Xenia soft coral for refugium?

[PacificaReef]

New reefer question... I purchased a pulsing xenia coral and have read that these corals remove some level of phosphates and nitrates.

My question is, has anyone used Xenia in their display tank in place of chaeto in the refugium? Pros/cons?

 

[ichthyogeek]

Hmm...I've heard that sponges help soak up phosphates more than macros do, but never anything about xenia. From what I understand, macros will almost always outcompete corals in the case of excess nutrients in the tank.

 

[lion king]

Yes, you can do a search and find xenia refugiums. Xenia is very invasive so be careful. Make sure there is no way for spores to get into the display, bubble trap sponge will work fine. I'm not sure about the comparison in efficiency, I never got a definitive answer when I researched it. It is a fun project though. Didn;t work for me because it was for a fowlr, and it does need reef conditions.

 

[PacificaReef]

Yes, you can do a search and find xenia refugiums. Xenia is very invasive so be careful. Make sure there is no way for spores to get into the display, bubble trap sponge will work fine. I'm not sure about the comparison in efficiency, I never got a definitive answer when I researched it. It is a fun project though. Didn;t work for me because it was for a fowlr, and it does need reef conditions.

Thanks for the insight. I’ve put the Xenia into my display, at the highest point as I read it doesn’t grow down very well. Do you have any recommendations on how to observe for and control spores?

 

[lion king]

Thanks for the insight. I’ve put the Xenia into my display, at the highest point as I read it doesn’t grow down very well. Do you have any recommendations on how to observe for and control spores?

I know it spreads like crazy and many regret putting it in their display. As far as spores go, thats just a term I used because it will spread to other areas not touching, like jumping from rock to rock.

 

[Snoopdog]

Xenia gets a lot of hate. I personally love the stuff. It helps fill in gaps, does not seem to overly bother adjacent corals. It is quite beautiful when it sways with water motion.

 

[Easy Reefing]

Xenia gets a lot of hate. I personally love the stuff. It helps fill in gaps, does not seem to overly bother adjacent corals. It is quite beautiful when it sways with water motion.

Agreed, I like Xenia also . Easy to frag and trade to my LFS for other goodies

 

[PicassoClown04]

I was actually thinking about doing a xenia and clove only tank. Using it as a fuge for one of my existing reefs might make me pull the trigger! I already have xenia in all my tanks so I wouldn’t mind the spores, although I’ve never had it happen to me, all the Xenia is exactly where I’ve placed it plus the obvious spread through growth. Nothing like my main colony is on rock A and suddenly a baby colony is on rock B half way across the tank. I think it’s got something to do with the strain of xenia you have? I used to have that issue but I sold that xenia and got new ones from a different place and suddenly no issue so I think it’s on a specimen by specimen basis.

 

[Snoopdog]

Agreed, I like Xenia also . Easy to frag and trade to my LFS for other goodies

And it grows like weeds, does not ship well. Both of these are great for trading locally.

 

[lion king]

I was actually thinking about doing a xenia and clove only tank. Using it as a fuge for one of my existing reefs might make me pull the trigger! I already have xenia in all my tanks so I wouldn’t mind the spores, although I’ve never had it happen to me, all the Xenia is exactly where I’ve placed it plus the obvious spread through growth. Nothing like my main colony is on rock A and suddenly a baby colony is on rock B half way across the tank. I think it’s got something to do with the strain of xenia you have? I used to have that issue but I sold that xenia and got new ones from a different place and suddenly no issue so I think it’s on a specimen by specimen basis.

I didn't know this would happen but I did like it.