My Xenia is grayish color. Anything wrong with it?

[Subnautica]

Got this frag a few days ago. But when I brought it home I realized it's kinda grayish in color. I've only seen white, orange and purple. Anything wrong with it? Will it change the color?

Another question, my tank is full of coralline algae, I heard it's a sign of healthy environment, but my nitrate is over 40ppm and phosphate is 0.15. How come is that healthy?

 

[LesPoissons]

The xenias color is fine but it shouln't be all closed up like that. If this was taken right after you placed the frag or right when the lights came on then okay- but if its been in there for a bit and not opening then the flow is too high, light it too strong etc. it could also be the water quality but xenia are relatively hardy. Also just a heads up- if it starts doing better it will grow like crazy. You want to isolate it a lot further from the rock work if you dont want it everywhere.
Coralline algae and a variety of algae will grow great with high phos and nitrates- unfortunately that doesn't indicate the tank is "healthy"- just that there is adequate lighting and enough nutrients for algae growth. Since most algae can survive and even thrive in a very wide spectrum of acceptable parameters... Id look more toward your water tests, coral behavior, other nuisance algae growth, and tank inhabitants as a collective measure of tank health.

 

[WVNed]

There is a variety going around that is described as silver color.
https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+2856+2390&pcatid=2390
I believe that is what I have
It kind of assumes the color of the light you have it under
Same stuff in 2 different tanks

 

[Subnautica]

The xenias color is fine but it shouln't be all closed up like that. If this was taken right after you placed the frag or right when the lights came on then okay- but if its been in there for a bit and not opening then the flow is too high, light it too strong etc. it could also be the water quality but xenia are relatively hardy. Also just a heads up- if it starts doing better it will grow like crazy. You want to isolate it a lot further from the rock work if you dont want it everywhere.
Coralline algae and a variety of algae will grow great with high phos and nitrates- unfortunately that doesn't indicate the tank is "healthy"- just that there is adequate lighting and enough nutrients for algae growth. Since most algae can survive and even thrive in a very wide spectrum of acceptable parameters... Id look more toward your water tests, coral behavior, other nuisance algae growth, and tank inhabitants as a collective measure of tank health.

Thank you for the info but as for the hands closing up, isn't that common in other xenias as well? I think mine looks the same as the pics that WVNed posted above.

 

[Starkrost]

Mine is supposed to be a Red Pom Pom Xenia but it’s more of a grey silver color. But it pulses quite nicely now that I found it’s happy place in the back corner.

 

[Subnautica]

There is a variety going around that is described as silver color.
https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+2856+2390&pcatid=2390
I believe that is what I have
It kind of assumes the color of the light you have it under
Same stuff in 2 different tanks

Beautiful. I love them.

 

[Subnautica]

Mine is supposed to be a Red Pom Pom Xenia but it’s more of a grey silver color. But it pulses quite nicely now that I found it’s happy place in the back corner.

Mine only pulse when I turn of all the flow

 

[Starkrost]

Mine only pulse when I turn of all the flow

They’re actually on a rock right below the wave maker so they don’t get much flow by the time the circulation makes it around the tank.

 

[LesPoissons]

I would say If they aren’t opening and closing then they are in too much flow, but that’s just my opinion. If there’s a lot of flow then they usually will stay closed, less flow and they stay open and “wave” If there’s little flow and they were closed then it might be it lighting or a water parameter situation- that’s what I was trying to say. Here’s a picture of some of the colonies that I keep in my sump- it’s lower flow so they stay open or open/close.

 

[Picasso Clown]

I wouldn’t worry bout it, they look fine and they’re impossible to kill ime. One frag came off the plug in the middle of the night and got shredded by the powerhead, a week in a cup later it was brand new. Agree on too much flow though, mine pulses quite aggressively in low-medium flow.

 

[Subnautica]

I would say If they aren’t opening and closing then they are in too much flow, but that’s just my opinion. If there’s a lot of flow then they usually will stay closed, less flow and they stay open and “wave” If there’s little flow and they were closed then it might be it lighting or a water parameter situation- that’s what I was trying to say. Here’s a picture of some of the colonies that I keep in my sump- it’s lower flow so they stay open or open/close.

I see what you meant now. I like the way they are open. Will play around with the flow to see how it goes.

 

[Subnautica]

I wouldn’t worry bout it, they look fine and they’re impossible to kill ime. One frag came off the plug in the middle of the night and got shredded by the powerhead, a week in a cup later it was brand new. Agree on too much flow though, mine pulses quite aggressively in low-medium flow.

Gorgeous! Is the top one in the last pic Silver Branch Xenia?

 

[Picasso Clown]

Gorgeous! Is the top one in the last pic Silver Branch Xenia?

Nope, just regular pom pom xenia. It’s pink, purple, red, tan, grey, peach, etc in different lighting. But mine pulses like it’s life depends on it! This is how it looked when it first got to me