Xenia Health

[Drew1600]

Is this normal Xenia behavior? How long before I should expect it to open? I know softies shed sometimes. Picked this frag up yesterday afternoon. Dosed Iodide today.

pH: 7.8
Temp: 78
Salinty: 35
KH: 12
Nitrate: 5-10
Nitrite: 0

 

[lmm1967]

Your tank looks super new - I wouldn't dose anything unless you have evidence you need too.

Xenia typically doesn't stay annoyed like that - at least not that I've seen. Be sure it's getting some light, medium flow and that your salinity is in a good spot.

 

[ScubaFish802]

I agree on the dosing. I wouldn’t dose anything for a small frag of xenia. Regular water changes should be more than enough. Especially iodine this early

 

[PicassoClown04]

Agreed with above. I only dose when I feel like I need to, no reason to have stuff in there no corals are using. Don’t dose anything, just let it grow. After you get into some more lps/sps/corals with skeleton you should start dosing stuff like calcium and alk. Xenia is easy, just let it be easy

 

[Drew1600]

Thank you all for the hasty replies! I normally do not dose, but found another thread suggesting a lack of iodide as culprit for the unhappy Xenia's. Yes, my tank is only a couple of months old, other than the minor Xenia problem everything is doing great! I will keep an eye on it and leave it be, thank you all again!

 

[Super Fly]

Give it a few days to adjust w/o dosing & see what happens. Also IMO the Alk is very high, I like to keep mine around 8 in a mostly soft coral tank.

 

[Drew1600]

Give it a few days to adjust w/o dosing & see what happens. Also IMO the Alk is very high, I like to keep mine around 8 in a mostly soft coral tank.

I know as far as alk goes, have been trying to lower it.. Think it may be my salt perhaps (Instant Ocean)? any way to lower other than water changes over time?

 

[Gernader]

I know as far as alk goes, have been trying to lower it.. Think it may be my salt perhaps (Instant Ocean)? any way to lower other than water changes over time?

That’s odd. Is it reef crystals or regular IO with RODI or tap? I use regular IO with rodi water and my alk is around 9. You can use muriatic acid to lower the alk

 

[Drew1600]

Won't muriatic acid lower the pH? I am on a well actually, pure enough no need for an rodi after testing. Could be the well water.

 

[Drew1600]

Won't muriatic acid lower the pH? I am on a well actually, pure enough no need for an rodi after testing. Could be the well water.

Sorry, regular IO. Switching to reef crystals next pick up.

 

[Cell]

Xenia does not ship well but typically bounces back.

 

[Gernader]

Won't muriatic acid lower the pH? I am on a well actually, pure enough no need for an rodi after testing. Could be the well water.

Yes, it will lower the pH. I don’t use muriatic acid personally, so I’m not sure how they raise up the pH. It should be the well water that’s raising the alk

 

[Super Fly]

regular IO salt has been known to have high Alk level, even 11. ALso heard well water can attribute to high alk level, not sure how true this is though. I believe there are threads that discuss how to lower Alk, should be able to find them if u search

 

[vetteguy53081]

Bring salt and KH down one point and reduce white lighting slowly until xenia fully acclimates

 

[vetteguy53081]

Bring salt and KH down one point and reduce white lighting slowly until xenia fully acclimates

 

[Super Fly]

Sorry, regular IO. Switching to reef crystals next pick up.

May I ask why u r switching to the more expensive salt? Many folks keep successful reef tanks with just plain old regular IO salt... if there is no compelling reason, I'd save the $ and keep using tried and true regular IO.

 

[Drew1600]

May I ask why u r switching to the more expensive salt? Many folks keep successful reef tanks with just plain old regular IO salt... if there is no compelling reason, I'd save the $ and keep using tried and true regular IO.

Thanks for the advice, I had heard it was better but I may stick with the regular if you think no difference?

 

[Super Fly]

U should be fine with regular IO, been using it since day 1 w no problems.