help with my xenia

[smitten with ocean life]

hi! i was wondering if anyone can give me some ideas on what could be wrong with my xenia. it is an established colony that had been doing really well and growing. but the last while they are slowly decreasing and definitely not looking very good. the tank is 125 gallons and several years old. my parameters are all good too. nothing has changed in the tank except for the growth of aiptasia :confused: . thats all i can figure out it might be. it is growing all around and in the colony. i know ive read about chemical warfare. could that be whats going on? thanks!

 

[dakoop]

Going to need pics under white lights and actual parameters in order for anyone to be able to help.
Xenia are HARDY

 

[Pistondog]

Xenia are hardy, but like water with nutrients. No3 5 to 10ppm, po4 0.07 ppm or above.

 

[jmoney7]

Could be either not enough nutrients or the aipstatia bothering them.

 

[Pistondog]

APtasia tentacles have nematocysts that will bother corals that come in contact. No chemical warfare though.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

parameters are as follows-sal. 1.023, alk. 9.3, phos. .14, nitrates 9.0, mag. 1450, cal. 431. done with hanna checkers except for the mag. that is a salifert kit. ill see if i can figure out how to attach pics. not very computer savy

 

[smitten with ocean life]

 

[smitten with ocean life]

there you go!

 

[Pistondog]

YOur xenia are being stung by the aptasia. Make a kalkwassr paste/slurry and inject/cover the aptasia. With pumps off.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

thats what i figured. ok ill try it. i ordered a bunch of peppermint shrimp. i tried the boiling water with no luck. maybe im not doing it right :thinking-face: thank you!

 

[Pistondog]

thats what i figured. ok ill try it. i ordered a bunch of peppermint shrimp. i tried the boiling water with no luck. maybe im not doing it right :thinking-face: thank you!

Been there, tried those, and nudis, and filefish. Kalkwasser paste.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

yeah i spent a fortune on the nudis....

 

[smitten with ocean life]

just blast the paste on them? or do you need to puncher them with a needle?

 

[Pistondog]

No blasting, that makes a mess.
Ideally something with a longer orifice, see below.
Gently apply to aptasia and follow as it retracts to rock, then cover with paste.
the paste will stay white for a couple of days until it dissipates.
It can be right next to other things like your xenia without ill effects.
I had the kalskwasser powder and syringe on hand, tried it, easy and satisfying.
I think some critters (filefish, some shrimp) will eat aptasia if there is nothing else.
Wisdom Teeth Syringe, 5 Pack Irrigation Dental Syringes with Measure Scale & Curved Tip for Dental Care Liquid Oral Tonsil Stone https://a.co/d/5ue9x9w

 

[smitten with ocean life]

ok! man i hope i didnt kill everything! all my corals closed up!! :flushed-face:

 

[Imrahilwjz]

Following

 

[Rob Biederman]

F aptasia or aptasia X have worked for me in the past

 

[Pistondog]

ok! man i hope i didnt kill everything! all my corals closed up!! :flushed-face:

As long as you didnt dose more than a few to 10 ml, you should be ok

 

[smitten with ocean life]

ive done aiptasia x but its impossible to get everywhere!

 

[smitten with ocean life]

the dust from the kalk mixture killed one of my favorite corals :crying-face: .