A Xenia Refugium: Pulsing Xenia as a method of filtration?

[SebastianReefer]

I would love to have a Xenia refugium. I saw this when I first started to research saltwater tanks many years ago and feel in love. In my big tank right now I have a rock island with xenia on it and I also think when I start up my fuge you're going in there to start it out. I just have fears of having a refugium and so I've never started it.

I used to have those fears also because I e never had one I bit the bullet 6months ago and I’m glad I did it’s was easy and very rewarding

 

[New&no clue]

I used to have those fears also because I e never had one I bit the bullet 6months ago and I’m glad I did it’s was easy and very rewarding

I know this threads got me researching it again.

 

[JNelsonCo]

Does the person who owns that tank love xenia or really hate it?

I ask them if they ever heard of pruning?

 

[VLR3]

I’m just a beginner compared to most of you here but it seems to me the Xenia would also use up a lot the nutrients your display corals would need where chaeto wouldn’t.

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

Side question, if you have xenia in the fuge, but not in the display, what are the odds of it eventually making it's way to the display?

I have Xenia in the display that has made it to the fuge

 

[Afterburner]

I am in the process of building a display refugium that will have xenia and waving hands. I covered my nano tank with waving hands and my nutrients stay at zero. I run all kinds of experiments on my nano tank, and dosing an obscene (0.5 oz per gallon) amount of phyto doesn't spike PO4 like I thought it would, and the SPS corals I have in there are thriving. Who knows if it will work for my mixed reef DT, but I like the look of them and they seem to grow well in my DT on the frag rack. The main reason for the display refugium is to put fish I catch that will eat my SPS and gorgonias. The overflow will go into the sock in my sump, so I doubt the xenia will get into my DT anyway.

 

[Brad Miller]

I don’t understand all the talk about the spreading of Xenia....it’s beautiful and easy to control in a dt.
when a small piece floats away and starts somewhere, just pick it out...easy

 

[Bryan68]

This is interesting, as I'm currently planning my fuge. Now I must rethink the whole thing. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread.

 

[NemNation]

I just removed all my macro about a week ago and put a softball size colony of Xenia isn’t the fuge. After doing some reading I decided to give it a go. Wanted to try something different for the sake of it.

 

[Jfinn]

If I could get mine to pulse I would be game - I must be missing something (flow, ligthting, etc)

 

[H3rm1tCr@b]

I have a ton; they suck up nutrients like a sponge! Perhaps they are just as good or better than macroalgae? We may have to find out!

 

[H3rm1tCr@b]

If I could get mine to pulse I would be game - I must be missing something (flow, ligthting, etc)

Eh give it time. Mine seems to like medium flow with medium to high light.

 

[Terr-c]

I also have a fairly large rock island of pulsing exina in my display and on occasion I do find small "frags" in places around the tank. I just reach in and pull the littel guys off. I throw them in my sump/refugium and once in a while I sell the decent size frags for about 5 - 10$ to local guys. They are not hard to keep in check.

I love xenia; when my tank matures I want to add xenia and am wondering how far from your other rocks is your rock island? Got a pic? I've created a couple islands but, not sure they are far enough away from my main rocks. I've heard if your xenia does well, it will spread like wildfire.

 

[stevieduk]

one of my tanks is the same as the picture of the xenia tank at the start of this article, its taken over, but my water still goes bad at the same rate as my other tanks, so no i do not think it would make a great filter, but it does look nice

 

[Shon]

I remember reading alot about it (and people also used aptasia) as part of trizonal setups but I think mostly in "duplex sumps".

Wasn't the purpose to replace mechanical filter (sponge/sock)? I believe it was skimmer-> xenia(or aptasia) -> macro algae ->benthic ?

 

[Terr-c]

This is interesting. I have xenia island in my DT but I may throw some in my fuge to see. why not = )

Just asked Thomas Wieczorek this question also, very curious. I love xenia; when my tank matures I want to add xenia and am wondering how far from your other rocks is your rock island? Got a pic? I've created a couple islands but, not sure they are far enough away from my main rocks. I've heard if your xenia does well, it will spread like wildfire.

 

[ReefingFamily]

I have had it for many years without migration just not sure of how it would benefit the tank.

 

[Bobber351C]

I have a Xenia refugium because for some reason, My chaeto decided to melt, and I have been unable to keep it since. I moved my xenia rock island into my fuge and it loves it there. Not entirely sure how much nutrients its pulling out though.

 

[Bobber351C]

My tank loves it! No issues with it getting back in the main either

 

[Shon]

Maybe worth a read?
"Down the Drain" by Shimek

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-12/rs/feature/index.php

Or a glance at the images..