[Mitsunei Ray]

So i got this blue xenia. And i've heard it can grow like a weed. Is there some things i can try to prevent it from taking over?

[Tritonian]

Just attach it to a rock that is far from other rocks in your display.

It shouldn't grow anywhere but on that solitary rock. I have a large colony which seems to grow up, because it's been on such a small rock. It's the one Xenia that I really like, it got me into liking Soft Corals more.

[WILLIAM1]

Ya I put my xenia on a rock out in my sand bed almost like a island.

[mattpenn]

if not you get this

[pyromaniac398]

Yup I would set it far from other corals. In the right conditions the xenia will over take almost anything.

lol at that picture matt

[mattpenn]

yea that was 2 weeks ago this pic is now no more softies for me just in my frag tank till there gone.

[pyromaniac398]

Nice tanks

[mattpenn]

thanks ive been working on this sps thing for a while and dont get tired of it by next week i will be adding about 8 more corals i cant wait.

[SECRETREEF]

i love xenias. i have two different kinds what i do is sell the frags and it has given me plenty of money to maintain my hobby. people love the movement so use it in your advantage and sell when you have too much but never sell it all.[IMG][/IMG]

[IceMan]

Originally Posted by Mitsunei Ray

So i got this blue xenia. And i've heard it can grow like a weed. Is there some things i can try to prevent it from taking over?

blue xenia doesn't ship well so it's expensixe... i'd just keep fraggin it and sell it off.

[Fishhead Junkie]

i bought a small rock with at the most maybe 10 blue xenia on it. after i placed it into the tank, i couldnt find them anywhere for a couple days..i thought for sure i killed it on the way home but a day later i noticed a couple of them on the rock and a week later a few more. i get excited everyday i come home and see more. i'd like to frag it one day too, make some cash. i had a small rock of regular xenia maybe 12months ago, added a couple flamingo snails to the tank and they ate it!!!! stupid snails!!!!
i havent been able to keep xenia in my tank since then, always ends up dying for some reason...this time i hope my luck changes.

steve

ps...what is something good to add chemical wise or whatever to the tank for xenia?

[IceMan]

xenia is wierd... some taqnks it does great some it melts down.

[Fishhead Junkie]

yeah..whats up with that?? i got some regular xenia right away when i first started my tank and it woulda done great if it hadnt gotten eaten up...but now my tank is established and it dies....what the deuce??

[IceMan]

from what i've been hearing, in tanks that it thrives if left unchecked it goes rampant the has a mass die off... that in it's self says that it's likely a trace element issue, once whatever it needs is consumed it dies out. hard part is figuring out what it is depleteing. you do that you might get a nobel...

[jsgates]

I have read that Xenia likes a SG of 1.026, and if the SG stays below that for an extended period, it will slowly start to melt away. Anybody else heard this?

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Wow this is same thing we were just talking about on my thread. Was just told to shoot for 1.030- for higher level. Am starting to increase today. Do you have pics of your xenia---I am trying to find out which type I have.

[emccullough1]

Xenia need Iodine to do well if you well add it once a week they will grow like weeds. and keep your Ph stable they don't like swings in the Ph They will thrive any where from 1.024 to 1026 Sp . Now after saying that you could set up 5 tanks just alike and 2 of the 5 will kill them in a day. So go figure.

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Thanks Edward- appreciate the feedback. Will try that, since I moved the first shell to my nano, and added straight salt- they are coming back and spreading on the shell. The new blues I took out of the main tank this morning and transferred to the nano, 'away' from my nibbling little chrysurus!
It's a waiting game I guess to see if they will revive as well. I really liked them! That is the type I have been wanting forever.
Who has a chrysurus --- and do you have xenia? Maybe it is the type I am getting that tastes so sweet to him?

[e_baer]

Originally Posted by emccullough1

Xenia need Iodine to do well

Ask Jim about iodine lol

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by e_baer

Ask Jim about iodine lol

...and elevated SG...

[starboy]

The "Blue xenia" tag can just be ordinary common xenia which under strong lighting also with an actinic can appear as blue.This usually grows fine in most tanks.You should never add iodine to a tank unless you can accurately measure the level first to see if it is defficient.
The name can also refer to a much rarer soft coral which because of it's rarity costs alot more.The correct name for this coral is cespitularia also called blue xenia or african blue coral.This isn't an easy coral to grow and is very fussy with water conditions.It is related to xenia but doesn't pulse.This is what it looks like in my tank under white light.Under actinic it looks like a little neon blue xmas tree.It is also fairly slow growing.

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

That's it! That is what I have! The LFS said it is an African Blue xenia coral- he just used all the names in 1 sentence. So what can I do? Why are these more demanding than the other commonly known types of xenia? Mine are 'blue' in the water....out of the water..... they are blue. When I originally described them on my post, I gave a description of a cross between a xenia and a kenya tree, because it does look like a tree, christmas tree gives a much better image. What can you suggest to take this to a better health?
I read everywhere iodine is not good, toxic. But alot of reefers say to use it, sparingly - I am having a hard time locating a test kit for it. Seems to not be in stock - my LFS said the same thing as Edward- just dose a dropper each week. I have a 180g- so without knowing my levels now, who suggests where to get a test kit? Thanks!

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Thanks! I went to my handy-dandy online store to get a brief description! (have never ordered online, but they give info on all livestock)
Wow, I feel good, I have a rare angel, a couple of rare australian corals, and now the african blue- I really wish I can get them to the point of fragging status, to be able to share them with others. I read all about the DBTC, and love the idea! Too bad it's in California though. Anyway--thanks and have a great nite!

[emccullough1]

I read everywhere iodine is not good, toxic

Yes I read that to. And get hammered By the good old boy network every time I say add Iodine. But this is fact I have added 1/8 teaspoon of iodine every week for going on two years to my 10 gal tank. And have had no ill affects. I give Xenia away every few months. I started with 2 small stalks and at present count there is 14 in my little tank. along with several other types of corals. Iodine is essential for crustaceans and shrimp to molt. and used by several types of corals such as Xenia.

I'm sure there will be replies saying I crazy. And I'm done saying add Iodine. But If you need some pulsing Xenia just come by and I will give you some.

[starboy]

That's it! That is what I have! The LFS said it is an African Blue xenia coral- he just used all the names in 1 sentence. So what can I do?

Cool.It's probably one of the most beautiful soft corals available and also a very rare one.It never grows fast like xenia, even in perfect water conditions, which are as close to zero nitrate/phosphate you can get.Any ammonia or nitrite and it's a goner.Medium water flow, not so much that it gets battered, and bright light.In these conditions it will be bright blue.The better the conditions the bluer it gets.If water quality drops it first turns pink then if things don't improve it dies.This isn't a beginner coral like xenia.
Never cut it to get a frag.This can cause infection and you may well lose the whole coral.It's extremely sensitive to damage.When growing well you'll notice what looks like thick blue icing sugar dripping away from the coral base.This usually runs over the rocks for an inch or two then stops.It then breaks away from the mother coral and forms a blob, and then forms into another baby coral.