Pumping xenia exterminator

[THEmarineman]

Hello

I am asking for a friend.

He has a mixed reef aquarium. Some sps, lps (candy coral, bubble, ets…..) He has an "out of control" pumping xenia problem.

Does any one have any idea about fish that will enjoy the xenia but not the rest of the corals?
I heard that the magnifica fox-face is a good option….any thought on that?


Thanks

 

[bigworm175]

No fish really eats them in my experience. I tried the foxface and he had no interest (cool fish though so if you need an excuse). Just frag them and sell them to an LFS. I have a deal with an LFS that buys my single stalks for $5 a piece. Doesnt' sound like much but you can imagine how many stalks I end up with on a monthly basis. They sell them pretty quick to new reefers. They're cool looking and are easy for newbies. It helps fund my habit if he has the patience.

 

[gflat65]

My Purple tang loves Cespitularia (very similar to Xenia), but I'm sure that's a hit or miss. As soon as they go into the tank, the tang destroys them... Maybe you'll get lucky and just have them die off (it seems to happen only to those who actually want Xenia in their tanks, though).

 

[Sardaukar]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15030379#post15030379 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bigworm175
No fish really eats them in my experience. I tried the foxface and he had no interest (cool fish though so if you need an excuse). Just frag them and sell them to an LFS. I have a deal with an LFS that buys my single stalks for $5 a piece. Doesnt' sound like much but you can imagine how many stalks I end up with on a monthly basis. They sell them pretty quick to new reefers. They're cool looking and are easy for newbies. It helps fund my habit if he has the patience.

5 bucks a stalk!? You have stumbled onto quite a racket my friend. My old 18g cube was probably making at least 30 or more stalks a month

 

[KarlBob]

Some individual fish may enjoy xenia, but I'm afraid it's not easy to tell which ones will also enjoy the other corals in your friend's tank.

There are a couple species of sea slug that eat xenia, but they're not usually available for sale.

 

[KarlBob]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15033824#post15033824 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by KarlBob
Some individual fish may enjoy xenia, but I'm afraid it's not easy to tell which ones will also enjoy the other corals in your friend's tank.

There are a couple of nudibranch species that eat xenia, but they're not usually available for sale.

 

[stumpovrtyme]

xenia

xenia

For sure dont kill them on pupose sell them, trade them, or give them away never under estimate the value of any thing in the tank. Those are something alot of people like me want and have to pay for. So if your trashing them or your buddy is PM me and Ill pay the shipping and you can give them to me.

 

[jbax]

yeah i have the same problem. i bought a couple a year ago and now i have over 100 stalks in my tank now. sell em or trade em.

 

[THEmarineman]

Hi guys
Clarification….

My friend does not look to frag it, sell it or trade it, not even to get rid of it!
He is just looking for a biological way to control it.

Any fish or invertebrates that can do that?

 

[MartinEric]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15033824#post15033824 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by KarlBob
Some individual fish may enjoy xenia, but I'm afraid it's not easy to tell which ones will also enjoy the other corals in your friend's tank.

There are a couple species of sea slug that eat xenia, but they're not usually available for sale.

I have heard of the xenia eating nudibranch but as KarlBob said not usually sold. Not sure of anything else either. Your friend could just cut it, or rip it out to reduce the amounts.

 

[jbax]

yeah and what ever critter ya get, it may eat the xenia but what else would it eat. certain corals can sting other coral. but that would be silly to circle the wagons around xenia. really there isn't alot of options.

 

[PauChi]

What about "cranking" up the Magnesium level?

Paul

 

[circusink22]

i had a velvet damsel that ate all my xenia hes gone now it is a bastard of a fish:blown:
just curious on why he wouldnt want to frag trad it to a LFS for credit some people love xenia. IMO fraging and watching it grow is most of the fun

 

[redhotwheel98]

yeah frag it and sell it