Xenia refugium vs. ATS

Timfish said:
I think you meant DOC, dissolved organic carbon, right? All corals with photosynthetic symbionts will pull urea, ammonia, nitrates and phosphates from the water. Interestingly this research http://jeb.biologists.org/content/214/16/2749.full shows low phosphates as a limiting nutrient for the uptake of nitrates. (Do not misread this as an endorsement for leaving phosphates higher than typical recommended levels!) Additionally, some corals have been found to harbor symbiotic cyanobacteria that convert nitrogen dissolved in sea water into nitrates http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15310901
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Thanks for the info! I didn't miss-type, I was just flat wrong... ;). I've never really gotten a plain answer in what soft corals like this uptake, so thanks again! That's awesome.
 
AquaTDV said:
I've been using Xenia as my primary filtration, and 2 skimmers as secondary for 11 years, and over 9 years with the current system. It has worked really well for me, and it will for anyone who takes the time to figure out their needs and how to read them. Like ca1ore said they will need to be pruned regularly when the Xenia fuge is really rockin along with both skimmers off. This is when they can become quite profitable. My fuge can easily make $300 a month, which equates to 30 large stalks being removed a month. From what I've found the growth of Xenia will directly inhibit the growth of macro algae as well a skimmate production so I wouldn't try to run them in tandem. If you try this, be aware this could cause a potential crash in the Xenia colony, once you stop introducing/producing enough nutrients to supply enough food for both.
The system is 300+ gallons with a 240g mixed reef display. The main Xenia fuge is approx. 30 gallons and the secondary Xenia/macro fuge is 20 gallons. This area also serves as a Xenia grow out station before I sell them to the stores.

Here are some videos of the Xenia Fuge:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKfhOu2GBaA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hMoLeuo-cM
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That fuge of your looks more impressive that a tank full of macro algae and my 9 year old would love to see all that movement. It sounds like it's effective as well so I will have to give this a try. Thanks for the vids!:D
 
guserto4 said:
What about running a tandem system with one dormant and the other on? A Xenia refug. lights running the day shift and an ATS or a skimmer at night?
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Try it... Your system will find a balance.


ca1ore said:
Wow, very cool, but also sort of creepy! How long did it take you to cultivate that level of growth? Looks like years?
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With a decent size starter colony of 5 stalks you could have a population this size with in 5 months. If you cycle your skimmer on and off it will cause the population to explode.


ivar85 said:
How do you keep it away from your display tank ?
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I keep the Xenia limited to 2 chambers in a 4 chamber sump. That way if any float away it would need to pass through 2 chamber before it is picked up by the return pump.

guserto4 said:
Is there a light quality difference between your DT and the 30g Xenia only tank? What about the staging of you system? Does DT water go directly to the 30g or does it get filtered/treated at all first?
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Yes, the DT uses LEDs and both fuges are under 150watt MH. I have 3 drains in the back of the tank. The far right drain supplies the fuge at a flow rate of approx. 150 to 200gph.
 
ksed said:
I have 120 mainly SPS tank in which I have some xenia's there only because, everyone that see's the tank they always say those are nice. Instead of the SPS. The xenia's in there grow like weeds. Yet I have a 30 gallon breeder which I am trying to cultivate xenia's in and they don't grow at all. In the 30 gallon breeder I have 5 Green Chromis to provide some nutrients. I am also running a JNS HOB skimmer. Nitrates are 0 Phosphates are .02. The 30 gallon breeder has 2x T-5 HO bulbs. On the 120 I am running 400w Radiums. Any idea why they are not growing in the 30 gallon?
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Xenia can be quite tricky, especially in small systems. For me they seem to prefer a stable/aged system, particularly when grown in a small setup like your 30. When its time to do another water change in your 120. Empty the waste water into the 30 and see where that gets you. If this gets them going, reduce the time you are running your skimmer.
 
Is there anyone else using a Xenia refugium out there? I am curious to see how other people are incorporating them into their setup, and their results.
 
If you keep pulsing Xenia on a seperate island rock, will it somehow travel to other rocks?

I'm thinking of making a rubble of rocks island. I can just remove some of the pieces to sell later and always add more rock rubble for the Xenia to grow on. But really only if it's reasonably safe the Xenia won't spread to my main rocks.
 
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When i do a water change on my 120. I will put that water in the 30. But no success.


AquaTDV said:
Xenia can be quite tricky, especially in small systems. For me they seem to prefer a stable/aged system, particularly when grown in a small setup like your 30. When its time to do another water change in your 120. Empty the waste water into the 30 and see where that gets you. If this gets them going, reduce the time you are running your skimmer.
Click to expand...
 
I recently read in the breeding forum of someone who uses a xenia refugium to raise cardinal larvae. He said between feedings they are hunting for pods... so I assume he has an acceptable to substantial population in with the xenia. I have no experience with a xenia fuge, though.
 
My understanding was that Xenia are like clams, just pure filter feeders who may or may not take up some plankton sized life, not copepods .
 
FlyPenFly said:
If you keep pulsing Xenia on a seperate island rock, will it somehow travel to other rocks?

I'm thinking of making a rubble of rocks island. I can just remove some of the pieces to sell later and always add more rock rubble for the Xenia to grow on. But really only if it's reasonably safe the Xenia won't spread to my main rocks.
Click to expand...

It will spread, and if this is your DT all it will take is one floater created by a hermit crab, tang, or anything else that could dislodge the smallest of frags to get pureed in your powerhead and it will be everywhere.

These are pics from '02 of 35mm pics. It shows one of my attempts at keeping the Xenia in the DT for filtration/propagation. One positive thing is that you are looking at approx. $3000 in Xenia, which I used to purchase my current system in '04.

BEFORE- When I tried to limit its growth to the side of the tank for easy propagation.
attachment.php

AFTER
attachment.php



ksed said:
When i do a water change on my 120. I will put that water in the 30. But no success.
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Which type of Xenia are you trying to keep?
 
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Since Xenia can be tricky sometimes could this also be done with another fast growing coral like GSP? Very curious as I'm setting up a 75 gal refugium now. IMO GSP is a bit easier than Xenia to grow fast and no need to shut down skimmer.
 
rfgonzo said:
Since Xenia can be tricky sometimes could this also be done with another fast growing coral like GSP? Very curious as I'm setting up a 75 gal refugium now. IMO GSP is a bit easier than Xenia to grow fast and no need to shut down skimmer.
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Anyone?
 
rfgonzo said:
Since Xenia can be tricky sometimes could this also be done with another fast growing coral like GSP? Very curious as I'm setting up a 75 gal refugium now. IMO GSP is a bit easier than Xenia to grow fast and no need to shut down skimmer.
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Sure GSP will work if you are looking for a coral to make some money with. However I am not sure how well it will work as a potential filter. Its hard to quantify the value of Xenia as a filter, but I do know what the literature says, and it seems to support the hypothesis. I had a 60 corner full of metallic green GSP. It was a BB so the GSP covered the entire bottom of the tank as well as the sides. This made it very easy to frag and attach to rocks for the LFS to sell.
 
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