gsp and xenia question

[thefez510]

Hello everyone I know I've asked this question multiple times yet, i still can't figure out why my xenia and gsp won't survive in my 10-gallon nano tank. I would like to ask Mr. @Randy Holmes-Farley since I noticed that he is very knowledgeable about the reef tank hobby. I used to be able to grow green star polyps and xenia in my reef tank however when my clownfish had an internal parasite I medicated them with metronidazole/kanamycin food without knowing that it would affect both the gsp and xenia. Since then I haven't been successful in keeping those 2 corals in my tank I even restarted my whole display tank from new sand to live rock and yet both corals would melt in a matter of days (especially the xenia). So I was wondering is there a way for me to be able to keep those 2 corals again. (I am able to keep zoa, hammer, duncan, can in my tank at the moment). I used to have high alk 12, cal 450, and mag 1350 when I was able to keep them could that be the reason? my current water parameters are
alk: 8
mag: 1300
cal: 400
ph:8.0
nitrate:10
phos: .20

thank you in advance.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Do you have ae picture of your tank?
What about your light and flow?

 

[BryanM]

Those are both fairly easy to keep, and I'd think they'd be fine with the parameters you listed.

Pics of the tank, flow, and lights?

 

[thefez510]

Do you have ae picture of your tank?
What about your light and flow?

my flow is pretty good its strong enough to move my hammers around. and the light I'm using is nicrew 20w salt light

here's the picture of my tank i dont have any xenia or gsp in my tank right now since they melted couple of days ago.

 

[thefez510]

Those are both fairly easy to keep, and I'd think they'd be fine with the parameters you listed.

Pics of the tank, flow, and lights?

my flow is pretty strong to make sure its circulating the whole tank and the light I'm using is the nicrew 20w salt led light. could it be that the medication is still in my tank even though i change my sand and rocks? here's a pic of my tank

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

a 20 watt light is like a candle. What size is your tank? You might need a stronger light

 

[thefez510]

a 20 watt light is like a candle. What size is your tank? You might need a stronger light

I have a 10 gallon nano tank that my hammer and other lps corals are doing well with this light. i used to have 2 kessil a80 tuna and still had issue with both gsp and xenia

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I have a 10 gallon nano tank that my hammer and other lps corals are doing well with this light. i used to have 2 kessil a80 tuna and still had issue with both gsp and xenia

oh ok, the tank looks big thats why I asked

 

[thefez510]

oh ok, the tank looks big thats why I asked

lol yeah its pretty small tank and its dirty too since i heard gsp and xenia loves high nitrate and phosphate level

 

[thefez510]

@Randy Holmes-Farley can you pls help me thank you in advance

 

[Spare time]

Is it just those two corals that have issues?

 

[thefez510]

Is it just those two corals that have issues?

yes its just those 2 which is weird i haze zoas that are doing well my acan,duncan and even my hammers are doing pretty good

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Did you swap out everything after the metronidizole? Remove the water too? So it is an entirely new setup and residual medication cannot be the cause?

What salt mix and source of water are you using?

In my tank, green star polyps in poor light (shaded heavily) actually turned white.

Xenia seem hit or miss and can grow like crazy, then all die back. Might be a nutrient or trace element depletion issue, or something else, but no one has clearly identified the reason that I know of.

 

[exnisstech]

I don't have the answer but you are not alone. For years I could not grow xenia or GSP while other softies and LPS thrived. Here I am 9 years and several tanks later and I can grow gsp ok but xenia just melts. I have other coral I am unable to keep also. As long as everything else does well I just accept it and move on. I know answers to why are desirable but I've found often things just don't do well in certain tanks and no one really knows why for certain as Randy stated about xenia.This was my oldest tank that is no longer running. Xenia would die anytime I tried it.

 

[CHSUB]

its dirty too

I’m not sure what is meant by dirty? I think some kinds of algae and detritus can affect both. High flows and frequent cleaning with a turkey baster has made both corals explode in growth.

 

[thefez510]

Did you swap out everything after the metronidizole? Remove the water too? So it is an entirely new setup and residual medication cannot be the cause?

What salt mix and source of water are you using?

In my tank, green star polyps in poor light (shaded heavily) actually turned white.

Xenia seem hit or miss and can grow like crazy, then all die back. Might be a nutrient or trace element depletion issue, or something else, but no one has clearly identified the reason that I know of.

thank you fore replying, and I swap everything from water to sand, live rocks even the bio filter ball i had i started from scratch i was using red sea pro but i change to the blue bucket due to the elevated alk which was 15 at one point. should i go back to the black bucket since it might have more trace element compared to the blue one.

 

[thefez510]

I don't have the answer but you are not alone. For years I could not grow xenia or GSP while other softies and LPS thrived. Here I am 9 years and several tanks later and I can grow gsp ok but xenia just melts. I have other coral I am unable to keep also. As long as everything else does well I just accept it and move on. I know answers to why are desirable but I've found often things just don't do well in certain tanks and no one really knows why for certain as Randy stated about xenia.This was my oldest tank that is no longer running. Xenia would die anytime I tried it.

love your tank that gsp color is popping in the background

 

[exnisstech]

love your tank that gsp color is popping in the background

It is bright. I have some growing on the back wall in my acro tank and it's the brightest coral in there lol.

 

[thefez510]

I’m not sure what is meant by dirty? I think some kinds of algae and detritus can affect both. High flows and frequent cleaning with a turkey baster has made both corals explode in growth.

i meant i had high nutrient levels my phos was .20 and nitrate was 20 and yet they both melting i was thinking it could be that my magnesium is low? awesome tank btw those xenias are really happy

 

[thefez510]

It is bright. I have some growing on the back wall in my acro tank and it's the brightest coral in there lol.

it looks awesome thats was my plan with my gsp but currently its not happening for me lol i had great success with the red sea coral pro salt so i might go back to that since i changed my salt to the blue bucket