Xenia Refugium

[Troy V]

Time to finally say hello to Reef2Reef...

Hello fellow reefers:wink:


I've been reefing for almost 20 years, and my current system is approx 300 gallons(240 display, 80g sump/macro fuge, and a 30+g Xenia fuge.) This system has be running continuously since Aug. 04. I've found Xenia to be very effective at removing dissolved organic matter in my tank.... I use it as my primary means of filtration, and my 2 skimmers as the secondary. It is an amazing coral, Its beautiful and it cleans your tank. Great DIY filtration idea
Xenia Refugium - YouTube

The Xenia fuge is powered by a 10K 150watt MH, on an opposite photo cycle from the display.

I wanted to share this with some of the newbs out there... If you decide to set up a fuge this is a great way to filter your tank, and make a little extra "upgrade" money.

 

[Bootstrap]

That's cool, what kind of xenia

Sent from my DROID RAZR MAXX HD

 

[Troy V]

Thank you... Elongata- I've used Pom Pom before but it just didn't multiply at the rate I needed it to.

 

[Bootstrap]

Thank you... Elongata- I've used Pom Pom before but it just didn't multiply at the rate I needed it to.

Cool, i have pompom in the DT.

Sent from my DROID RAZR MAXX HD

 

[ladyreefer1983]

that is so cool..so mesmerizing :tongue:..

 

[Dowtish]

This is great! So only a 30 gallon fuge on a 300 gallon DT? and you see great results?

I am currently in the beginning stages of planning a dedicated xenia refugium, but I was also planning on having a little substrate and live rock in there as well. It will be directly under the tank and elevated above my sump which sits remotely to the right of the DT, so it will just gravity feed into my skimmer section.

 

[Troy V]

Thats sounds just like the way I have mine plumbed. Once you find the nutrient equilibrium you will notice excessive feeding = faster Xenia growth, along with some accelerated macro growth, but then once the Xenia fills that nutrient void the macro growth will begin to wane. Same goes for skimmate production....

 

[bairdimusprime]

Seriously? This is the coolest thing I've ever seen

 

[eagle]

I believe you about xenia lol. I have seen it grow like crazy in heavily populated tanks.

 

[ritter6788]

That's awesome
!

 

[Dave3112]

Now that's a fuge! What do you estimate the flow to be through there? I have been considering doing this on my new set up and after seeing this I think I'm convinced!

 

[Dowtish]

Now that's a fuge! What do you estimate the flow to be through there? I have been considering doing this on my new set up and after seeing this I think I'm convinced!

Yup!

 

[Troy V]

Thank you for all the compliments;)

I believe you about xenia lol. I have seen it grow like crazy in heavily populated tanks.

Very true... That is why its a great alternative for older-established systems. Instead of spending hundreds to upgrade a skimmer just upgrade your fuge.

Now that's a fuge! What do you estimate the flow to be through there? I have been considering doing this on my new set up and after seeing this I think I'm convinced!

I would estimate it to be around 200 to 300 gph. However the flow is adjustable through a threaded drain in the display. I've found that that these corals do best with limited flow.

 

[Troy V]

Some recent tank pics....

 

[Pkunk35]

Wow i am ridiculously impressed with your system. The 30gal xenia filter is pretty money. Uh and so is the MEGA clam!

So can i ask you what you feed and how much? I'm curious to know just how fast the xenia are multiplying and taking up the dissolved organics.

And you do not run a skimmer?

The video was incredible btw, i have to admit i laughed when the music started but it does seem fitting. :wink:

edit: do you need to supplement iodine at all?

 

[andip3]

wow that is really awesome, I love looking at all the stuff people come up with : ) thanks for posting

 

[grumpy-crab]

This would be ideal to run with my ATS sense only DOCs remain. Ive been running pura carbon every few months to remove the DOCs. So this is definitely going to be worth looking into more. Thank you for this. :)

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[thejoshdavis]

That's a heck of an idea. Very cool!

 

[BBoley24]

So what happens to the crap that hits the bottom of the tank? Can you clean it without ticking off the xenia?

 

[Troy V]

Wow i am ridiculously impressed with your system. The 30gal xenia filter is pretty money. Uh and so is the MEGA clam!

So can i ask you what you feed and how much? I'm curious to know just how fast the xenia are multiplying and taking up the dissolved organics.

And you do not run a skimmer?

-I feed a 2"x2" square of Rods Complete food every other day, and a tablespoon of a mixture of Reefroids and decapsulated brineshrimp eggs on the days I don't feed the fish.
-The Xenia will multiply when needed to fill the nutrient void. Growth is more of an ebb and flow, sometime it will grow very slowly and other times, like during the summer months it will reproduce very rapidly. This could be due to the increased heat and metabolism of the system.
-I have 2 skimmers attached to the system both 6"x30"-one beckett and one needle wheel. However, I only use the beckett for aeration and water changes, and the needle wheel only pulls about a pint a week. When the fuge is in full control I will get virtually zero skimmate.

The video was incredible btw, i have to admit i laughed when the music started but it does seem fitting. :wink:

edit: do you need to supplement iodine at all?

-I am a huge fan of Andy Williams, I made this right after his death...
-I've tried adding iodine, and I didn't see much of a difference, so I stopped using it. Besides IMHO if the balance cannot be achieved with what is already in the system, what good is it. It must be natural, not dependent on a particular trace element. I want the nurients to feed it, not the iodine.

wow that is really awesome, I love looking at all the stuff people come up with : ) thanks for posting

-Thank you
-It still amazes me how many ways you can approach this hobby.... Gotta love mother nature;)

This would be ideal to run with my ATS sense only DOCs remain. Ive been running pura carbon every few months to remove the DOCs. So this is definitely going to be worth looking into more. Thank you for this. :)

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-I would be very curious to see the out come of having both. I have a very hard time growing macro algae in my fuge. The only time it will grow is when something dies, feed heavily, or my clams spawn. However eventually the Xenia seems to out compete the algae everytime.

That's a heck of an idea. Very cool!

Thank you

So what happens to the crap that hits the bottom of the tank? Can you clean it without ticking off the xenia?

-I have pretty good flow in the tank along with a large hawkwing conch that does a great job of moving things around on the surface of the sandbed.
-Good question: The Xenia will usually wilt for and hour or so, then come back strong. I have yet to experience a crash in over 10 year of doing this.... KNOCKING ON WOOD.