I don’t mind a bit when I want to add a new coral to the reef I make a new friend that’s gets a free Xenia frag or 10....lol. They give amazing movement to your Tank. They also strive in a lit sump.I love the article above ! It has always been a mystery to their pulsing. All makes sense. Thanks for he info guys!

 

[Forsaken77]

Mine have finally grown back. The fish, when xenia were newly added, ate them down to the stump on the rock. It actually grew back with heads and everything now. But because they're in a higher flow area, they don't pulse at all because water is being moved around for them.

I just want to see if a small cluster can remove significant amounts of nitrate & phosphate. Most places say they work better than macro algae and you don't need crazy reef lighting for them. It's a FOWLR tank, so they are my only coral. It seems the stumps are growing thicker, but the polyps are only growing slowly. At least they made it back from being a nub you could barely see, lol.

 

[Txag96]

Question... Is this ok to put in a 10 gal sump with a small clamp light and remove my chaeto? I like the look of it, just don't want it to take over my display

 

[Forsaken77]

Question... Is this ok to put in a 10 gal sump with a small clamp light and remove my chaeto? I like the look of it, just don't want it to take over my display

The trick in a sump isn't necessarily the Xenia, it's keeping the lights from growing algae all over the sump. Xenia don't require high par values and expensive reef lights, but they do require the proper plant light, as does algae. Unless you have a bunch of, or bigger Xenia, algae will grow along with it and much faster. I would try a lower watt plant bulb, the smallest clamp light you can find, and keep it focused right over the Xenia to limit algae growth. Algae grows way faster than Xenia do. I would also suggest getting a lot of it. Cover the bottom with rock work and glue them down. I also glued mine down so it can't wander in the display tank. Any spores are filtered out. Just make sure you have a way to filter out any spores before they travel through your return pump and land in the display. The spores are big, almost like a leaf of the Xenia.