Wilting Xenias...HELP!!!

[Invader K]

Hello,

I have a Silver Branch Pumping Xenia in my 12 gallon Nano Cube since February and at first it flourished. It split in several different colonies and expanded to about five times its original size. My two Percula Clownfish were even hosting it, which did cause a brief wilt, but they perked back up the same day.

Now, one by one, all my Xenia colonies are wilting again, but this time, they're not perking back up! The little tentacles are still pulsing, but they just do not look healthy at all--my Percs can't even go in them anymore! I'm so worried!!! Will this turn into a mutiny?

Any ideas on what I can do? Please, please, please, please, PLEASE respond! I'm getting desperate!!!

In case you're wondering, my water parameters are as follows:
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm
pH: 8.2
Calcium: 375 mg/L
Alkalinity: 5.6 dKh (yes, I know this is a tad low)
Specific Gravity: 1.023

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Ef3s]

What kind of lights do you have?

What is the flow on them?

And jw 5 times the origional size? Are they completely covering the tank?

How are the phosphates(?)

 

[Invader K]

What kind of lights do you have?

What is the flow on them?

And jw 5 times the origional size? Are they completely covering the tank?

How are the phosphates(?)

I have 2-24W Compact Fluorescents (JBJ Combos) with a 106 GPH pump--standard fixings for the 12 gallon Nano Cube Deluxe.

I only use RO water, so phosphates should be obsolete, but I can still check for them if you think it's a major factor. I've been meaning to invest in a phosphate test.

And, okay, maybe I exaggerated a little when I said my Xenias expanded 5 times the original size. But they did expand quite significantly and they were starting to take over the back portion of the tank. Not a complete cover.

Thanks for responding!

 

[mr_X]

i think xenia thrive on nitrate. here is a quote:
Feeding: Xenia is photosynthetic and does not accept any known foods. It is thought that they absorb some of their nutrients directly from the water. In fact, some hobbyist keep large colonies of Xenia as filter beds where the xenia is regularly pruned for nutrient export. It is unclear if this is very effective. Xenia may do better in tanks that are not heavily skimmed.
i keep a steady 10ppm nitrate(not by choice, but by heavy feeding), and my xenia are an annoying nuisance.
maybe your tank is a little too clean?

P.S. here is where i got that from-
http://www.reefcorner.com/SpecimenSheet ... _xenia.htm

 

[Invader K]

i think xenia thrive on nitrate. here is a quote:
Feeding: Xenia is photosynthetic and does not accept any known foods. It is thought that they absorb some of their nutrients directly from the water. In fact, some hobbyist keep large colonies of Xenia as filter beds where the xenia is regularly pruned for nutrient export. It is unclear if this is very effective. Xenia may do better in tanks that are not heavily skimmed.
i keep a steady 10ppm nitrate(not by choice, but by heavy feeding), and my xenia are an annoying nuisance.
maybe your tank is a little too clean?

P.S. here is where i got that from-
http://www.reefcorner.com/SpecimenSheet ... _xenia.htm

Hmmmm...that's food for thought. Maybe I'll try feeding my tank more frequently.

Thanks for the links!!!

 

[shavo]

where do you find this stuff X????

 

[SnowManSnow]

sounds like J. Sprung

 

[Ef3s]

Yeah I googled it some too and found a few other people on other forums agreeing with Mr. X about the "Dirty" water theory.

Most says they prefer this a little more....!

 

[IslandCrow]

I have heard that xenia may extract nitrates from the water column, and there seems to be some very good anecdotal evidence to support that. Realize, however, that our tanks generally have significantly higher levels of nitrates than what you find in the ocean, even if your test kit is giving you a reading of "0". Because of this, I really don't put much stock in the "dirty water" theory. Xenia absolutely flourish in my tank (well, not as much since I upgraded my lighting), and I haven't had detectable levels of nitrates for well over a year. That's definitely not to say I know better than the people who subscribe to this theory. . .it's more to say that "dirty" water is a very relative term.

My guess on the wilting xenia would be the clowns. They may be irritating it just enough for it to start to decline. Can you frag a bit off and move it to another area of the tank. If it starts perking up sans clownfish, I'd say you have your answer.

 

[Invader K]

I have heard that xenia may extract nitrates from the water column, and there seems to be some very good anecdotal evidence to support that. Realize, however, that our tanks generally have significantly higher levels of nitrates than what you find in the ocean, even if your test kit is giving you a reading of "0". Because of this, I really don't put much stock in the "dirty water" theory. Xenia absolutely flourish in my tank (well, not as much since I upgraded my lighting), and I haven't had detectable levels of nitrates for well over a year. That's definitely not to say I know better than the people who subscribe to this theory. . .it's more to say that "dirty" water is a very relative term.

My guess on the wilting xenia would be the clowns. They may be irritating it just enough for it to start to decline. Can you frag a bit off and move it to another area of the tank. If it starts perking up sans clownfish, I'd say you have your answer.

Thank you. I will definitely take that into consideration.

 

[brandonberry]

What is your temperature running. If it gets too high that can affect them. Also, I have heard that Xenia prefer a high pH. I use a limewater top-off system and my PH stays a little higher. My Xenia grow like weeds doubling in number every 2 weeks. Also, I recently had a small flatworm infestation that preyed upon my Xenia. It caused a few to wither before I noticed what was going on. Look closely as they are the same color as the Xenia and very hard to see. They look like a faint spot about the size of a pencil eraser or smaller. They also eat other soft corals, LPS, and mushrooms so they could have come in on something else.

 

[Anonymous]

Xenia also prefer a bit higher SG. Most people keep the SG closer to 1.025-7 in reef tanks. Lower SG doesn't bother fish, but it does the inverts YMMV.

 

[Invader K]

Thanks to everyone for responding! All your advice and information has been invaluable. Just a quick update, my Xenias are still very limp, but they look like they are starting to get a little better. Still, they are a far cry than what they used to look like.

To answer brandonberry and lawdawg's responses, I do try to keep my temp between 76-78 degrees, but earlier this summer (before moving to an apartment with air conditioning) it got as high as 88 degrees (yikes!!!). The Xenias seemed to fare okay during that time. I know that my SG isn't exactly to reef standards (1.023) --I am working to get that raised gradually. The flatworm story sounds scary! So far all my other corals look good, but I will keep a lookout.