Xenia Safe for Seahorse in 20 Tall?

[FutureBoyGenius]

Will xenia sting a seahorse in a 20Gallon tall? Or will the xenia get aggrivated because the seahorse will try to hitch on it?

Will they play nice?

 

[Bluespot22]

They will be ok, go for it.

 

[danfrith]

I dont think they sting and I dont think they will retract if the seahorse hitches on them. Good luck.

 

[vsuboy]

ya the seahorses will be fine.

if anything the xenia will grow so fast it latches on the your seahorse.
(lol im just kidding)

but ive had that stuff before and it grew so fast i had to get rid of it.

it will take over your 20 gal

 

[FutureBoyGenius]

Sounds good. I may see how it does. I know that stuff filter feeds, do you think it has any affect on the nutrients in the water? Nitrate and Phospate levels?

 

[ann83]

They filter feed off particles in the water, they will not consume nitrates and phosphates the way that algae does.

Also, you may want to think about running carbon if you try it, especially if you're also keeping other corals. Xenia is a pretty easily irritated coral and the seahorses are likely to try to hitch to it.

 

[FutureBoyGenius]

I am running an HOB filter with carbon now. I am trying to replace it with just a protein skimmer though, I don't have room for both

 

[NewbieForever]

They filter feed off particles in the water, they will not consume nitrates and phosphates the way that algae does.

From Reef Aquarium Vol 3

"Fast growing corals are often overlooked as assimilators, but they are. Xenia spp. in particular can be very good assimilators of phosphate, and a refugium with them in mass culture could function to help maintain low levels of phosphate and nitrate."

 

[NewbieForever]

IMO there is not much need for a protein skimmer in such a small system, where nutrient controll is easily handled through W/C, and media such as carbon and GFO.

 

[FutureBoyGenius]

NewbieForever: Thank you for that reference, I thought it would make logical sense. In fact I think I have read from an alternate source that they can be beneficial in refugiums.



I do not know much about GFO pads. Can you elaborate on them a little? It sounds like it would be a good idea to run GFO in my HOB filter along with carbon?

 

[SaylorsReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13143515#post13143515 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NewbieForever
IMO there is not much need for a protein skimmer in such a small system, where nutrient controll is easily handled through W/C, and media such as carbon and GFO.

I disagree. In small systems things can go downhill quickly. A protein skimmer will help with water quality, and pay off in the long run.

 

[FutureBoyGenius]

I previously posted a thread asking, If you could have either an HOB filter or a protein skimmer on a 20Gallon tall, which would be more beneficial?

Every response was the protein skimmer, because it removes organic waste. The HOB could become a nitrate trap if not cleaned regularly and it is more of a water polisher.

A protein skimmer will do all of the real work in my opinion, I believe this, because I see the skimmate from my 90Gallon

If you do not think it is necessary though, save me some trouble of hooking it up and explain why.

Thanks for your responses.

 

[NewbieForever]

Well I run lots of tanks SPS, softies, now a SH tank also. IMO a large W/C on a SH tnak is very easy to accomplish, if you mix up a proper W/C, match SG, Temp, pH you can do a 50% W/C with no trouble. I look at all my tanks every day, and always have W/C water mixed and on hand, use RO/DI water ect so dont see a reason to add a skimmer to my 20 XT seahorse tank.

Nutrients can be kept very low using Carbon, GFO (like Phosban) and W/C alone. Its common sense, in a larger tank I would and do use big skimmers.