Xenia problems

Riccio16 · May 20, 2013

I have a handful of zoas, a green hammer and a rainbow lobo; all of which seem to be perfectly happy. However I introduce a stalk of xenia and they fail immediately. Fortunately the LFS has been kind and afforded me 2 extra rounds on the house because he was surprised I couldn't get them to take to the new system; both times providing additional insight on how to improve the acclimation process. Basically his take was I'd rather see you figure it out and be successful; especially since most healthy tanks should be able to handle xenia.

20 gal tank, LED lighting, 6 month old system with solid cleaning crew, 2 clowns and a cleaner shrimp.

Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrates are all at 0 ppm
Phosphates flux .20 -.50 ppm
Calcium is 360 (working on getting that up)

I've gotten a handful of conflicting hypotheses for this problem, and I'm left with a few thoughts:

1. Why?
2. If the LPS is happy, and I can't get something on more of the "nuisance" end of the spectrum, should I really even spend time worrying about it?
3. Is it possible that the water is "too clean" for them (that was one hypothesis provided by a different LFS)?

MelissaKathryn · May 20, 2013

Our water is very clean but we have no phosphates whatsoever, higher calcium, and we add iodine to our water. Also, the xenia frags your lfs is giving you may also be the problem. maybe they are sick or not fully healed?

The phosphates may be the problem? Someone else probably knows better than i do, though..

Bartmmackey · May 20, 2013

Xenia are like that..there are several threads out there describing how Xenia can thrive or die..no rationale. I have one tank that will not support them, the other tank they are wildfire. Xenia can also be doing great and one day magically die.

I have heard the too clean, or that they deplete some magical secret sauce, but I think it's bunko. My crazy idea...something to do with the live rock ph or makeup...but I'm no marine biologist.

STP wellsophyllia · May 20, 2013

Try dosing your tank with phyto until your nitrates come up a little and then try introducing the xenia.. It helps. Try a half a teaspoon to a teaspoon of phytoplankton every day just to provide nutrients in your tank.. Who knows, maybe your other corals will start to grow!

Sent Via the R2R Forum APP

STP wellsophyllia · May 20, 2013

(or follow the dosing instructions on the bottle of some phytofeast)

Sent Via the R2R Forum APP

navila06 · May 20, 2013

I can't keep xenia as well, no3 zero, po4 .04. I think the tank is too clean to support them, which sucks cause I do enjoy them xenia's

STP wellsophyllia · May 20, 2013

And just another quick thought. Studies by j.sprung and Merril cohen showed that iodine helps with growth and prosperity of the xenia species, so i would buy a cheap iodine test kit and see what your levels are just for kicks

Sent Via the R2R Forum APP

glb · May 22, 2013

Xenia grows over other coral.

Sent Via the R2R Forum APP
12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps and two clownfish.

glb · May 22, 2013

That was my son who posted. He's 8. : )

Sent Via the R2R Forum APP
12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps and two clownfish.

PaulKreider · May 22, 2013

I would take that as a blessing, I thought It was a cool little frag, 5 hands pulsing and all. But withing 4 months 5 hands turned into 1000+ hands and began detaching and spreading all over the tank. Xenia is something I'd strongly advise to avoid, check out my tank page, cutting them didn't work eather, they literaly grew back from the smallest parts of stalk attached to the rock. Fluke tab was the only way to kill them and I lost some nice pieces along with the Xenia. Just a fair warning.

IGROZOAS · May 22, 2013

That stuff is a nuisance. I been trying to get rid of it in my tank but they keep coming back....my success is try to get rid of it JK. I would try the using phytoplankton they love that stuff.

Sent Via the R2R Forum APP