Now it is TOO happy!

[justjes45]

I think this guy is called a pulsing Xenia?
Anyhow, he is so happy he slowly taking over the entire center of my tank.
I like it, and I love the movement, but I'm worried he's going to smother the corals around him…
Isis there a way to contain him?

 

[Squadir]

This guy will grow onto anything it touches. The best way to prevent unwanted growth is to isolate it on a rock on the sand bed where it cant touch any other rocks and can be controlled.

 

[roosterchef]

I've seen some reefers refer to this as a pest because it is so invasive. Maybe remove and sell it before it spreads more. I love their movement though. Too bad they become a problem.

 

[eliramos]

Even isolating won't stop these guys they will just drop heads and you'll find little ones budding everywhere.
Save yourself while you can lol!!

 

[cmcoker]

There a thread on here somewhere of a tank that it smothered everything else.. I have found injecting with vinegar will melt it and it usually will not grow back in that spot but it is a constant battle. I only keep some because my clownfish love it and I don't want an anemone

Here's that thread
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/so-you-think-you-want-to-keep-xenia.103328/

 

[ngvu1]

I have a bunch of xenia in the sump for nitrate export. I have xenia, cherry charm zoas and Caulerpa macro algae. So far the cherry charm is losing the battle.

 

[justjes45]

Sooo.... I have left it, and it is happily taking over.
I really need to "prune"
It before it hurts/ smothers my other corals...
Any suggestions on how to do this!

 

[domination2580]

Sooo.... I have left it, and it is happily taking over.
I really need to "prune"
It before it hurts/ smothers my other corals...
Any suggestions on how to do this!

Frag it and send it to me :)

 

[justjes45]

Frag it and send it to me :)

If I knew how to do that, I would...[emoji13]
Where are you located? Close to Vermont?

 

[cmcoker]

If you can scrape it off the rock, do that.
I just inject it with vinegar these days, will melt it in a couple days

 

[justjes45]

If you can scrape it off the rock, do that.
I just inject it with vinegar these days, will melt it in a couple days

Ok! Thanks!

 

[justjes45]

Ok! Thanks!

Will vinegar not hurt other things in the tank?

 

[cmcoker]

Will vinegar not hurt other things in the tank?

Many people use vinegar as a carbon source to promote bacterial growth that reduces nitrates. If you have a skimmer and limit the amount of vinegar you use in a day it should be fine. Look up carbon dosing.
I usually just use 10ml a day in my 140g system.