Xenia HELP!

[Mikef1]

The last few months my xenia has shrivled up and lost its color. Can anyone tell from this pic whats wrong. Water params, calcium 430ppm ph 8.0-8.3 alkalinity 10dkh. Thanks

 

[reefann]

You have anything that could be nipping at the polyps?
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[mrrrkva]

First off, are they right from the ocean or propagated. How long have you had them? Once the get settled and if you get them from someone that grows them they are VERY hardy and I have had great success, if they get them right from the ocean I have had poor success. But xenia like Higher salinity 1.025-1.026. You alkalinity seems fine but they do like it a little higher. How much water current do they have. Mine dont like direct blast from the returns but they do like medium current

 

[mrrrkva]

Just saw your last reply somewhere else, and yes the flame angel could be nipping them. they like polyps at times as well

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, I have a flame angel I saw nip at them once but it is very rare and there are so many xenia polyps that I wouldnt think he would be effecting them all over the tank. Will this kill them off. Thanks

It is not going to help if anything nip at it in an enclosed system like home aquarium.

But anyway, Xenia is a bit tricky. Even for someone who has years of experience with Xenia, it may go polyp bailing or fall off for no appearant reason. Most of the time, the polyps will grow back, and there is no concern. May sure the alk. is at the properly level. For salinity, they are usually not very picky unless it is too low. I low light, the polyps will tend to be longer than "natural" and may break off in high current. They prefer low- to mid-current and high light, although they can do well in low light. Good luck.

 

[ereefic1]

We've tried Xenia twice now and they just fade away to nothing. All other corals are thriving. Guess xenia just don't like us.

 

[mrrrkva]

By xenia propagated from another reefer. Ones you buy at the store unless they are propagated usually fade away fast

 

[Anonymous]

my LFSs don't need to buy the stuff anymore.
the xenia stock sold here is more than likely to be hobbyist sold or LFS aquacultured.

as Loule said, it is tricky stuff.
i had great luck with xenia as a beginner and ended up loathing the speed at which it grew...then some years later i couldn't get it to survive.
i have a friend that has experienced the opposite.

i am presently trying it again in my new tank and am curious as to how it will react in a tank with most of the same inhabitants as the last.

 

[Anonymous]

But xenia like Higher salinity 1.025-1.026.

Yeah, I'd have to agree there.. - My salinity is down right now and mine are looking very depressed.. (I have a tank move coming up though and will be giving them some more salt so hopefully they'll come back a little..)

In my case, I intentionally trimmed the salinity back to confirm my suspicions that my GSP prefers it lower.. Which it appears it does.. - They've been extending quite a bit more now that I've dropped down to around 1.022-1.023 (but as I said, the xenia doesn't seem to like that..)


Norm

 

[DK]

Mike, You didn't say how long you had the xenia. Are they under the 400's or the 175's? Wild or from another reefkeeper. Are they pulsing?

 

[Dante]

What other tank inhabitants do you have? I've seen my green brittle star eat an entire Xenia colony in less than 15 minutes. 8O

 

[Anonymous]

i got my xenia a few months ago..almost six...it is propped via frags.org..it seems to be doing good...fully extended...every once in awhile it looks shriveled up for a day or two and then back to normal. id have to say ive had fair amount of success with it since there is a new stalk growing from it and i seem to have polyps growing all over it..I do have days when it seems to stay closed in full light..I have nothing that nips at them...at least to my knowledge...

 

[Mikef1]

The xenia are pulsing red sea xenia and they are under the 175s and pcs. I have had the for about a year and they have been thriving and multiplying everywhere.

 

[Unarce]

Sorry about your Xenia. You may find a thread on the importance of Iodine. If I recall, Iodine aids their ability to feed properly. Could be part of the cause.

 

[rexxx]

High Alk? i believe they like low alk

 

[Anonymous]

There can be a lot of unknowns in the keeping of Xenia, but from my experience, iodine is one of the most mal-associated elements that supposingly essential to the grown and health of Xenia. With appropriate water change, iodine is not needed unless for the rare cases in which Xenia is the dominant species in the tank and chemical test indicates that the level is less than the NSW concentration.

 

[Anonymous]

I used iodine when I had xenia(fragged it all away) and I made sure I kept a high PH and ALK. I never had any polyps bail on me. I had them high up to the light and had moderate current. I tend to think iodine keeps bacterial infections away. Xenia seem to be prone to bacterial infections.