Waving Xenia Not Opening

[ajremington68]

Hey, I bought a colony of Waving Xenia at my local fish store for a steal, and I got it as a filler for my new reef tank. However, a fourth of it opened up the next day, but then after that, nothing opened. I have done a water change, changed the lights and turned them down, added a powerhead, and changed the current to an offset around the rocks. I also have a frag of Pulsing Xenia that is opened and have done better with my changes as well as Green Star Polyp and Winter Star Organ. My parameters are Calcium: 420, ALK: 15, Phos: .25, Nitrate: 10, Nitrite: 0, Amo: less than .25, Salinity: 1.028, Temp: 78, pH: 8.2. Now I have been slowly doing water changes over the past few weeks and lowering my ALK down to the range, due to using in house RO water to start up the tank and that was the wrong decision. But, I don't think that's the problem with my other corals doing fine. Going to upload a picture of the location of it and my light settings for any tips cuz I wanna see it open up and thrive.

 

[blaxsun]

Your alkalinity is way too high at 15. Most like to keep it within 7-11dKH, with 8.5dKH being a "sweet spot".

 

[ajremington68]

Your alkalinity is way too high at 15. Most like to keep it within 7-11dKH, with 8.5dKH being a "sweet spot".

Yea working to get it down, but with my other frags all open and extended do you think that would be the problem with the bigger colony of Xenia, being it's the only un opened one?

 

[ajremington68]

This is my light and position of corals.

 

[blaxsun]

Yea working to get it down, but with my other frags all open and extended do you think that would be the problem with the bigger colony of Xenia, being it's the only un opened one?

No idea, but I'd get that addressed first.

 

[ajremington68]

No idea, but I'd get that addressed first.

Making water as we speak . Do you think with adding the Xenia on Monday and it hasn't opened yet it'll be okay? At what point do I worry or start moving it around? If I should start worrying, should I turn up the lights or point a power head more in its direction?

 

[blaxsun]

Making water as we speak . Do you think with adding the Xenia on Monday and it hasn't opened yet it'll be okay? At what point do I worry or start moving it around? If I should start worrying, should I turn up the lights or point a power head more in its direction?

Xenia can literally grow in a toilet, so I think you'll be fine. Just ensure it's getting at least some flow.

 

[Tidal Gardens Verified Sponsor]

As most have mentioned, it can grow almost anywhere. But for the overall health of your animals, I would recommend getting your Alk down under 10 and your Salinity to 1.025-1.026

 

[Uncle99]

I find softies hate the higher end alks.

 

[AdamG280]

Hey, I bought a colony of Waving Xenia at my local fish store for a steal, and I got it as a filler for my new reef tank. However, a fourth of it opened up the next day, but then after that, nothing opened. I have done a water change, changed the lights and turned them down, added a powerhead, and changed the current to an offset around the rocks. I also have a frag of Pulsing Xenia that is opened and have done better with my changes as well as Green Star Polyp and Winter Star Organ. My parameters are Calcium: 420, ALK: 15, Phos: .25, Nitrate: 10, Nitrite: 0, Amo: less than .25, Salinity: 1.028, Temp: 78, pH: 8.2. Now I have been slowly doing water changes over the past few weeks and lowering my ALK down to the range, due to using in house RO water to start up the tank and that was the wrong decision. But, I don't think that's the problem with my other corals doing fine. Going to upload a picture of the location of it and my light settings for any tips cuz I wanna see it open up and thrive.

My alk is 8, nitrate is less than 5 salinity 1.024 temp 77 calcium 480 ammonia is negligible and phos is also 0.25 and my pipe organ and everything else is bobbing and happy, but the Xenia that’s supposed to be easy has not come out in days. Only difference is I have more algae.