Poor Xenia

[extreme_tooth_decay]

I've had a beautiful Xenia colony for years. It has always stayed put (at the top of my tank, growing on my overflow and my return nozzles. It grew initially to fill that space, and stayed that size for years.

 

Now about 75% of it has vanished.

 

The only thing I can associate with it's vanishing is I set up a very large fuge a couple months ago. It's a 40 breeder, packed from bottom to top with caulerpa. I harvest a gallon bag or so every week, which my fish eat.

 

I wonder if the caulerpa is outcompeting the xenia for nutrients?

 

:(

[Bob]

Similar situation here. I have had a good stand of Xenia for almost 2 years. About 3 weeks ago it just started melting. I am now down to two humble pieces that dont look happy. I did however put a clump in my frag tank and it is doing well. I may reseed in the future. I have heard tales of unexpected, unwarranted die offs. Don't know why.... Bob

[davelin315]

Xenia like it dirty... you're probably on to something with the fuge. I used to way overfeed my tank and the nitrates never appeared thanks to the xenia munching away on them. When I decided I was overfeeding and cut back on them, the xenia stopped growing as much and eventually began to recede a bit.

[treesprite]

wasnt someone talking about putting xenia in the fuge along with the macros?

[lanman]

Ah, the curse of xenia. They grow! And then they don't grow... I have found that the way to keep my xenia happiest is to keep fragging them. The more babies they produce, the better they grow. When they get to the top of a rock, and no place to grow to, they start to diminish in size and vitality. The pink pulsing mediterannean xenia that 'stuck' to the back of my 58 has grown bit by bit up toward the wateline, and has now reached it. I need to start it over again at the bottom, or surely it will perish.

 

bob

[davelin315]

wasnt someone talking about putting xenia in the fuge along with the macros?

I have contemplated doing a xenia fuge instead of macroalgae before. They eat up nitrates really well.

[treesprite]

I have contemplated doing a xenia fuge instead of macroalgae before. They eat up nitrates really well.

 

I think I'll have to try that once I have more than a 5" piece of it... of course it's growing fast so that will probably not be too far off.