Is my Pulsing xenia dying

[huso]

About 2 days ago this pusling xenia started to close up and today it was like this. It been in the tank for more than a month and all the other corals like the war coral duncan and the leathers are just fine. Only difference is I had to cut back on water changes due to a recent knee surgery so instead of weekly waterchanges I do it every 2 weeks. I also had a hair algea bloom. Nitrates are about 5ppm.

Sorry for the bad pictures I had to take them balancing on the foot.

 

[BonnieB]

Xenia are usually really hardy. What are your parameters? What is your flow like? Could you get pics in white intensity only lights so we can see the coral and if there is something going on beyond possible parameter/flow issues?

 

[huso]

Xenia are usually really hardy. What are your parameters? What is your flow like? Could you get pics in white intensity only lights so we can see the coral and if there is something going on beyond possible parameter/flow issues?

Cant do pictures right now but will do tommorow. Ph about 8 and nitrates are about 6. It is in a lower flow area but still lightly sways in the water. Here is an old picture of the flow

Like I said other corals are fine

 

[huso]

Xenia are usually really hardy. What are your parameters? What is your flow like? Could you get pics in white intensity only lights so we can see the coral and if there is something going on beyond possible parameter/flow issues?

here are the white spectrum pictures with a full tank shot also

 

[huso]

Xenia are usually really hardy. What are your parameters? What is your flow like? Could you get pics in white intensity only lights so we can see the coral and if there is something going on beyond possible parameter/flow issues?

here are the white spectrum pictures with a full tank shot also

40G

 

[BonnieB]

You do have quite a bit of algae. I wonder if it could be causing this reaction. Is it on the Xenia? Also I can’t tell by the pics, how is the flow of the Xenia?

 

[BonnieB]

There are several issues that can cause closing…too much flow, too little flow, sudden changes in parameters. Xenia are also iodine lovers so a deficiency could cause them to sulk. Don’t add iodine without testing to be sure and without consulting an expert here to determine amount to administer if it is low. Usually regular water changes will stabilize the parameters, including iodine. The algae though would indicate phosphates that are out of balance possibly.

 

[huso]

You do have quite a bit of algae. I wonder if it could be causing this reaction. Is it on the Xenia? Also I can’t tell by the pics, how is the flow of the Xenia?

The algae started growing recently, about a week ago, due to less frequent water changes, I would assume, though none grow on the xenia or block light to it. I was thinking maybe the algae is taking too many nutrients, leaving none for the xenia. It's been in that spot for about a month, healthy and growing. It's a lower flow spot, but still gets enough flow to lightly sway it in the water. I will try to manually remove some algae and look for something to eat it when I can start walking again, which is in a week or so. Other softies like the toadstool are doing just fine, as you can see in the picture.

 

[BonnieB]

You do have quite a bit of algae. I wonder if it could be causing this reaction. Is it on the Xenia? Also I can’t tell by the pics, how is the flow of the Xenia?

The algae started growing recently, about a week ago, due to less frequent water changes, I would assume, though none grow on the xenia or block light to it. I was thinking maybe the algae is taking too many nutrients, leaving none for the xenia. It's been in that spot for about a month, healthy and growing. It's a lower flow spot, but still gets enough flow to lightly sway it in the water. I will try to manually remove some algae and look for something to eat it when I can start walking again, which is in a week or so. Other softies like the toadstool are doing just fine, as you can see in the picture.

You may need to up your clean up crew and definitely get back to regular water changes once you’re up and about again! Hope you heal quickly and fully

 

[huso]

There are several issues that can cause closing…too much flow, too little flow, sudden changes in parameters. Xenia are also iodine lovers so a deficiency could cause them to sulk. Don’t add iodine without testing to be sure and without consulting an expert here to determine amount to administer if it is low. Usually regular water changes will stabilize the parameters, including iodine. The algae though would indicate phosphates that are out of balance possibly.

I currently do a water change every 2 weeks but I havent added or done anything to change paramaters like that. The tank has been running for 2-3 months now, with half the rocks being live from an established system. Sand was also live. I didn't even see a cycle, it was instant. I did have some temp swings, like from 82 to 79 in a night. But wouldn't less hardy corals die first if my parameters were bad?

 

[BonnieB]

Usually, yes. But that is a broad statement I’m making. There are many factors that go into cycling a tank and then having it actually be cycled. The difference between where you got your corals, such as LFS water parameters vs yours, or shipping issues with water or coral damage you can’t see. IMOE I have seen things look spectacular when they first arrive and then sulk differently for a while and then once really acclimated (and with good parameters) have them recover and flourish. I think making sure you water parameters are good, taking care of the algae (including finding the root cause of the outbreak) will be the best for you right now. Watch the Xenia to make sure it isn’t, what I’d call, melting, and assuming everything else is in check, go from there.