Splitting a xenia

[Frogmanx82]

My xenia has three main trunks and appears to be separating. Can I assist this process and what is the best way to get them to attach somewhere else in the tank?

 

[EllieSuz]

This is one of those corals that can multiply so quickly that it overtakes your entire tank. But, they provide a nice waving motion in the tank and are very interesting. The problem is when they attach to another rock, they leave enough behind to start a whole new stalk and before you know it they are dominating everything else in the tank. I keep mine on a rock at the very top of the formation and since they seem to always move in the "upward" direction they run out of room. Periodically, I remove that rock and thin out the Xenia. The best way to get them in another part of your tank is to put a small rock in their way and let them move to it.

 

[erbio]

If one part of it is attached to another rock, pull them apart. It's as simple as that...

 

[Frogmanx82]

So the plan would be to set the current rock next to one I want them to move to and let it slide over on its own. Cutting an scraping a trunk off the current rock is not recommended then? From other posts I've seen its pretty hard to mess a xenia up.

 

[erbio]

You can cut, slice xenia however you want.

Check out these youtube videos for fragging xenia:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po1GhNS7ifg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-SU9a6jges
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKSXzSuyDrw

 

[bizzleb01]

I want to remove a entire stalks from my rock without it growing back.. Anyone have any luck with that?

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

You can peel the whole thing off,just start under one edge and slowly scrape it off.

 

[EllieSuz]

Yes, you can peel it off, but it's impossible to remove every shred, so it will grow back where you removed it.

 

[Frogmanx82]

Now I have 5 trunks and only 1 is on the original frag rock. I didn't realize how quick these things could move and grow.

 

[jdoenumber2]

Slice it with a razor. Leave it alone where it is and i will heal in a day. This stuff populates quickly in a tank with nitrates and phosphates. Dont run GFO or carbon to make it spread faster. Try to keep it isolated as not to let it spread uncontrollably. I went from having a couple of stalks when i first started. I have had flushes of xenia that would number atleast several hundred stalks. I feel that The larger the presence of Xenia there is, the easier it will grow. I also feel that if there is a over population of xenia it will inhibit the growth of stony corals. Possibly from higher nutrient levels? Not too sure.

 

[Timmo760]

so i'm reading a lot about xenia and how it spreads fast and kind of turns into a pest because its hard to control. i just got a little frag not too long ago, should i just get rid of it before it spreads or try to control it? my tank is only 10g

 

[erbio]

In a 10g... I would place the frag up against the tank wall - that way you will be able to scrape it/frag it and give/sell it to others. If you let it grow onto your liverock then you will not be able to keep it under control. It will cover your liverock in just 2-3 months.

 

[Timmo760]

o wow, that fast huh? good to know thank you

 

[lehireefer]

I used to have this nuisance in a 24G nano, finally gave up because it was over taking my Armor of God palys. Attaches itself to EVERYTHING. I used the stuff to kill aptasia and that worked pretty well. It would still make an appearance once in awhile and then I would take a vinyl covered rod and twist it against the rock it was on to squish it dead!

 

[saltwaterlew]

ya they grow like crazy once they get started. Just cut mine down month ago and everyone i cut down turned into 2or3. Sometimes can be a problem populating toward other coral so watch them close!!