My JSB pink xenia is shrinking :(

[markkazdad]

Everything else in my 10g seems happy for the most part, but I'm pretty sure the pink xenia I was given at the August meeting is shrinking.

pH = 7.8
ammonia = 0 (I have a hard time distinguishing between the 0 color and the next one on the API card)
nitrite = 0
nitrate = between 0 and 5.

I may have overfed frozen mysis shrimp yesterday. I didn't realize how large they are.

I have a 20% water change planned for tomorrow, and it seems like I should plan on another one before the weekend.

I moved the piece of rubble with the xenia on it from the bottom of the tank to about halfway up. (My light is just a Coralife 50/50 T8 fluorescent.)

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Is it really shrinking or deflated for a day or so?

 

[JSB]

It is either light, which doesn't take a lot, flow, which doesn't take a lot, or water quality, which doesn't take a lot. Xenia will often pucker up and then rebound later in response to any number of stimuli. But if you are talking about it getting smaller in general, even when it is open, you probably don't have enough light.

The occasional overfeeding is not a big deal, and I saw an article the other day that said it should be considered beneficial. So I would not worry too much unless you have accidentally spilled a whole can of flake in the tank or something.

As for the double 20% water changes. Unless you know why you are doing it, then don't do it. To not apply the water change band aid to fix a problem that you are not sure what it is. For example, what if the problem is that the animals are stressed due to unstable water parameters. Water changes just make them more unstable. The occasional overfeed is not a reason to go to mass water change mode.

 

[markkazdad]

The reason I was considering double water changes was to reduce the nitrates and because I didn't get it done this past weekend. I will take some photos when I get home and see if it is re-inflated. Yesterday the light did not get turned on as long as usual. I need to get the timer I received installed so the lighting can be consistent.

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Xenia is very tough and so are many softies. If they appear deflated for a day, I would not worry about it. Leathers shrivel periodically to slough off their outer skin aka algae tunic. GSP pulls in all its polyps for no apparent reason for days. Trust me, they do things just to frustrate newbies .

A water change never hurts things IMHO as long as you match the temp, salinity, and alkalinity of salt water relatively closely. Softies can take a little elevated nitrate level without any problem. If it is about 5 ppm, I won't worry about it in a softies tank at all.

Xenia and other softies will get elongated or be leggier in lower light in my experience. My xenia and softies look shorter and even smaller under a high light.

If other corals or tank inhabitants are doing well and your water parameter looks fine, take a deep breath and look at it in a few hours.

 

[markkazdad]

Anyone had skin reactions from handling pink or silver xenia? Those were the two I moved around yesterday, and now have some slightly pink rashy areas with itchy raised bumps on two fingers. A few of the bumps are like blisters I get from fire ant bites.

 

[JSB]

Xenia is very tough and so are many softies. If they appear deflated for a day, I would not worry about it. Leathers shrivel periodically to slough off their outer skin aka algae tunic. GSP pulls in all its polyps for no apparent reason for days. Trust me, they do things just to frustrate newbies .

A water change never hurts things IMHO as long as you match the temp, salinity, and alkalinity of salt water relatively closely. Softies can take a little elevated nitrate level without any problem. If it is about 5 ppm, I won't worry about it in a softies tank at all.

Xenia and other softies will get elongated or be leggier in lower light in my experience. My xenia and softies look shorter and even smaller under a high light.

If other corals or tank inhabitants are doing well and your water parameter looks fine, take a deep breath and look at it in a few hours.

+1 on all of the above.

I don't think chasing low nitrates in a softie tank is worth the effort. I just see some people doing back-to-back-to-back 30-40-50% water changes to solve a problem that they can't identify just further stressing the inhabitants. If it is a pollutant or cloudy water, then sure, but know what you are trying to fix, so you can measure your results. I would be suspect of my doctor if he said, "I don't know what is ailing you, but here, try this..."

 

[Tomoko Schum]

now have some slightly pink rashy areas with itchy raised bumps on two fingers

The blister sounds more like bristleworm stings. I often get the same itchy blisters after handling live rocks. Bristleworms hide in the nooks and crannies and get me every time. I put After Bite or After Sting (the over-the-counter remedy for insect stings and fire ant bites) right after I get stung. I also use streight vinegar on the bristles if I find them on my hand. If you treat your hand right after the sting, these remedies work very well.

 

[markkazdad]

I don't know what I'm trying to fix. The pink xenia is not looking good. Here are some pictures of it (the left half is gone) and the other corals in the tank.

Don't laugh -- I think I glued some of these on upside-down. And somehow one piece ended up broken off and laying on the sand. I guess I should break off the ones that didn't open up.