pulsating xenia dying?

[MrPuma]

I have a few pulsating xenia's and they grow like weeds but then they get to a point where one of the branches start budding off the main stalk. The branch totally seperates from the main but then shrivels and dies. Any thoughts? Am I doing something wrong? The main stalk never seems to be harmed. Thanks.
ammonia 0
nitrites 0
nitrates 10
ph 8.3
calcium 450
alkalinity 4.5
salinity 1.026
phospates 0.1mg/L
iodine 0.04mg/L

 

[SeaView]

Hi,

I know xenia can be tricky - But that usually intails the entire colony crashing all at once. My first guess would be predation. Perhaps something is picking on the newer smaller colony - Fish/crab/etc. Just a guess. I have soem fish that nip a my smaller polyp colonies but never seem to bother the big ones.

Steve

 

[EnvironmentalWacko]

What seems to be happening is asexual reproduction. The stalks squeeze a branch off and the xenia drops off the host. It's called
fracturing.