How Fast Does Xenia Grow?

[lewiss]

I think my Xenia has grown in a week?! Is tht possible?? Or has it just expanded? It's like double the size??

 

[fishy55599]

QUICK!

 

[sorgan]

Very lol

 

[MrLiam]

Extremely I have it sprouting on random rocks

 

[HappyGeorge]

In the right conditions you can hear it creaking. Stupid quick mate. Look at this from page 3 of my Reef journal in March and then look at todays photo.

The video on the last page of the Reef journal will show you it all moving about.

I haven't added or fragged any for replanting that is all from self spreading in 4 months.

Whoever said nothing good happens quickly in a marine tank?

 

[lewiss]

Lol. I see!! I'm impressed.

 

[woody88]

I can vouch for the rapid growth. HG sent me some xenia not too long ago. It was roughly around 2-3" in length. Now, no word of a lie, its at LEAST 6" in length on top of that 3" of stalks. If i was to place it on my substrate, it would reach half way up my tank wall. I get bits of xenia all over the tank which I pick off weekly and dispose of as it's starting to take a foot hold in my tank.

 

[Uriel]

Doesn't it depend on the length of the "strands". I bought a short length variety as they are supposed to grow slower and be less invasive.

 

[seffieuk]

Doesn't it depend on the length of the "strands". I bought a short length variety as they are supposed to grow slower and be less invasive.

It also depends on the water content, nitrates etc some people find they cant grow it at all! I had some in my boyu 550, it wouldn't grow, have some in my five footer and it has a nice steady growth rate. I had 0 nitrates in the nano and yes, you guessed it, I do have nitrates in the five footer

 

[woody88]

How do you trim the stuff exactly?

Is it simply a case of a snip snip here, a snip snip there, here a snip, there a snip, everywhere a snip snip!

 

[HappyGeorge]

Doesn't it depend on the length of the "strands". I bought a short length variety as they are supposed to grow slower and be less invasive.

Shortest stuff is a little less invasive but still spreads like crazy.

It also depends on the water content, nitrates etc some people find they cant grow it at all! I had some in my boyu 550, it wouldn't grow, have some in my five footer and it has a nice steady growth rate. I had 0 nitrates in the nano and yes, you guessed it, I do have nitrates in the five footer

I know some people have problems with it, my reef is zero nitrate though I am of the opinion flow has a great deal of influence, my 3 foot is more than adequately served by the MP40's and there was a marked increase in its growth after the MP40 was fitted.

How do you trim the stuff exactly?

Is it simply a case of a snip snip here, a snip snip there, here a snip, there a snip, everywhere a snip snip!

Yep you can either just chop it or if you get a stanley blade you can always lift the foot of the Xenia off the rock and remove the thing whole, if it doesn't want to lift try the other side of the foot as one end always lifts easier than the other.