Trimming Xenia?

[JoeESSA]

I have profusion of Xenia in my tank - propagating like crazy. I want to remove some and trade it in, but most of it has propagated onto large pieces of live rock that I do not want to give up.

How do you best go about doing this? I have tried to see if it will release by trying to work at the attached areas of the rock, but they are solidly rooted. If the coral is cut will it heal up and how should it be treated if it is cut from the rock?

Or is it a case of cut it, bite it and bin it? Surely not?

Thanks,

Joe

 

[rustybucket145]

Cut it as close to the base as possible, then place the rock you want it to attach to in a glass/plastic bowl in the bottom of the aquarium in a low flow area. Place the xenia on the rock and cover the bowl with netting and secure w/ rubber band, let sit for a week or two, dose w/ SeaChem Reef Plus or other Iodine solution in turkey baster. This is best accomplished with a rock that has a 'bowl' shape to it, like the inside of a clam or oyster shell.

 

[ri]

You can try to pull the stuff off the LR - not an easy tank as you have already found out. Almost any tiny bit remaining on the rock will grow to form a new colony. Of course, that is both good and bad!

To frag the stuff, just pull a piece off (so special tools/equipment needed) and rubber band it to anything you want it to attach to. Rock rubble works well. It will take just a few days and it will be attached. At that time you can remove the rubber band.

ri

 

[JoeESSA]

Thanks for the advice.

Looks like I'll be taking my first steps into the world of fragging