why isnt my xenia growing like wild fire?

FishKid · 01-21-2002, 11:23 AM

my water params were perfect (yesterday power went out and my skimmer drained (lots of dead algae in the skimmer which i didnt notice til nitrates were up a little) they are right by the lights maybe 4" below the surface, and after several months (6) it has only doubled in size. is that "growing like wildfire"?

mark

thezookeeper · 01-21-2002, 12:57 PM

No Mark, that definately isn't growing like wildfire. Let's put it this way. I can easily prop my xenia colony into at least 10 nice size frags every six weeks or so. Maybe even sooner. And this leaves me with a nice size colony. They like high lighting, consistent pH (normal reef), and a decent flow. I've known several people who just cannot keep them. And others, like myself, who are almost plagued by it growing. HTH

Joanne

bongobrian · 01-21-2002, 01:03 PM

I don't think you're doing that bad if the xenia doubled in size in 6 months. I'm sure some people get it to grow much faster, but I don't even think mine have doubled after 5 months. The things I've come to understand about xenia is that they love current, iodine, and lots of light. A little bit of nitrate isn't going to hurt them. Make sure there isn't anything stinging the xenia like corals with sweeping tenticles or anemones. Certain types of fish like to nip at xenia and will prevent it from growing very large. What type of lights do you have? IMO xenia is highly photosynthetic.

bongobrian · 01-21-2002, 01:06 PM

Also, how long has your tank been set up? perhaps the xenia just needs to get more established before it starts spreading "like wildfire."

FishKid · 01-21-2002, 01:49 PM

lighting: 2x 96w PC
tanks been up for 1 year come february
i have a lawnmower blenny that likes to swim through it but doesnt nip at it
I have a hagen 402 (i think 402) giving them excellent flow

i have an aiptasia problem that i am working on, but none are touching the xenia..

**kevinpo** · 01-21-2002, 03:50 PM

I only have experience with the Red Sea Pom Pom type so I will comment on those. I have kept them under VHO's only and 175W MH/VHO's and 400W MH/VHO's. They grow like wildfire to plauge porportions under MH's with high flow and medium to high DOC's. Mine would split from 1 colony into 6-7 every 10-14 days. They like to constantly move higher and higher towards the lights. I had them on the glass at the waterline maybe 8-9 colonies and when I would do a water change they would be exposed out of water for 15 min or so with the MH's blazing down on them. After filling the tank back up they would begin pumping away in 10-15 min. I tried to remove them all from the rocks when I went to a bigger tank. 7 months later and I have about 20 colonies don't know where they came from.

Kevin

**kevinpo** · 01-21-2002, 03:58 PM

Here's a picture of them.....

Kevin

flaminangel · 01-21-2002, 03:58 PM

Be careful what you wish for with xenia. I used to read threads of people complaining about their xenia taking over and I thought, "I wish this was my biggest problem..lol" So I added some about 8 months ago, and I'm regetting it now. I wish mine wouldn't grow so fast. I'm constantly pruning this stuff and it's still taking over.

I still think it's beautiful, it's just turned into a pest for me. If it's growing slow for you, be thankful...

Stephanie

organicreefer · 01-21-2002, 07:58 PM

fishkid,youre doing better than me...my xenia is just about the same size it was when i got it almost a year ago

it pumps ,but not all together and strong like ive seen in others tanks.the weird thing is im constantly fragging my anthelia,and they are very closely related /require similar conditions

maybe ill get some more and see if i can get that to grow ..............

thezookeeper · 01-22-2002, 12:15 PM

Organic:

If you ever decide to try another xenia colony, I frag mine once every 3 weeks or so. It comes from a colony that's been fragged numberous times and very successful. Just let me know!

jarmstrong · 01-22-2002, 04:25 PM

How much current is too much for Xenia? Mine seem to be doing great but they are tossed around some. Not constant because of wavemaker but get bent over pretty good sometimes. Will this be detrimetal in the long run?

RobG · 01-22-2002, 04:27 PM

Its interesting how differently tanks turn out. My Xenia and Anthelia barely grew when I had PC lighting. I've had MH for 4 months or so now, the Xenia is like a weed (But good for getting credit at the LFS) but the anthelia is hardly growing at all. Basically the opposite of o. r.'s

organicreefer · 01-22-2002, 11:43 PM

joanne,thats very nice of you to offer

" you meet the nicest people on reefland" our new slogan

id love if we could trade something...whats youre exp with shipping,wouldnt we need heat packs this time of year and stuff?maybe later in the summer it might be better?im all for swapping though.....

01-21-2002, 11:23 AM	#1
FishKid Governor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Holbrook, NewYork, USA Posts: 1,799	why isnt my xenia growing like wild fire? my water params were perfect (yesterday power went out and my skimmer drained (lots of dead algae in the skimmer which i didnt notice til nitrates were up a little) they are right by the lights maybe 4" below the surface, and after several months (6) it has only doubled in size. is that "growing like wildfire"? mark

01-21-2002, 12:57 PM	#2
thezookeeper Mayor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Pittsburgh,PA, USA Posts: 992	No Mark, that definately isn't growing like wildfire. Let's put it this way. I can easily prop my xenia colony into at least 10 nice size frags every six weeks or so. Maybe even sooner. And this leaves me with a nice size colony. They like high lighting, consistent pH (normal reef), and a decent flow. I've known several people who just cannot keep them. And others, like myself, who are almost plagued by it growing. HTH Joanne __________________ "Life savings? Sure, it's that brightly lit object sitting in the livingroom."

01-21-2002, 01:03 PM	#3
bongobrian Mayor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan Posts: 657	I don't think you're doing that bad if the xenia doubled in size in 6 months. I'm sure some people get it to grow much faster, but I don't even think mine have doubled after 5 months. The things I've come to understand about xenia is that they love current, iodine, and lots of light. A little bit of nitrate isn't going to hurt them. Make sure there isn't anything stinging the xenia like corals with sweeping tenticles or anemones. Certain types of fish like to nip at xenia and will prevent it from growing very large. What type of lights do you have? IMO xenia is highly photosynthetic. __________________ Brian For those about to rock... I salute you! www.bongobrian.com Talk to me! aol: bongobrian78 msn: bongobrian@hotmail.com yahoo: bongobrian78

01-21-2002, 01:06 PM	#4
bongobrian Mayor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan Posts: 657	Also, how long has your tank been set up? perhaps the xenia just needs to get more established before it starts spreading "like wildfire." __________________ Brian For those about to rock... I salute you! www.bongobrian.com Talk to me! aol: bongobrian78 msn: bongobrian@hotmail.com yahoo: bongobrian78

01-21-2002, 03:50 PM	#6
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,425	I only have experience with the Red Sea Pom Pom type so I will comment on those. I have kept them under VHO's only and 175W MH/VHO's and 400W MH/VHO's. They grow like wildfire to plauge porportions under MH's with high flow and medium to high DOC's. Mine would split from 1 colony into 6-7 every 10-14 days. They like to constantly move higher and higher towards the lights. I had them on the glass at the waterline maybe 8-9 colonies and when I would do a water change they would be exposed out of water for 15 min or so with the MH's blazing down on them. After filling the tank back up they would begin pumping away in 10-15 min. I tried to remove them all from the rocks when I went to a bigger tank. 7 months later and I have about 20 colonies don't know where they came from. Kevin __________________ SPSguy On - On

01-21-2002, 01:49 PM	#5
FishKid Governor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Holbrook, NewYork, USA Posts: 1,799	lighting: 2x 96w PC tanks been up for 1 year come february i have a lawnmower blenny that likes to swim through it but doesnt nip at it I have a hagen 402 (i think 402) giving them excellent flow i have an aiptasia problem that i am working on, but none are touching the xenia..

01-21-2002, 03:58 PM	#7
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,425	Here's a picture of them..... Kevin __________________ SPSguy On - On

01-21-2002, 03:58 PM	#8
flaminangel Just Moved In Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Alapaha, Ga Posts: 33	Be careful what you wish for with xenia. I used to read threads of people complaining about their xenia taking over and I thought, "I wish this was my biggest problem..lol" So I added some about 8 months ago, and I'm regetting it now. I wish mine wouldn't grow so fast. I'm constantly pruning this stuff and it's still taking over. I still think it's beautiful, it's just turned into a pest for me. If it's growing slow for you, be thankful... Stephanie

01-21-2002, 07:58 PM	#9
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	fishkid,youre doing better than me...my xenia is just about the same size it was when i got it almost a year ago it pumps ,but not all together and strong like ive seen in others tanks.the weird thing is im constantly fragging my anthelia,and they are very closely related /require similar conditions maybe ill get some more and see if i can get that to grow ..............

01-22-2002, 12:15 PM	#10
thezookeeper Mayor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Pittsburgh,PA, USA Posts: 992	Organic: If you ever decide to try another xenia colony, I frag mine once every 3 weeks or so. It comes from a colony that's been fragged numberous times and very successful. Just let me know! __________________ "Life savings? Sure, it's that brightly lit object sitting in the livingroom."

01-22-2002, 04:25 PM	#11
jarmstrong New in Town Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Dallas Texas Posts: 3	How much current is too much for Xenia? Mine seem to be doing great but they are tossed around some. Not constant because of wavemaker but get bent over pretty good sometimes. Will this be detrimetal in the long run? __________________ Jaye Armstrong Dallas, TX jayearmstrong@attbi.com

01-22-2002, 04:27 PM	#12
RobG Council Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 288	Its interesting how differently tanks turn out. My Xenia and Anthelia barely grew when I had PC lighting. I've had MH for 4 months or so now, the Xenia is like a weed (But good for getting credit at the LFS) but the anthelia is hardly growing at all. Basically the opposite of o. r.'s

01-22-2002, 11:43 PM	#13
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	joanne,thats very nice of you to offer" you meet the nicest people on reefland" our new slogan id love if we could trade something...whats youre exp with shipping,wouldnt we need heat packs this time of year and stuff?maybe later in the summer it might be better?im all for swapping though..... Last edited by organicreefer; 01-22-2002 at 11:45 PM.

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