how to control xenia's?

[fishytime]

Only problem with peeling is if you dont get 100% of it off it will come back. Now you have it in its original position and where ever you moved it to. I have also found little tiny xenia growing on rocks that the mother colony was nowhere near. I suspect from trimming back the mother colony IN the display tank(wont do that agian). Just frag it and sell it. I dont even have the original piece I bought and the frags have more than paid for the original piece. I find it easier to control this way. After I cut frags off, if there is a little residual xenia it will sprout up fairly soon. Then I take a sharp tool and cut the rock the little sprout is on. Viola no more xenia(there).

[Scavenger]

Another option would be asking your local LFS if they would trade pound for pound, your rocks with xenia for theirs without xenia. I don't know about your local stores, but in my experience, LFS's really like rocks with any type of growth. The newbie's always buy that first.

[fishface]

definitely not going to dismantle the rockwork for that but i suppose it is an option...one i won't entertain personally though.