What will win? Zoo's or Xenia?

[v8maro]

I have some xenia that is splitting and its starting to crowd the zoo's, should I get it out of there?? Also, how would I do that, just rip it off?

Thanks

 

[scapes]

xenia will win. get it out somehow.

 

[650-IS350]

Yup, faster grower and will shade the zoos ( robbing them of light and will end up killing them )

 

[v8maro]

Ok, how do I remove it? Just cut it off or can I just peel the stalk away from the rock?

 

[650-IS350]

I used to chip off the bottom rocks under the xenia mat. Depending on how large the xenia colony is now. I only let xenia grow on my sand.

 

[MUCHO REEF]

Plus 1 here.

Xenia is like a weed on steroids. I had some a few years ago. Xenia can be good for you in that it's like a Canary in a coal mine. When your water quality is great, it pulsates/pumps. When it's bad, they won't pulsate/pump. You can use some long nose surgical tweezers that all the on line stores sell and just pull at the base where it is Attached to the rock or glass and it peels off. Do it very slowly though. Once removed, if you have a bunch of stalks all connected, you can cut them straight down at the base with scissors and sell them for $ 10 to $ 20 a stalk. You can also trade them at your LFS for credit, I've done so many times.

Mucho Reef

 

[v8maro]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12234976#post12234976 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by delsol650
I used to chip off the bottom rocks under the xenia mat. Depending on how large the xenia colony is now. I only let xenia grow on my sand.

yeah too close to the zoo's to do that now

 

[v8maro]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12235292#post12235292 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MUCHO REEF
Plus 1 here.

Xenia is like a weed on steroids. I had some a few years ago. Xenia can be good for you in that it's like a Canary in a coal mine. When your water quality is great, it pulsates/pumps. When it's bad, they won't pulsate/pump. You can use some long nose surgical tweezers that all the on line stores sell and just pull at the base where it is Attached to the rock or glass and it peels off. Do it very slowly though. Once removed, if you have a bunch of stalks all connected, you can cut them straight down at the base with scissors and sell them for $ 10 to $ 20 a stalk. You can also trade them at your LFS for credit, I've done so many times.

Mucho Reef

thanks, i will do that tonight

 

[MUCHO REEF]

Just to clarify, I meant, cut straight down through the base between each stalk. Those who propagate xenia actual split the stalk to create two stalk, like cutting celery lengthwise.

 

[glee]

i've been able to siphon xenia out with a tube when doing water changes. this only worked when the xenia stalk was attached on a zoa colony. the tube must be wide enough so that the entire stalk fits through. good luck.

 

[v8maro]

I have some stainless steel tools i can use to lift it up, and then cut it up like celery.

 

[Kep]

After you pull/peel the xenia off of the rock cover the remaining tissue with a kalkpaste. That will kill the remaining tissue and prevent regrowth. (if desired)