Moving Xenia

[ev1016]

I have a 3 month old system and am starting into corals with a small xenia colony I got from Saltwaterfish.com.

So far they are doing well. I thought I might lose them when I replaced my bulbs. They retracted for about 5 days. Seems they were reacting to the stronger light.

I have two stalks that came on a piece of artificial aggregate that they were aquacultured on.

Is it possible to separate the stalks from the agrregate and relocate them, or do they need to remain attached to the aggregate?

The aggregate is a bright white and until it gets some coraline growth, doesn't go well in the tank.

 

[Kep]

I wouldn't remove them just because they are on a white rock, but if you want to you can usually just grip them and peel them off the rock. If that doesn't work, or you don't feel comfortable grabbing them, you can cut them as close to the base as you can and then stick them in between two rocks in the tank and they will secure themselves fairly quickly.

 

[BurntOutReefer]

I would put some rubble next to then. They should attach and then you can move them.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12199768#post12199768 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BurntOutReefer
I would put some rubble next to then. They should attach and then you can move them.

I second this answer--they will move onto the other rock in a mater of 3 days.

 

[ev1016]

Thanks for the info. I wasn't aware that they are mobile. I'll Give that a try.

I saw another post on Xenia that they can be secured in place with a toothpick through the stem. My instinct is that that would harm them (same instinct about cutting them near the base) are Xenia really that hardy?

 

[HumbleLobster]

Yes, they really are that hardy. To get them out of a system often you have to cut them off then chip the rock base they were on out, since it can regrow from the little bit that is left from the cutting.

 

[ev1016]

Thanks. If I manage to kill them, I can feel a sense of accomplishment! lol

 

[SCIFI_3D_zoo]

They're easy to move by just putting a rock next to them and they'll move on to it. Problem is... that won't stop them from moving. I think that's one of the reasons you don't see them a lot in TOTM and other well established tanks. I cut back on the skimmer a bit b/c they seem to like the water a little more nutrient-rich and they grew phenomonally. I found that they are really kool looking but they never stopped moving and eventually went up my tanks back towards the lights. I'm not low on light either with HQI's, etc. I don't know where they were going. This was over 1-3 years so yea some will tell you that theirs don't move but I found over time they do move around quite a bit.

They're really kool to have but I guess I've moved on to other things like SPS and you just can't have everything in a tank.

 

[Aquarist007]

I have them growing in the fuge quite well--they like less then quality water conditions--nitrates ect
I think that is another reason they don't do well in some tanks--they are superskimmed to the point where there is not enough nutrients left in the water

 

[Larah]

Hey bnow there's a GREAT idea!
I think I'll move mine to the fuge..
He HATES my tank... Has shrunken into the rock and is about the size of a Lima Bean....
But the light in my fuge is pretty weak.. Is that a big deaL?