xenia fuge?

[Zack]

Hello
I have seen this before where the refugium is all xenia. I see how it works with xenia absorbing nutrents like calurpa. correct?

So like to learn about them, anyone have one? Lighting, substrate, ect. Any thoughts on this?

[Telco Guy]

I have Xenia and a Refugium, but not a Xenia Fuge. I have heard of this though. I will soon be setting up something like this, but it is more of a grow-out tankk for the Xenia. It will work like a Xenia Fuge though since it will be plumbed in to the main tank. :wink:

[jman785]

Normal substrate...although crushed shells or course crushed coral works well...lighting, same as just for growing Xenia...MH's make it spread like mad! It works great, I have a friend that has one with flourecents...seems to flourish nicely throughout the tank.

[Zack]

So how much better is xenia then calurpa or is it the same worse? What should come first inb my supm set-up?

[jman785]

So basically your wondering the benefits of using Xenia in a refugium, than using caulerpa. Well both of them are going to take up different nutrients...although I imagine, if you combine them, and use both...that you'd have some nice filtration going. I'm in the process of building a multiple section sump, it will consist of a skimmer/Ca Reactor Zone, a zone that consists of nothing but liverock, then flows through the fuge section and back to the aquarium. Or to a growout...in the fuge, I planned on using Xenia and a few different types of macroalgae, although I'm not set on the option of Xenia yet. I have a few friends that rely on that, and it seems to work good for them.

[Zack]

Here is my futore sump.

[Telco Guy]

But, it looks like you want the water to travel under and over those baffles between the caulerpa nd the Xenia sections. Is this correct? Aren't you going to have a substrate? Is it necessary to have these baffles? I was thinking of setting mine up without those baffles. Sort of like the CPR H.O.B. Aquafuge that I already have. I guess I can see why you might want a baffle between the caulerpa and the Xenia, but not necessarily that three piece baffle.

And, what is this going to be made out of? And what is your cost going to be? I just got my Arca Bulk container today. It's a bit bigger than your sump, but it only cost $145. Well, I guess it's almost twice the size. Inside is 40"x27"x23". I'm told that you can only fill it about 3/4 full or the sides may bow, but that's fine with me. I am planning on putting a baffle at one end that is 18" leaving a 6" area for my return pump and other stuff to go. Not sure if I am boing to do anything at the other end or not. May just bring the water pipe in and put some sort of spraybar or something. Of course, mine is also more of a grow-out tank rather than a sump.

[Zack]

Hey
Need to work with the design a bit but would like to separte calurpa from xenia, one reason being lighting. I have a 48" fixture with 2 55 watt PC that go out on either end. The calurpa side would have 65k the xenia would have like 10k i think? any thoughts on the lighting for xenia part.

I am having a local guy make it from acylic.

[Telco Guy]

Well, I've heard different things. I am growing mine currently under 135w PC in a 40Gal tank. I know I need more light but hadn't gotten that far yet. I am considering a combo MH/PC fisture for the grow-out tank. May get a dual one with 2 36" fixtures and put one on the main tank and one on the grow-out. Not really sure though. Kind of on a strict budget. :wink:

[Zack]

135 watts what is the temp 10k 50/50?? Is it growing well??

[Telco Guy]

50/50. Yeah, pretty good growth, but I was reading that MH makes the stuff grow like mad. (Oh, just noticed that it was in this thread that I read that :oops: )

[Zack]

I have MH on my 50 gallon with some xenia seems to do very well, so you think they will do ok under a 55 watt PC, only like 10" deep with CC substrate. Do you if one kind of xenia is better then the other?

[Telco Guy]

Well, I have the Red Sea pulsing Xenia. Don;t really know about any others or how they differ from this.

[TUNDAR4]

What is a grow out tank?THANKS

[Telco Guy]

It's a tank that is set up to specifically for growing corals or other things. I am going to be using a plastic bulk container made by Arca Systems (http://www.ppsamericas.com/products/bigbox/bb_us.html). I'm starting with the smaller one (42x29x28). The inside dimensions are about 40x27x23. I'll have it filled to about 19" deep with about 3" of sand on the bottom. I may be adding a shelf made from plastic egg crate (2'x4' fluorescent light diffuser). I'm also planing on having about 60lbs of coral rubble that I'll be getting from www.hi-rocks.com. The coral rock is for additional bio filtration and for something to attach the cuttings to. I'll try and take pictures and document the process.