Xenia to the rescue????

[vin]

I'm new to this so this might have already have ben done.What I was thinking was to have a fugium with live rock and xenia in it to help with filtering the water not everyone likes these in their tanks.As for lighting i've heard about reverse lighting for the skimmer so when the main light go out the fug.lights come on.Is this a good ,bad,or to late of an idea.

 

[Rwojick]

its a tried method that has worked.
Rob

 

[vin]

Thanks for letting me now.

 

[Gundo5000]

If you have one light go on after the other goes out it keeps your ph more stable. This is why some do it. I do!

 

[Blown 346]

I agree with above, I also do the reverse lighting.

 

[geekreef_05]

whoa whoa whoa....
Xenia helps to break down nutrients? Keep your tank clean?! Wha?

I know it feed off nutrients and therefore would reduce the level of said nutrients in your system, but is it really so extensive that it can make for a healthier tank?

Please explain or elaborate!

 

[2thdeekay]

people have successfully used xenia as a vehicle for nutrient export. instead of growing macro alga in a fuge, they use xenia. nice thing is it doesn't go asexual like caulerpa. we have been using cheatomorpha and gracillaria. although i haven't tried it, xenia might be good to use too.

 

[mgny]

I have been using xenia in my fuge for nutrient export for years. I let it grow on the back wall of the tank. I trim it back when it gets close to the drain. I leave pieces on the rubble bottom until it attaches. I bring those frags to the lfs for trade, they love the xenia. I hang a ball of cheato from a wire which keeps it in the high light and flow. This has been a huge improvement as it doubles in size weekly. It takes a second to rip the ball in half and start the proccess over. In order for the macro to serve as a nutrient exporter you need to be removing it weekly. I think most people are not doing this . Calfo always talks about this and it stuck with me. Hanging the ball made a big difference.