Xenia Propagation Tank

[Qxsilver01]

So I took my 10 gal. custom eclipse and decided to convert it into a xenia tank. I have them under high water flow, with high lighting , my water quality is perfect, and there doing great so far. My only concern is dividing the xenia. Some say to cut the stalks and that they grow into new peices, while others state that doing so will cause the bacteria to feed on the goo from the cut and destroy the xenia. (OMG scary! lol) Im also not sure how to attach the new xenia to the peices of rock.

 

[Qxsilver01]

NVM .Oh great, Im such an idiot. Just noticed about two topics up theres a propagation forum. ah!

 

[JeffDubya]

To propagate xenia, cut off the stalk. Stick a toothpick through the base and rubberband that to the rock you are attaching to. Easy as cake.

However, it was my understanding that xenia tends to like lower currents... ?

 

[edsimmons]

To attach I use nylon thread just thread a needle and sew it on!

 

[Qxsilver01]

I researched it and xenia are supposed to like high currents for two reasons. One being that they need the high flow to keep mucus from building up on them and the Second reason is more with Propagating. When you cut the stalks if they are not kept in high current the bacteria attacks it.

Also when I roamed around the proper Forum of Coral Agriculture and Propagation I found this thread where "cro55fr3" posted giving this extremely helpful website. Thanks so much to him for posting the code for this website.

http://www.garf.org/fish3/xeniaclown.html

 

[JeffDubya]

Hm. I guess it all depends on what you consider high current. The research I have is that they do best in low to moderate current, and I have cut and propagated many this way. In fact, I just did two dozen tonight unexpectedly, a friend of mine got sick of them and said if I wanted them to just come over and get them or he was just going to throw them out.

Well, I was all over that!!!

You let me know how yours do, and I will do the same.

 

[dendro982]

A few days ago I just did that - cut white xenia stalks (they become very dark), placed inside the half of shell, covered by net (piece of laundry bag), flow is moderate. No tools sterilization was made. They started to pulse the same day, and so far - no bacterial infection. Will see.

 

[55semireef]

PICTURES!!!

 

[kwirky]

my xenia have SPREAD into an area with super flow in my tank. They decided themselves to grow straight into the powerhead's path, rather than away from it (seio 1500). They flutter like crazy, but seem to love it for some strange reason.

 

[dendro982]

Hmmm, pictures... Here, long time existing other people's xenia fuge or scrubber:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?referrerid=112003&threadid=796891, GARF, Refigium methodology, Kip , more - by search on xenia fuge or refugium, highly interesting, actually.

I just set mine, few days only, and have to buy one more light and give the xenia cuts time to attach. 4g fuge for 6g Nano-cube:

And from where it was removed (notice the rubber band, used for attaching):


Same xenia, when it arrived to me (May), 12 hrs by the bus, cool weather:

2 months later, in clean water and 18W 50-50 PC:

Here - in another tank, with flow around, not through:

All are frags of the same torn xenia. Pretty resilient creature.

And one thing more: one guy, XeniaMaster or XenMaster - something like that, noticed, that white xenia becomes darker in polluted water.

 

[55semireef]

Very nice pictures.