Does xenia release toxins when it dies?

[Son Of Skyline]

I spent the night yesterday scraping the xenia off of my LR, all 5 pieces of it...but I turned around to grab a bucket to put them in and when I turned around I only saw 4 pieces! One of them had quickly drifted to an unknown spot in my tank I guess, and I can't find it anywhere! It's also one of the biggest pieces (about 5" tall). I lifted a few pieces of LR to look for it but I can't find it and I don't want to tear the whole tank down. If it gets wedged deep in my LR and dies, will this be a big problem? TIA [img]smile.gif[/img]

[One_Divided]

I have had this happen many times when I'm "trimming" my xenia. I wouldn't worry about it. It will just settle down somewhere and unless it has light and can attache to something, it will just wither away. I have seen no negative effects from this.

[Son Of Skyline]

Thanks for the info everyone :D

[Troy F]

I have no hard evidence but believe that Xenia spp. corals are toxic to some degree. When bothered they slime something fierce. My view would be that running carbon regularily on a system with any soft corals is a must for long term tank health. There has been much debate on this issue over the years so as usual; YMMV.

[canadawest]

One_Divided is right, it will be fine roaming your tank. The most likely scenario is that it will attach itself somewhere and start growing there. I really has to be burried somewhere in the sand or rockwork to die off. If your water parameters are favorable, these are VERY hardy corals, and will generally make the best of any spot they find to settle in.