Issue with Pulsing Xenia

[randolphoralph]

I am not sure what is wrong with my pulsing xenia. I added it to my tank about 1 1/2 weeks ago, and I do not think it is doing well. I could be wrong because I am new to the hobby. From time to time the coral will bunch up and not pulse, and the main trunk appears to be thinner then when I originally put it in the tank.

I checked the levels of the tank and found the only one out of the norm was the nitrates which was 40ppm. Yesterday I did a 10% water change, and it is now at showing the nitrates at 20ppm. I called a local fish store and they stated at 20ppm it should not be causing the xenia to act this way. I believe the xenia is getting to much water flow or not enough light. Here is a picture of the Xenia with the smallest one all bunched up.

I currently am using a 10 gallon tank with a Marineland LED light. In the next week I plan on transferring the Xenia to a 55 gallon that has been cycling, and this tank has full spectrum 6500K LED lights. Which I have been told is enough for soft corals.

 

[randolphoralph]

Is this normal or can anyone tell me what the cause is?

 

[ritter6788]

Looks like it needs more light. What are the specs of your led light?

 

[Liquid360]

I love the zinnias and there pulsing. It's quite endearing. It's funny how for every thread like this there's another asking for advice on how to murder them.

 

[glb]

I'd get the nitrates even lower. 10 or less is what I've read. I don't have xenias but I think that's the general rule.


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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.

 

[xbrentx]

Light!!! I moved mine under a more powerful light and they pulse like champs

 

[randolphoralph]

I am not sure about the led light specs as Marineland has choosen not to provide any. I have searched the web and had no luck. I am assuming it is a light issue, and once I move the xenia to the new tank it should turn around.

Liquid360 I hope I will find myself with that issue in a couple of months. If I do I can send you some.

Thank you everyone for responding.

 

[Vw reef]

IMO Xenia like dirt water and moderate light and flow. I grow mine on the sand bed isolated from the others and have it grow up the back glass of the tank. Be patient and wait a few days... Chances are that it will open when it is fully acclimated. Nothing good happens quickly in this hobby...I speak from experience.

 

[Trex]

IME, it grows better than good with clean water and bright lights --- I do weekly 5 gallon water changes on my 65, and it has grown all over the tank, to the point of being inches away from 2*250 watt Radiums.

 

[ladyreefer1983]

my xenias were growing good and pulsing....after i added gfo they start shrinking and melting stalk by stalk...i took gfo out and after a week they are back and looking good and pulsing...

 

[Vw reef]

IME, it grows better than good with clean water and bright lights --- I do weekly 5 gallon water changes on my 65, and it has grown all over the tank, to the point of being inches away from 2*250 watt Radiums.

I have had the same experience as well....they seem to do better when there are small amounts of nitrates and phosphates in the tank much like my zoos do. As my tank became more mature I was able to run gfo without and issue as there were plenty of nutrients built up in my sand and rock that the gfo controlled but not completely eliminated.

 

[Vw reef]

IME, it grows better than good with clean water and bright lights --- I do weekly 5 gallon water changes on my 65, and it has grown all over the tank, to the point of being inches away from 2*250 watt Radiums.

When I started to keep more sps corals and thereby cleaner water my Xenia melted. When I was building my house and neglected my tank for 2 months without a water change the zoos and Xenia grew like weeds. I have several others in my local club that can't keep Xenia in there sps tanks. My guess would be the 5 gallon water change does not keep your nutrients at0 but rather low undetectable levels. I would love to know more about your tank as I have never seem this before and am curios.

 

[Trex]

When I started to keep more sps corals and thereby cleaner water my Xenia melted. When I was building my house and neglected my tank for 2 months without a water change the zoos and Xenia grew like weeds. I have several others in my local club that can't keep Xenia in there sps tanks. My guess would be the 5 gallon water change does not keep your nutrients at0 but rather low undetectable levels. I would love to know more about your tank as I have never seem this before and am curios.

A 65 with a 20 long sump -- Octopus skimmer
2*250 Radiums (( galaxy ballasts )) + 96 watt 50/50 PC bulb
2 MP10 powerheads

5 fish; golden sailfin blenny, Flame, Coral Beauty & Multicolored dwarf angels, and flasher wrasse
S. haddoni anemone.

 

[Vw reef]

Great looking tank......love how it covered everything