Pulsing Xenia removal

[Rocky Mountain Reef]

I have a growing plaque of pulsing Xenia growing all over the rock. Any ideas on getting rid of it, i.e. fish that may eat it and not SPS...other methods?

 

[DenverSaltyFarm]

I had it in my last tank and once it’s on a rock it’s impossible to get off. Leaving just a sliver of flesh on the rock will always grow back. I even tried a wire brush and it always came back.

The only thing I know of is to remove the rock it’s attached to and soak it bleach

 

[Sharkbait19]

For me, manual removal was the best option. Yes it’s a pain, but unfortunately there’s really no chemicals or fish/invert you could use that wouldn’t effect another coral. The good thing about Xenia is that, in my experience, they aren’t hard to rip off of rocks, at least compared to other types of soft corals. Just pull the rock out, use tweezers, and peel at the base until it comes off. Continue until no Xenia remains. In the following weeks, look for any small Xenia popping up and pull it out of the tank. Eventually, you’ll have none left. Another alternative is to put in a coral that will outcompete Xenia for growth, but then you may have a similar invasive problem with that coral.

Just a side note: if the Xenia is still isolated to a single rock with no other corals, you could either try isolating that rock (if you still wanted to keep the Xenia), or put it into a tub of freshwater or bleach for a long enough time that the Xenia all melts away.

 

[fish farmer]

Stainless steel straws attached to a hose.... scrape and siphon them out.

 

[ca1ore]

Pyramid butterfly will eat it while’s leaving most other things alone.

 

[Pistondog]

Relatively easy to peel off rock using hemostats. If any is left, cover scraps with kalkwassr paste from a syringe.

 

[Uncle99]

I just removed the rock, fast,easy and gone.

 

[OrionN]

Heat spike will cause Xenia to melt quickly. This may stress the rest of the animals. My Convict tang will mow down my Xenia.

 

[Dorking It]

I have hit it with aptasia x and it seems to control for me.

 

[Idech]

In my tank I had to take the rock out, scrape it off the rock with dental picks and keep it out of the water for a day or two.

I tried pulling it off the rocks in the tank with hemostats but it always came back.

 

[flatlander93]

My nutrients skyrocketed once when I pulled it all out at once. They do a lot if the tank is loaded with them. I took all the rock out. Horrible scourge they are.

 

[Idech]

My nutrients skyrocketed once when I pulled it all out at once. They do a lot if the tank is loaded with them. I took all the rock out. Horrible scourge they are.

True. The same happened to me. I should have put them in the sump.

 

[homer1475]

Is "F" aiptasia still available?

It's what worked for me after peeling off what I could.

 

[Rocky Mountain Reef]

Pyramid butterfly will eat it while’s leaving most other things alone.

I'm getting a Pyramid soon...awesome, a natural method...nature

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have a growing plaque of pulsing Xenia growing all over the rock. Any ideas on getting rid of it, i.e. fish that may eat it and not SPS...other methods?

I simply peel it back at the base and break off the rock

 

[TWYOUNG]

Mine is isolated on a single rock but I don't want it taking over that entire rock. My thought was to put a stinging coral on part of the rock. lfs suggested goniopora! So far I've been afraid to test if the goni can do it and I've been removing the xenia that encroaches on it with a hemostat. Does anyone know if gonis or something else can sting xenia into retreat?

 

[homer1475]

I've personally never found anything that can keep it at bay. While you can put a stinging coral next to it in hopes it keeps it at bay, what softies like xenia do well is grow. They grow so well they can outpace and smother a stinging coral.

 

[Dave101]

I had to throw out the big piece of rock that they were on. Problem sovled

 

[McPuff]

If you decide that it is your favorite coral, it might just die on its own. :0)

Otherwise, kalk paste and remove the rock from the tank if possible.

 

[Screwgunner]

Hemostats grab as low as you can then twist them slowly.