Xenia help

[JetStarheart]

in the past week my established xenias that rege

nerated in my tank went from pic 1 to pic 2. Any idea?

 

[wuuzzzuuppp]

What are your water parameters?

 

[wuuzzzuuppp]

I know they dont like high nutrients. What lighting do you have them under? Do you add trace elements/phytoplankton/marine snow?

 

[wuuzzzuuppp]

Also they need some flow, but dont like to be blasted either

 

[SchnauzerFace]

I know they dont like high nutrients.

I was actually going to say I've heard that xenia do better with elevated nitrates. Could be wrong, though.

When I first got a frag of xenia, the guy told me "Don't take it personally if it doesn't like your tank." Apparently xenia are kind of hit-or-miss and it's not always clear why. I've heard similar stories of flourishing colonies kind of melting away rapidly without any clear explanation. Sorry to see this happen, though!

 

[wuuzzzuuppp]

I was actually going to say I've heard that xenia do better with elevated nitrates. Could be wrong, though.

Yeah I did a little more reading and I stand corrected. They are like any other softy. They like a little dirty water. I stand corrected. I was told by a LFS that they didnt. It's not the first thing the guy told me that was wrong!

 

[wuuzzzuuppp]

When I first got a frag of xenia, the guy told me "Don't take it personally if it doesn't like your tank." Apparently xenia are kind of hit-or-miss and it's not always clear why. I've heard similar stories of flourishing colonies kind of melting away rapidly without any clear explanation. Sorry to see this happen, though![/QUOTE]

I've kinda heard and read the same thing


When I first got mine it started to shrink up and die off, but I moved it up to the top of the tank and a little more flow and it took off.

 

[ReeferEric]

They are a softy, there is no skeleton structure and definitely not a zoa.

There are various versions of Xenia so if they one doesn't make it, look into Silver Xenia. These look like Pom Pom Xenia, give them a little bit more flow and move them up higher.

 

[watdachuck]

Here is my Xenia colony that look to be similar. My nitrates last tested at .8 so in this case at least they haven'y been needing more. They sit on the far side of where my MP10 is blowing about 6 inches off the bottom. I have read that in many cases they expand and thrive better when PH is higher. I have noticed that when my tank is 8.10 and up the look much happier than when in falls below 8.00. My two cents...

 

[JetStarheart]

I use Fuel amd spot add vibrance directly at them a few times a month.. Parameters are 0 nitrate,nitrite,ammonia,phosphate... Ph 8.1 this is how its been xenias regrew from last melt off looked phenominal.. Yes they are pom pom.. I just dont get it.. Been in the tabk well over 8 months

 

[Connie]

dose a little iodine and see if that helps.

 

[TriggerThis]

I had a nice clump going and then my Hippo Tang found out he liked how they taste.
He bit and chomped on the colony until they shriveled up and melted away.
I thought it was my water or something Bc I never saw him do it when I was home. Then one after noon I witnessed an attack.
Issue found

 

[Daddio]

Definitely a canary in the fish tank for lo ph/alk from my experience.

I loved them until they started taking over the tank. They grew on the walls and even on my powerheads. It was great for store credit at the LFS though.

 

[9balliw]

Just like daddio said.ph/alk is huge with Xenia the pulse even slows down if ph drops low they are a good barometer I am starting to learn. And keep them trimmed once you get them going or keep them away from other stuff good luck!!!!!!