Shaun Sweeney
Active Member
What a complex hobby ...
Using Xenia in Refugium as nutrient export
- Thread starter Broadwave
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Goby-won
Active Member
jeffrey holloway
Active Member
Love the idea of a xenia fuge. I have them all over my 150g & 75g DTs. That would be a great way to control them.
I've Been running a half full Xenia fuge in a 55g sump connected to my 60 cube. I've never had to run a skimmer and don't ever have an issue with algae or Coral (sps) growth. Meaning no algae and great Coral growth. I tried using macro algae but it seems the Xenia out compete and do just fine keeping levels low by them selves.
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Broadwave
Active Member
Well I guess that settles it, I'm going to move forward with letting the Xenia in my refugium just simply take over. Oh and I even bought the Borneman book as well to keep around for reference.
Thanks everyone for your input.
Thanks everyone for your input.
mstockmaster
Active Member
I said that at first. Then...Too bad I can't grow Xenia...they always die on me. I Never been able to grow them.
Here is more information around my current set up and why I've been looking into a Xenia dominant refugium.
My current system is 190 Gallon display, with a berlin style sump. The external refugium (57 gallons) is fed via manifold from my main return pump. The fuge, empties back in the filter sock section of the sump. Yes, I am aware of the fauna that could be fed to my system to feed the fish, etc.... but I had set it up that way on purpose. Mainly as I didnt want to clean my sump every other week. I also run a 4' Lifereef skimmer which really pulls the gunk out of my system. Lastly, I use ROX carbon changed monthly and Phosguard for phosphate removal. FWIW, I despise GFO with a passion, but that is topic of discussion for another day
When I had initially set up the refugium, I used Miracle Mud for the substrate, seeded with the refugium kit from Indo Pacific Sea Farms, and even went so far as to get the best lights I could and went with (2) Kessil H380's. For some reason I can not grow macro algae to save my life. The only Macro Algae that will grow is small sea grass, which I am ok with. However, the Red Sea Xenia I placed in there just keep growing and growing. So a couple weeks ago I started investigating if having a Xenia only refugium would be as efficient at removing Nitrate and Phosphate as Chaetomorpha? I believe that Xenia does indeed eat up the Nitrates as no matter how much I feed and I do feed quite a bit, my Nitrates are always at Zero. Phosphates on the other hand are just over .03ppm @ 12ppb. So I may need to start dosing Potassium Nitrate to help bring down the Phosphate. Again, patience and as Tony V said tuning it correctly. The main reason I asked the original question is that I didnt think I was the first person to embark on this type of fuge and that there had to be others that have already been and are down this road.
The current photo period is reverse of the display tank and runs from 9PM to 9AM. I haven't seen much variation in my pH and it stays fairly steady between 8.10 and 8.22.
As for additives, etc.... I use a dosing pump to add BRS 2 Part to keep dKH (8.4) and Ca (433). I also dose twice a day Zeovit Phols Extra and AALPS, which could be my my Xenia grows as fast as it does. Additionally, I feed daily one cube of American Reef HPD and one sheet of Nori every other day. This keeps my fish super fat and also helps to feed the corals.
I just want to confirm that you are seeing good Xenia growth with you h380. I have a h80 over my small fuge and just added some Xenia that friend gave me but I wasn't sure if the spectrum would work. What color setting are you using (I have mine set to growth)
Thanks Len
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Broadwave
Active Member
Hi Len, I have mine H380 set to Growth mode as well. The Xenia is growing really fast, but I also have feather and grape caulerpa as well as small sea grass growing as well which seems to be growing much faster than the Xenia. I'll post a picture of my fuge later this evening.
Thanks I have a big ball of cheato in my fuge as well. A friend tore down his 120g display and 40g fuge due to a late notice move (display was full of huge acropora and fuge was full of Xenia). He gave me 2 coolers full of frags including a bunch of Xenia. Everything that has Xenia growing on it went into the fuge since I don't want it in the main display. I just wanted to make sure the overly red spectrum would work. It's a display fuge so my Fiancé is a big fan of the Xenia along with some mushrooms and zoas that are mixed in with it.
Snuggs
Well-Known Member
Interesting, battling nitrates...alas I feed heavy, are Xenia effective? Cheato survives in my fuge but doesn’t explode with growth. I have a small rock in my QT with Xenia....maybe I shall move it
Land Shark
Valuable Member
I think I’m going to put some pulsing Xenia in my fuge. It can’t hurt. Anyone have a favorite pulsing Xenia they want to recommend? Tidal gardens has some for sale. Should I look anywhere else?
Lighting is important. Especially if you are trying to establish your Xenia fuge. The light doesn't need to be expensive, but it does need to be intense and in the correct spectrum. I went from using s single 150w mh pendant, to a single 16" Value SB Reef fixture. The growth I get is comparable the MH, but at half the wattage.
Snuggs
Well-Known Member
I have an improvised fuge in my Reefer 170. Started with a speck of Xenia on a rock
I have fragged it six times in three months. Still have 28 heads. Only bought this light because my Lfs was having a clearance. I spent 20 dollars.
AUQA GADGET CHAETOMAX 2-N-1 REFUGIUM Led
I have fragged it six times in three months. Still have 28 heads. Only bought this light because my Lfs was having a clearance. I spent 20 dollars.
AUQA GADGET CHAETOMAX 2-N-1 REFUGIUM Led
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