pulsing Xenia

[Aaronreef]

Hi all, I'm pretty new to the marine game and have managed to get myself a second hand set up it came with a few fish and corals, I've never owned coral before and when I collected it it didn't look like it does now it seems to be dead can anyone tell me if this is normal please

 

[ScottR]

Hi all, I'm pretty new to the marine game and have managed to get myself a second hand set up it came with a few fish and corals, I've never owned coral before and when I collected it it didn't look like it does now it seems to be dead can anyone tell me if this is normal please

No, it’s not doing well. I’d check your parameters first and foremost. Xenia corals will close up when they are not happy. Almost shrink and ball up. Can’t say I’ve ever seen one wilt like that. Xenia are one of the hardiest corals available btw.

On a second note, during majors transfers such as this, it’s common to lose livestock. People who move to a new home and break down their existing tank to transfer, usually lose a good percentage of their corals. I wouldn’t worry too much about it if you lose it. Get everything stable in the tank (seriously, get everything stable and don’t rush). Then find some new corals for your tank - and of course, research what you want. Impulse buying a coral and finding out the hard way that it’s not suitable for your tank is never fun.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Yes.... do your research, or else you'll end up with something that grows everywhere and takes over...... like Xenia.....


It will probably spring back no-problem if your water/flow/light are all good.

 

[Hemmdog]

Hi all, I'm pretty new to the marine game and have managed to get myself a second hand set up it came with a few fish and corals, I've never owned coral before and when I collected it it didn't look like it does now it seems to be dead can anyone tell me if this is normal please

Yea it’s not happy at all. What are your water parameters? Something would have to be majorly off for it to look like that, so let’s start with salinity.

 

[ScottR]

Yes.... do your research, or else you'll end up with something that grows everywhere and takes over...... like Xenia.....


It will probably spring back no-problem if your water/flow/light are all good.

Lol. Xenia are the weeds of the tank. But they look good when in control.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Also, are you aiming your powerheads directly at them? I would just get a nice cross-tank wave deal going.... don't directly blast anything.

 

[ScottR]

Also, are you aiming your powerheads directly at them? I would just get a nice cross-tank wave deal going.... don't directly blast anything.

Judging from the pics, that’s a mass die off. 5 or so colonies.

 

[scott11106]

i would work on parameters and once it starts looking happy pull it all out before it starts growing and spreading, i made the same mistake and put xenia in my tank early as i was thinking it would look good and i liked the pulsing and all, i finally pulled it out when i saw it showing up on other rocks, now it is a constant fight to keep it from taking over the tank...it is really a weed.

 

[Mical]

Hi all, I'm pretty new to the marine game and have managed to get myself a second hand set up it came with a few fish and corals, I've never owned coral before and when I collected it it didn't look like it does now it seems to be dead can anyone tell me if this is normal please

That is a blessing in disguise. As mentioned above they can run rampant and you'ld wish you never added them.

 

[Aaronreef]

Thanks for the fast response sorry it's took so long for me to reply.
My power head isn't pointed at them and my parameters are as follows
API test kit
Nitrate 10-20
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0.25

Red sea foundation pro test kit
Magnesium 1360-1400
Calcium 470-480
Alkalinity 7

And my salt is 35 ppt

The Xenia really don't look good I also have a Duncan coral in there and that is looking fine

 

[Mical]

You might want to up your Alk, all other #s look ok. Duncans look great!

 

[Aaronreef]

You might want to up your Alk, all other #s look ok. Duncans look great!

If I'm honest I'm not sure it is 7 the test kit I've got is a bit hit and miss I'm just about to run the test again see what happens.

And yes Duncan looks good just don't know why he is and the Xenia aren't

 

[Aaronreef]

Well I've triple checked my alk and still comes out at 7, I've got red sea foundation supplement pack, it says 1ml will raise 0.1 dkh would it be ok manually dosing this straight into the tank ? Any suggestions on how much to dose at once?

 

[Mical]

Use this - http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chem_calc3.html

 

[Aaronreef]

Use this - http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chem_calc3.html

Thanks, red sea supplement isn't on the list unfortunately

 

[Mical]

Thanks, red sea supplement isn't on the list unfortunately

there's two Red Sea foundation listed under alk - powder and liquid. Insert your tank volume, current alk level, target alk level and scroll down products list...

 

[BestMomEver]

That almost looks like a Salinity issue. Check your Salinity real quick.

 

[Aaronreef]

That almost looks like a Salinity issue. Check your Salinity real quick.

Salinity is at 35ppt

 

[Aaronreef]

there's two Red Sea foundation listed under alk - powder and liquid. Insert your tank volume, current alk level, target alk level and scroll down products list...

Still can't see it I'll get my laptop out as I'm on the phone at the moment

 

[reef lover]

The presence of ammonia suggests a mini cycle caused by the move stirring stuff out...id suggest a water change,dose of bacteria to help with bioload and keep an eye on that ammomia.