Pulsating or Pulse-less: How do you feel about Xenia?

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

Pulsating Xenia is a coral that has long been debated on whether it's worth keeping in an aquarium. Some think these corals are one of the coolest corals to watch (me), while others wouldn't touch it with a 10ft poll. There is no doubt about the resilience of these guys, but are they a little too resilient? Let's settle this here and now...

How do you feel about Pulsating Xenia?

Photo Credit: Najer

 

[ErieAquarist]

I just bought my first pulsating Xenia on a coral sale over the weekend. In my opinion I think they are wonderful to watch but I think they should be secluded to they don't take over everything. ;)

 

[shakacuz]

nice to look at. bad to keep in tank unless isolated(from what i've read/seen). would i keep it? yes, as i've also kept GSP previously until it began growing over the sand..

 

[Reefer Matt]

Pulsing Xenia is cool, but is not suitable for every reef tank, imo. Definitely a good coral to have in a softy tank. It just depends on if you are happy with just any coral growing, or have specific reefing goals with lps and sps, etc. This coral can take over. I had it in a softy display (took tank down), but now just my softy frag tank.

 

[PapaFishRocks]

I knew it grew fast, but WOWZERS!!!! It grows VERY VERY fast. Little over 60 days….

 

[Keko21]

My nano tank is actually a xenia tank. I have regular silver/pink pulsing xenia, long polyp chocolate cherry xenia, and (as of today) their cousin blue green sympodium. The idea was that they would take over and I love it! That said I would not put it in my large tank. It does shed polyps and spread to other areas quickly!

 

[Reef Puncher]

I like it if its on the back wall. I glued it and lepto on the back wall.

 

[vcnt]

Looking for advice, i see something i think is xenia on a zoa frag how do i remove?

 

[KrisReef]

SHOW OF YOUR XENIA IN THE COMMENTS!​

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:cool:

 

[Zakary2003]

I love it. It adds tons of texture and movement to a tank, and it's good for exporting nutrients when it grows fast. I haven't found it to be that hard to remove either. I've found it's super sensitive to peroxide so I use that to my advantage. If you turn off flow and spray it with some over the counter low strength peroxide once or twice a day, it usually melts away, while other corals are fine (careful with anemones though. They get very unhappy).

 

[Obriy]

My nano tank is actually a xenia tank. I have regular silver/pink pulsing xenia, long polyp chocolate cherry xenia, and (as of today) their cousin blue green sympodium. The idea was that they would take over and I love it! That said I would not put it in my large tank. It does shed polyps and spread to other areas quickly!

Do you have pictures?

 

[Mr Fishface]

I love it myself! Maybe my all time favorite coral. I know it spreads like crazy when things are going well but I love the movement it adds to the tank.

 

[TinnysReef]

I have it growing in my 125g clownfish tank. It's on the walls, on one of the islands ... and little ones are sprouting up on other rocks that I'll have to trim. Some of the clownfish live in it on the walls. I get the trimmed ones growing on rubble in my frag tank and sell them to the LFS who hasn't had luck with ordering Xenia from vendors as they are usually DOA or if they live they do not pulse. Tried to get pics but there is too much glare in there right now.

 

[Mhamilton0911]

I love it. I have it in my main tank, mostly growing on the back side of rocks that I can't justify placing corals on. I find it incredibly easy to pull back when it gets too close to something. My favorite part? It's not toxic, not harmful, doesn't pose a threat to remove, no chemical warfare, can touch anything. Once you get the hang of it, it pulls easily off rocks.

I also have it going wild in my Eel tank. Love the movement and the eel loves laying in it poking out her chubby face in the pretty Xenia. I don't test this tank so I don't know how of it's keeping nitrates down, it might be. Maybe I'll check it today?

Yes I cleaned the glass after this picture.

 

[stE26wy14]

to me, I dont get the appeal of it, its purple, and it has hands, it looks like a feather duster, which are cool, but they just sit there, pulsing, its the fleshy part of it thats just makes it look weird, I know its a coral and all, but for some reason, it just looks fake and un-natural, imho!

 

[Keko21]

Do you have pictures?

Kenya tree zoas and sympodium were just put in today so hopefully ill have more colorful pics soon!

 

[Koty]

I have about 40 sps, lps, gorgonian, softies, zoanthids, and Aiptasia, but Xenia does not survive in my tank. On my last attempt, I bought a frag, and it died in 2 weeks while a cian-colored Acroporan grew from the rock it was on.

 

[steveschuerger]

i picked option 2, but I’m changing my Biocube 16 back over to salt soon, so I might be amenable. I was thinking of going all softie or trying Acros . Haven’t made up my mind yet.