Xenia Frag Help

[William Spak]

Sounds like a good idea.

Hey there.. I tested the water after the water change

pH: 7.4
Nitrite: Still almost 0
Ammonia: 0
Nitrate: Still really bad (80-160ppm)

 

[Sashaka]

Hey My name is Will and I just need a little help with my Xenia. I just got this frag yesterday and it wouldn't stick to the rock, so I glued it. I think the glue somehow got undone, and now he is in a hole. The hole isn't deep or anything, but I don't know if he will be safe there, or if I should move him.
Help of any kind would be amazing, I don't really know what I'm doing here haha. Thanks!

Hi Will: Welcome to R2R
Xenia coral can move around the tank on its own! But, if it's floating, it needs to attach it's foot. You can try to lightly rubber band the foot to a piece of rubble until it attaches itself, use the needle method (see video), or even google for other ideas. There are many ways to do it.

 

[William Spak]

Hi Will: Welcome to R2R
Xenia coral can move around the tank on its own! But, if it's floating, it needs to attach it's foot. You can try to lightly rubber band the foot to a piece of rubble until it attaches itself, use the needle method (see video), or even google for other ideas. There are many ways to do it.

Hey there... thanks for the response!\
Here is what he currently looks like...

Part of him is unattached to the rock.. but part of him is glued on... is this okay?

Thanks!

 

[Sashaka]

Hey there... thanks for the response!\
Here is what he currently looks like...

Part of him is unattached to the rock.. but part of him is glued on... is this okay?

Thanks!

It is probably okay, but if it were me I'd still put a rubber band lightly around the rock and the zenia to hold it in place until the zenia attaches itself to the rock. You can remove the rubber band when it is no longer needed. It looks nice on the rock where you placed it!

 

[William Spak]

It is probably okay, but if it were me I'd still put a rubber band lightly around the rock and the zenia to hold it in place until the zenia attaches itself to the rock. You can remove the rubber band when it is no longer needed. It looks nice on the rock where you placed it!

Thank you very much! Also... I am worried I put him in a spot with too high of flow.. because, as previously mentioned, part of him detached... could this be an issue? He also stopped pulsating... do you think it will continue to pulsate with time?
Thanks !!

Will

 

[Sashaka]

Thank you very much! Also... I am worried I put him in a spot with too high of flow.. because, as previously mentioned, part of him detached... could this be an issue? He also stopped pulsating... do you think it will continue to pulsate with time?
Thanks !!

Will

I think most people put xenia coral in low flow areas so they can see it pulse. I believe the coral prefers lower flow as well. The coral can tolerate higher flow areas, but the enjoyment we get out of seeing xenia coral pulse is why most of use purchase the coral in the first place. Here is some info on the coral:

 

[William Spak]

I think most people put xenia coral in low flow areas so they can see it pulse. I believe the coral prefers lower flow as well. The coral can tolerate higher flow areas, but the enjoyment we get out of seeing xenia coral pulse is why most of use purchase the coral in the first place. Here is some info on the coral:

Okay, thank you!

 

[McFly]

If the duncan fell off its plug, I would remount it with superglue. Also, if your getting such a difference between your test kit (160ppm) and your LFS 20ppm, I would buy a new, more accurate kit. I use Salifert for NO3 and it works pretty good.

I would not worry much about your Xenia, I purposely mow them down with my siphon hose each week, cut them with scissors, rip them out by hand etc.. they are immortal.

Since your tank is only 35g a couple 50% water changes every other day would be good to 'reset' your parameters and trace elements.

 

[William Spak]

If the duncan fell off its plug, I would remount it with superglue. Also, if your getting such a difference between your test kit (160ppm) and your LFS 20ppm, I would buy a new, more accurate kit. I use Salifert for NO3 and it works pretty good.

I would not worry much about your Xenia, I purposely mow them down with my siphon hose each week, cut them with scissors, rip them out by hand etc.. they are immortal.

Since your tank is only 35g a couple 50% water changes every other day would be good to 'reset' your parameters and trace elements.

Okay!!! Thanks for the good advice How long should I do the water changes for? Will 30% water changes be okay? That’s pretty much all I can do at once, unless it is necessary to do so.

 

[McFly]

3 or 4 over a week or two should be enough, then just go back to your regular maintenance cycle. (I change out 10% a week as a regular water change.)

 

[William Spak]

Ok... that sounds like a plan!! I have heard that clams eat nitrates.. should I consider getting one?? Thanks

 

[McFly]

They are filter feeders, and may consume some nitrates as they are photosynthetic, but won't have a significant impact on nitrates. Xenia grows pretty quick and is probably a much better nutrient export; you could also look into different types of macro algae you find appealing.

 

[William Spak]

They are filter feeders, and may consume some nitrates as they are photosynthetic, but won't have a significant impact on nitrates. Xenia grows pretty quick and is probably a much better nutrient export; you could also look into different types of macro algae you find appealing.

I’ve never heard of macro algae before... would I put it in my canister filter? What kind would you recommend ? Thanks!!

 

[McFly]

It needs light so it grows in your tank or refugium.

This site has a good selection:

https://www.algaebarn.com/shop/macroalgae/

If you use a canister filter they need to be cleaned out a lot, I don't think many people recommend them for a reef tank. They can be a 'nitrate factory' as they collect uneaten food and it just decays there.

 

[William Spak]

It needs light so it grows in your tank or refugium.

This site has a good selection:

https://www.algaebarn.com/shop/macroalgae/

If you use a canister filter they need to be cleaned out a lot, I don't think many people recommend them for a reef tank. They can be a 'nitrate factory' as they collect uneaten food and it just decays there.

Ah, ok.. how would I go about cleaning one out? Just replacing the stuff inside?
Thanks!

 

[McFly]

Take it apart, rinse the sponges and filter media really good. If there is any disposable filter media like a polishing pad or carbon, replace it with new or don't use going forward.

 

[William Spak]

Take it apart, rinse the sponges and filter media really good. If there is any disposable filter media like a polishing pad or carbon, replace it with new or don't use going forward.

How often should I replace everything? A while ago I overfed my tank to feed a coral... is it just rotting in the canister probably? Thanks!

 

[McFly]

Honestly, I would get rid of the canister and upgrade to a hang on back protein skimmer instead and use power heads for flow. Canister filters are great for freshwater or fish only marine tanks, but don't really fit the bill for a reef tank. Sure some will have success with them, however you would want to clean them out often, probably weekly.

I used the 1.0 version of this HOB skimmer for years on my previous tank:

https://www.amazon.com/AquaMaxx-HOB-1-5-Hang-On-Back-Protein-Skimmer/dp/B078NJXBGJ

Reef octopus makes a pretty cool one I would give a shot too:

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reef-octopus-bh100-hang-on-the-back-protein-skimmer-1.html

 

[William Spak]

Honestly, I would get rid of the canister and upgrade to a hang on back protein skimmer instead and use power heads for flow. Canister filters are great for freshwater or fish only marine tanks, but don't really fit the bill for a reef tank. Sure some will have success with them, however you would want to clean them out often, probably weekly.

I used the 1.0 version of this HOB skimmer for years on my previous tank:

https://www.amazon.com/AquaMaxx-HOB-1-5-Hang-On-Back-Protein-Skimmer/dp/B078NJXBGJ

Reef octopus makes a pretty cool one I would give a shot too:

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reef-octopus-bh100-hang-on-the-back-protein-skimmer-1.html

Ok... as the filter was very expensive i’ll probably just end up cleaning it out. Thanks!

 

[TRIGGER SHARKFIST]

I bought a loose frag of Xenia 6 months ago. I just wedged it in a rock without gluing it.
A few days later it self attached.

It's now taking over a rock about 30cm in length.

I've had a couple of pieces float off and settle too.

It's a great coral for beginners as it's gives you a sense of achievement watching it grow.

PS- If it's in flow it won't pulse. Every now and again I turn pump off for a bit just to watch it .