What do I do with a broken Xenia stalk? One of mine broke of

[Abarnswell]

I have a wonderful rock full of pulsing Xenia stalks (I just love those!). Tonight, one of the smaller stalks broke away from the rock and floated several inches away and landed on the LS substrate. I picked it up and put in on a quiet rock ledge, nearer to the lights, but away from the main current. It's so small that the current was knocking it around.

I don't know why it broke off. Was the current too strong? I have an AquaClear 50 on my 15 gallon AGA. It's rated for 20-50 gallon tanks. Is that too powerful for a 15 g.? I placed my Xenia rock directly in the path of the water return, because in the tank where it came from, it was in a heavy current. The Xenia seemed happy there; the little wavy parts are always open and flowing during light hours.

Or, did it break off intentionally, to spread itself? I've read that Xenia spreads like a weed.

Any suggestions or recommendations??

 

[drty811]

it probably broke off intentionally....the flow should be fine, i have seen them in some pretty turbulant water. you can place a shot glass in your tank with some rubble and the piece of xenia. the glass will keep anything from messing with the little guy while it attaches itself.

 

[Abarnswell]

you can place a shot glass in your tank with some rubble and the piece of xenia

So he would attach himself to a piece of rubble, then I could position the rubble somewhere appropriate after he's attached??

 

[drty811]

you got it....very easy to do.

 

[Abarnswell]

you got it....very easy to do

Cool! Now I'm a frag farmer. I'll do that. I don't want him to get lost. I love Xenia -- it's a perfect anenome substitute for a woman who's afraid to get stung by a real anenome. Thanks for the suggestion!!

 

[smoke eater]

Put one of your hermts undet the shot glass, soon the xenia will attach. Free roaming xenia :mrgreen:

 

[incysor]

You can also take a needle and thread and sew it to a piece of rubble. Or you can use superglue gel, (a lot of it), to glue it to a small piece of rubble.

B

 

[Abarnswell]

Put one of your hermts undet the shot glass, soon the xenia will attach. Free roaming xenia

Oh, my! That's too funny. I can see it now, crawling all over the rocks.

You can also take a needle and thread and sew it to a piece of rubble.

Ouch! That sounds like a good idea, but I can't get past the OUCH factor. I think I'll try the shot glass approach. I have to do it today, cause he's getting blown around. I stuck in a quiet area between two large rocks to hold him still until I can run out and buy a shot glass.

 

[flsandwoman]

I had put a shotglass in my tank and the rep at the LFS said to take it out. She said some glass had lead in it which has caused problems with the fish. Anybody heard that as a problem?

 

[djconn]

I've never heard that before. Might be possible I guess...

I've used shotglasses and even glass bowls before without any problems.

 

[incysor]

Well, yes. Some older glass, or handblown glass certainly can have lead in it. But most of it won't. If it's something you're gonna worry about, you can always use the plastic ones. I use a small juice glass in my larger tank.

B