picked up some xenia and it started dying. turns out phosphates are high

[mic_1011]

so just as the title suggests. put in at 11pm sunday, and it bloomed, then woke up monday and it was all shrivled up. my phosphates are through the roof. i had no idea. all other parameters are good. i didn't have a phosphate test kit so i went to the lfs with a water sample. using ro water for 6 months now. could the filters be that dirty? so now i'm looking into a phosban reactor and either phosban (expensive stuff) or some other type of media. any suggestions or experiences????

 

[ryangrieder]

Xenia melts instantly with nitrates. Make sure your using a high brand test kit with nitrates.

Not sure if your phosphate issue is your problem here...

 

[mic_1011]

nitrates were at 20ppm, would that do it?

 

[Macropora]

I've had Xenia in a system with 2.5 PPM Phosphates and they were pumping like crazy and didn't melt. However, they'll do much better when the phosphates are low.

 

[mic_1011]

My phosphates were way higher. They were around 5 I think. Or whatever the highest is on the API test card!

 

[ryangrieder]

i think you should test everything over with a better brand test kit. salifert is good, elos is good, SERA test kit is good and probably the cheapest to get it all in one shot. i think there complete kit is like 60 bucks

 

[kenconnect]

The ro water u r using is from a fs or do u have a ro unit. If so how old is the membrane or is the unit new... Some time Xenia close up but like when u move them. But they open back up in a lil while. For ur phosphates you can use PhosGuard in a sock.

 

[ryangrieder]

yeah xenia is always weird with placement and flow and water pars. no one usually buys it because it grows like weeds...when its happy.