Pulsing Xenia Question/Problem

[Forsaken77]

I was in a LFS that I stop at once a month on the way back from my doctors office. I wanted to try Pulsing Xenia in my 93 cube FOWLR tank before I stick them in my 180, when it's ready.

So the girl who got them out kind of mangled and shredded them. It was one larger piece in their tank, but ended up being 2 small pieces and roughly 5 little bits of it. I threw the 5 bits away. She told me to glue them or let them go where they want.

So after I glued one, I let the other find it's own spot, which it past through my gyre and now had smaller pieces.

Anyhow, now I have the one original that I glued and the biggest of what came out of the powerhead.

They are not pulsing anymore though. When I first put them in, they pulsed (she also told me they like flow but not being blasted), but after a few days they extend properly when the lights come on, but they don't pulse. They just flap around in the water.

What's the problem? Why won't they pulse? She told me they're basically indestructible.

 

[Tahoe61]

Hobbyist speculate that Xenia do better with a stable pH, 8.0 or higher, and a more nutrient rich tank.

For me I saw increased pulsing after water changes and decreased coral growth in low nutrient systems.

 

[Forsaken77]

Hobbyist speculate that Xenia do better with a stable pH, 8.0 or higher, and a more nutrient rich tank.

For me I saw increased pulsing after water changes and decreased coral growth in low nutrient systems.

Trust me, my tank is very nutrient rich, which is why I added it. Ph is usually around 8-8.1. Maybe the water change will help. I also heard you're supposed to dose iodine?

 

[Tahoe61]

Have you done base line chemistry testing, including nitrates and phosphates? Xenia is strange coral, no one really knows exactly why it stop pulsing, it thrives in one tank and dies in another tank of similar chemistry. I have kept in successfully without adding iodine and I would not add iodine. Routine water changes are enough to replenish the element.

 

[norfolkgarden]

One of my favorite explanations is that they are lagoon type Coral and are used to minimal flow.
They have adapted their own unique method of creating flow around themselves to bring more nutrient-rich water to themselves.
The flip side is that if you put them in an LPS or SPS tank with great flow they no longer need to expend all that energy.
Also there are different varieties of pulsing Xenia.
We purchased one three weeks ago and a different type 3 days ago.
So far they are both still pulsing.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Give them some time. And make sure the flow isn't too strong. It may take some time for them to recover from the beating.

Mr Farley refutes the need for iodine supplementation. Primarily because of the amount already contained in seawater mixes and the very low use by typical tanks

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/why-do-soft-corals-like-xenia-pulse

 

[norfolkgarden]

The silver/ghost pulses about once every 3 seconds for all heads. It's at least a few weeks old and in mild flow.

The larger lined variety is only a few days old and still settling in.
Right now individual heads can take up to 30 seconds to pulse. Fastest pulsing is every 5 seconds.
It does have a little more flow to it. Not sure if that's going to be a problem yet.

This is the first day it hasn't looked terrible.
I squished it a little bit a few days ago when I was gluing the tiny bit of rubble it was attached to to the rock.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Those look pretty good to me.

 

[Forsaken77]

One of my favorite explanations is that they are lagoon type Coral and are used to minimal flow.
They have adapted their own unique method of creating flow around themselves to bring more nutrient-rich water to themselves.
The flip side is that if you put them in an LPS or SPS tank with great flow they no longer need to expend all that energy.
Also there are different varieties of pulsing Xenia.
We purchased one three weeks ago and a different type 3 days ago.
So far they are both still pulsing.

I wanted to get a cooler looking one, but every local place (like 7) didn't even carry them at all because they don't want to have to deal with them spreading through their network of tanks. I only found one local store that had them in an isolated frag tank and they were the regular pink ones.

A lot of them were growing on the actual powerhead to the point that I don't even know how this powerhead was putting out any water. The corner overflow was a complete mat of baby Xenia as well. But there were only 2 that I saw pulsing... One on the back wall away from the powerhead, and the other was on the substrate. Those are the 2 I got.

I also read they usually grow on vertical rock surfaces in the ocean, and like the back wall of the tank. I put mine on the highest center piece of rock because the middle has the least flow in the cube, especially 3/4 up from the bottom.

I think it may be because they took a beating from the girl and then getting sucked through the powerhead. I didn't want them on the ground because of lighting and because I vacuum the hell out of my sand.

I really want them to pulse because it looks awesome, but I really got them for a nutrient control test. So if they work better than macro algae that's good enough. At least the one that went through the powerhead is still alive. Poor thing is missing leaves on every branch. Maybe it got neutered and spayed, lol.

 

[Forsaken77]

Give them some time. And make sure the flow isn't too strong. It may take some time for them to recover from the beating.

Mr Farley refutes the need for iodine supplementation. Primarily because of the amount already contained in seawater mixes and the very low use by typical tanks

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/why-do-soft-corals-like-xenia-pulse

It was either iodine or iron. Can't remember. Either way I wasn't gonna dose it. Just wanted to know if that's why they stopped pulsing.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

It was either iodine or iron. Can't remember. Either way I wasn't gonna dose it. Just wanted to know if that's why they stopped pulsing.

Iodine is the commonly reccomend one. You were correct.

 

[liveround69]

Just give them time to recover and make sure the power head isnt blasting straight at them. Place them mid to high range of the rock work to insure good lighting. From there its simply just a matter of making sure you do proper on time water changes. If your water gets dirty you will know because the xenia will stop pulsing and shrink in size. I have a massive colony in one of my tanks. I started with a $10 piece about 3 years ago. Now i have way too much.....haha irony.....Upstroke is the breeding pair of Maroon clowns i have love it cause it hides their egg clutches so well.

 

[Forsaken77]

Just give them time to recover and make sure the power head isnt blasting straight at them. Place them mid to high range of the rock work to insure good lighting. From there its simply just a matter of making sure you do proper on time water changes. If your water gets dirty you will know because the xenia will stop pulsing and shrink in size. I have a massive colony in one of my tanks. I started with a $10 piece about 3 years ago. Now i have way too much.....haha irony.....Upstroke is the breeding pair of Maroon clowns i have love it cause it hides their egg clutches so well.

It's an Icecap gyre, so they get plenty of flow, but not directly. The stalks actually started growing thicker, but no pulsing. The better of the two that didn't go through the powerhead actually pulled itself off the glue to move slightly away. I mean they fully open everyday, just no pulsing because they get flow from the gyre, which is only on 30% in a 93 cube.

 

[liveround69]

It's an Icecap gyre, so they get plenty of flow, but not directly. The stalks actually started growing thicker, but no pulsing. The better of the two that didn't go through the powerhead actually pulled itself off the glue to move slightly away. I mean they fully open everyday, just no pulsing because they get flow from the gyre, which is only on 30% in a 93 cube.

I do know from marine biology schooling and research that they are respirating when pulsing. This article i found talks about what they taught us in college. I hope it helps you to understand the xenia coral better.

"The team discovered the motion of the polyps helps with binding of carbon dioxide to the photosynthetic enzyme RuBisCo (Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase), while also decreasing photorespiration. This led the team to the conclusion that in the case of H. fuscescens, the benefit overcomes the cost. Because of the pulsation, the ratio between photosynthesis to respiration in this Xenia is the highest ever measured in stony and non-pulsating soft corals.

We know corals rely on water flow to deliver nutrients and organisms also alter the flow around them as well. By studying the flow around Xenia colonies, the team used an underwater measuring device called PIV (particle imaging velocimetry). This allowed the team to record highly accurate measurements of the flow field around the Xenia in their natural habitat at night.

Through the data provided, the team discovered the motion of the polyps sweeps water up and away from the coral tissues and into the surrounding water. If you’ve ever been entranced with the pulsing motion of the Xenia, you’ll recall that the polyps do not pulse in a synchronized motion. Despite this, the overall result for the colony is significantly enhanced flow that helps reduce the chance of refiltering the same water.

Armed with new data and the hypothesis that the pulsation motions enhance the coral’s photosynthesis rate, the team was able to get clearance from the government to harvest a few colonies for experiments in the lab.

The zooxanthellae in corals requires CO2 during the day and oxygen at night as well as other nutrients (like phosphate and nitrogen) all day. Now it makes sense that coral colonies would want to increase the concentration of these essential commodities around them by being able to mix the ambient water.

But again, why would the Xenia use so much energy just to mix the water? The team measured the photosynthesis rate of the pulsating Xenia colony was found to be an order of magnitude higher than when it is at rest. The researchers increased the oxygen levels in the tank so as the corals pulsated and mixed the water, instead of pulling in CO2-rich water they were pulling oxygen-rich water into the colony. The team found out that when the higher oxygen levels led to low photosynthesis rates — just as if the coral was at rest — proving their hypothesis.

One other interesting observation was the pulsing Xenia pump continually only taking a daily half-hour break in the afternoon. This is still one mystery the team was unable to unlock."

 

[Robink]

I was in a LFS that I stop at once a month on the way back from my doctors office. I wanted to try Pulsing Xenia in my 93 cube FOWLR tank before I stick them in my 180, when it's ready.

So the girl who got them out kind of mangled and shredded them. It was one larger piece in their tank, but ended up being 2 small pieces and roughly 5 little bits of it. I threw the 5 bits away. She told me to glue them or let them go where they want.

So after I glued one, I let the other find it's own spot, which it past through my gyre and now had smaller pieces.

Anyhow, now I have the one original that I glued and the biggest of what came out of the powerhead.

They are not pulsing anymore though. When I first put them in, they pulsed (she also told me they like flow but not being blasted), but after a few days they extend properly when the lights come on, but they don't pulse. They just flap around in the water.

What's the problem? Why won't they pulse? She told me they're basically indestructible.

I find they like iodine. I use Lugol's solution , only a few drops a week. Couldn't keep them before I started adding that. You can get it from Drs Foster and Smith or maybe amazon. Small bottle lasts forever.

 

[Forsaken77]

I do know from marine biology schooling and research that they are respirating when pulsing. This article i found talks about what they taught us in college. I hope it helps you to understand the xenia coral better.

"The team discovered the motion of the polyps helps with binding of carbon dioxide to the photosynthetic enzyme RuBisCo (Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase), while also decreasing photorespiration. This led the team to the conclusion that in the case of H. fuscescens, the benefit overcomes the cost. Because of the pulsation, the ratio between photosynthesis to respiration in this Xenia is the highest ever measured in stony and non-pulsating soft corals.

We know corals rely on water flow to deliver nutrients and organisms also alter the flow around them as well. By studying the flow around Xenia colonies, the team used an underwater measuring device called PIV (particle imaging velocimetry). This allowed the team to record highly accurate measurements of the flow field around the Xenia in their natural habitat at night.

Through the data provided, the team discovered the motion of the polyps sweeps water up and away from the coral tissues and into the surrounding water. If you’ve ever been entranced with the pulsing motion of the Xenia, you’ll recall that the polyps do not pulse in a synchronized motion. Despite this, the overall result for the colony is significantly enhanced flow that helps reduce the chance of refiltering the same water.

Armed with new data and the hypothesis that the pulsation motions enhance the coral’s photosynthesis rate, the team was able to get clearance from the government to harvest a few colonies for experiments in the lab.

The zooxanthellae in corals requires CO2 during the day and oxygen at night as well as other nutrients (like phosphate and nitrogen) all day. Now it makes sense that coral colonies would want to increase the concentration of these essential commodities around them by being able to mix the ambient water.

But again, why would the Xenia use so much energy just to mix the water? The team measured the photosynthesis rate of the pulsating Xenia colony was found to be an order of magnitude higher than when it is at rest. The researchers increased the oxygen levels in the tank so as the corals pulsated and mixed the water, instead of pulling in CO2-rich water they were pulling oxygen-rich water into the colony. The team found out that when the higher oxygen levels led to low photosynthesis rates — just as if the coral was at rest — proving their hypothesis.

One other interesting observation was the pulsing Xenia pump continually only taking a daily half-hour break in the afternoon. This is still one mystery the team was unable to unlock."

Very interesting. Thank you. So the flow in my tank is enhancing their photosynthesis during the day. And because there's probably more CO2 in the tank, they don't need to pulse.

 

[Forsaken77]

I find they like iodine. I use Lugol's solution , only a few drops a week. Couldn't keep them before I started adding that. You can get it from Drs Foster and Smith or maybe amazon. Small bottle lasts forever.

I suggested that earlier in the thread, but according to our resident chemist, iodine isn't necessary because there's enough in the salt mix. Maybe I'll just try dosing a little trace elements, which would probably contain a small amount of iodine.

 

[chowwil]

Xenia pulse to move water around. So if you give them less flow, they will pulse more. I have my Xenia on low flow and the pulse like crazy.

 

[Mdw2589]

I keep mine in my sump, so limited flow there. However I noticed that the ones in the shade did not pulse as fast as the ones in direct light. When I shifted the light they would begin to pulse faster after a few days. I guess I need more light over my sump lol.

 

[Wudotcom]

I have a cool blue variety that didnt pulse at the LFS, but does in my tank. I have mine at the top close to the light and kind of direct but indirect flow and it pulses beautifully. Had it for a few months now. It seems like it started really pulsing once my chemistry was correct.