Dead Xenia & Closed Green Star Polyp

PNWfishjunkie · Feb 14, 2024

Hello! I am new to reefing but have been in freshwater for a few years now. The issue is, my GSP is still not open after a week and I am worried about it. I also managed to kill two Xenia. I have been researching and trying to figure out why this happened, my calcium and magnesium is slightly low but I don't believe either are low enough to cause these issues.
I don't have a picture of the dead Xenia, but after day 3 it disintegrated and was consumed by my clean up crew. My first Xenia met a similar fate, part of it began to rot near the stalk and I cut that off with a razor blade, but eventually the rest melted as well. Both were drip acclimated over 45min-1hr. The drive from my LFS to my house was less than 1hr and I kept them in an insulated grocery bag both times. Xenia #2 was even opening its polyps and waving around towards the end of drip acclimating, so I really thought it may survive. I did a 20% wc after it melted.
The GSP opened partially on day 2, looking back I should've taken a picture then, but I was waiting for it to open more. It ended up closing back up and has been closed since then. I moved it today (Day 7) into its current position, slightly lower in the tank while still receiving enough flow to remove debris from the polyps.

The Tank:
Tank Size: 10 Gallons
Temp: 78.9 °F
Filtration: 200 GPH HOB & Live Rock
Light: 30 watt Nicrew Reef LED
Tank is 1.5months old
Salinity: 1.025
PH: 8.45
Phosphate: 0 - 0.25 (Using a liquid test kit so slightly estimating)
Calcium:360
Ammonia:0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 0 - 5ppm (Using a liquid test kit so slightly estimating)
Alkalinity: 143.2
Magnesium: 1,140
Supplements: Red Sea Reef Foundation Calcium+ 3ml x2 per week.
Feeding: 2-3x per week frozen baby brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, plankton or krill.
Clean Up Crew: x2 Astrea snails, 1 Emerald crab, 1 hermit crab x2 Nassarius snails
Water: RedSea salt mixed with dechlorinated tap water (TDS 58, spring water)

Ron Reefman · Feb 15, 2024

Just a suggestion or two.

On such a small tank, why not buy distilled water from the grocery store or buy RO/DI water from an LFS rather than declorinating tap water?

Consider a post in the 'Minimalist Reefer' thread here at R2R. See the link in my signature below.

PNWfishjunkie · Feb 15, 2024

Ron Reefman said:
Just a suggestion or two.

On such a small tank, why not buy distilled water from the grocery store or buy RO/DI water from an LFS rather than declorinating tap water?

Consider a post in the 'Minimalist Reefer' thread here at R2R. See the link in my signature below.

I think I will do that. My TDS is pretty low so I thought it was ok, but do you think it may be the source of my problems?
And I will check that out, thank you!

ISpeakForTheSeas · Feb 15, 2024

PNWfishjunkie said:
My TDS is pretty low so I thought it was ok, but do you think it may be the source of my problems?

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

If your CUC is fine, then I doubt it's the TDS (though RODI is always a good idea regardless just as a precaution).

I'd guess it's most likely an issue with lighting and/or flow, but hopefully some more experienced members will chime in for you here.

MnFish1 · Feb 15, 2024

It seems your light is not providing enough unless there is some other unmeasured toxin causing a problem

blecki · Feb 15, 2024

Neither of those corals require high par lighting. But while xenia is often sold as a 'beginner friendly' coral it is still coral. Even the corals we consider hardy in this hobby are incredibly delicate animals. And honestly I don't think Xenia's reputation as being hardy is particularly warranted, it is very melty. I don't think your parameters are good for keeping it long term. The water needs to be dirtier...

GSP can be a bit finicky as well. It's not unusual for GSP to sulk for weeks at a time.

get-salty · Feb 15, 2024

Wait, your Alkalinity: 143.2 ?!!!! must be a mistake.. def something is wrong here bud

wisnia99 · Feb 15, 2024

How old is your tank?

MnFish1 · Feb 15, 2024

The alkalinity is likely in ppm.

vetteguy53081 · Feb 15, 2024

PNWfishjunkie said:
Hello! I am new to reefing but have been in freshwater for a few years now. The issue is, my GSP is still not open after a week and I am worried about it. I also managed to kill two Xenia. I have been researching and trying to figure out why this happened, my calcium and magnesium is slightly low but I don't believe either are low enough to cause these issues.
I don't have a picture of the dead Xenia, but after day 3 it disintegrated and was consumed by my clean up crew. My first Xenia met a similar fate, part of it began to rot near the stalk and I cut that off with a razor blade, but eventually the rest melted as well. Both were drip acclimated over 45min-1hr. The drive from my LFS to my house was less than 1hr and I kept them in an insulated grocery bag both times. Xenia #2 was even opening its polyps and waving around towards the end of drip acclimating, so I really thought it may survive. I did a 20% wc after it melted.
The GSP opened partially on day 2, looking back I should've taken a picture then, but I was waiting for it to open more. It ended up closing back up and has been closed since then. I moved it today (Day 7) into its current position, slightly lower in the tank while still receiving enough flow to remove debris from the polyps.

The Tank:
Tank Size: 10 Gallons
Temp: 78.9 °F
Filtration: 200 GPH HOB & Live Rock
Light: 30 watt Nicrew Reef LED
Tank is 1.5months old
Salinity: 1.025
PH: 8.45
Phosphate: 0 - 0.25 (Using a liquid test kit so slightly estimating)
Calcium:360
Ammonia:0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 0 - 5ppm (Using a liquid test kit so slightly estimating)
Alkalinity: 143.2
Magnesium: 1,140
Supplements: Red Sea Reef Foundation Calcium+ 3ml x2 per week.
Feeding: 2-3x per week frozen baby brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, plankton or krill.
Clean Up Crew: x2 Astrea snails, 1 Emerald crab, 1 hermit crab x2 Nassarius snails
Water: RedSea salt mixed with dechlorinated tap water (TDS 58, spring water)

PAR and light rarely an issue with these two coral. Its flow. They need flow to keep sediment off of them and to deliver nutrients. High phosphates can make them miserable but not a deal breaker.
Take a turkey baster and give a few bursts. If you see dust fly off, up the flow a little. Mine started that way and once they had a steady stream of water:

Mr. Mojo Rising · Feb 15, 2024

A one month old tank is a challenging environment for corals. Usually will suggest to wait a few months before the first corals additions to let the tank mature and balance out,

The nutrients are very low for the type of corals you picked, they like slightly more 'dirty' water. Should have measurable nitrates and phosphates.

Is there any flow in the tank, or just the trinkle from the hob filter? Corals need flow.

Depending on where you live and whats in your tap water, a rodi system or distilled water might be more beneficial to corals.

PNWfishjunkie · Feb 15, 2024

blecki said:
Neither of those corals require high par lighting. But while xenia is often sold as a 'beginner friendly' coral it is still coral. Even the corals we consider hardy in this hobby are incredibly delicate animals. And honestly I don't think Xenia's reputation as being hardy is particularly warranted, it is very melty. I don't think your parameters are good for keeping it long term. The water needs to be dirtier...

GSP can be a bit finicky as well. It's not unusual for GSP to sulk for weeks at a time.

I have NeoNitro and NeoPhos, I can dose that to try and help it. I also just got some Red Sea Reef Energy AB+ Coral Nutrition, I used that for the first time yesterday. That has amino acids so to my understanding that should help?
Thank you for the input!

PNWfishjunkie · Feb 15, 2024

get-salty said:
Wait, your Alkalinity: 143.2 ?!!!! must be a mistake.. def something is wrong here bud

It is in ppm.

PNWfishjunkie · Feb 15, 2024

wisnia99 said:
How old is your tank?

1.5 months

PNWfishjunkie · Feb 15, 2024

vetteguy53081 said:
PAR and light rarely an issue with these two coral. Its flow. They need flow to keep sediment off of them and to deliver nutrients. High phosphates can make them miserable but not a deal breaker.
Take a turkey baster and give a few bursts. If you see dust fly off, up the flow a little. Mine started that way and once they had a steady stream of water:

Those are gorgeous! I can move it to a higher area or I also have a powerhead I can use. Very little debris comes off when turkey bastering it, but it is still there nonetheless so I will work on that, thank you!

PNWfishjunkie · Feb 15, 2024

Mr. Mojo Rising said:
A one month old tank is a challenging environment for corals. Usually will suggest to wait a few months before the first corals additions to let the tank mature and balance out,

The nutrients are very low for the type of corals you picked, they like slightly more 'dirty' water. Should have measurable nitrates and phosphates.

Is there any flow in the tank, or just the trinkle from the hob filter? Corals need flow.

Depending on where you live and whats in your tap water, a rodi system or distilled water might be more beneficial to corals.

I will work on 'dirtying' the water. The filter is rated 200gph and it is a 10 gallon tank so it is quite strong. I also have a powerhead that I can use, I will see what that does. I am planning to use distilled for my next water change.

Devisissy · Feb 15, 2024

5 nitrates? Eh?

PNWfishjunkie · Feb 17, 2024

PNWfishjunkie said:
Hello! I am new to reefing but have been in freshwater for a few years now. The issue is, my GSP is still not open after a week and I am worried about it. I also managed to kill two Xenia. I have been researching and trying to figure out why this happened, my calcium and magnesium is slightly low but I don't believe either are low enough to cause these issues.
I don't have a picture of the dead Xenia, but after day 3 it disintegrated and was consumed by my clean up crew. My first Xenia met a similar fate, part of it began to rot near the stalk and I cut that off with a razor blade, but eventually the rest melted as well. Both were drip acclimated over 45min-1hr. The drive from my LFS to my house was less than 1hr and I kept them in an insulated grocery bag both times. Xenia #2 was even opening its polyps and waving around towards the end of drip acclimating, so I really thought it may survive. I did a 20% wc after it melted.
The GSP opened partially on day 2, looking back I should've taken a picture then, but I was waiting for it to open more. It ended up closing back up and has been closed since then. I moved it today (Day 7) into its current position, slightly lower in the tank while still receiving enough flow to remove debris from the polyps.

The Tank:
Tank Size: 10 Gallons
Temp: 78.9 °F
Filtration: 200 GPH HOB & Live Rock
Light: 30 watt Nicrew Reef LED
Tank is 1.5months old
Salinity: 1.025
PH: 8.45
Phosphate: 0 - 0.25 (Using a liquid test kit so slightly estimating)
Calcium:360
Ammonia:0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 0 - 5ppm (Using a liquid test kit so slightly estimating)
Alkalinity: 143.2
Magnesium: 1,140
Supplements: Red Sea Reef Foundation Calcium+ 3ml x2 per week.
Feeding: 2-3x per week frozen baby brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, plankton or krill.
Clean Up Crew: x2 Astrea snails, 1 Emerald crab, 1 hermit crab x2 Nassarius snails
Water: RedSea salt mixed with dechlorinated tap water (TDS 58, spring water)