Pulsing Xenia

[bryceschutte]

I have tried twice no to keep Pulsing Xenia, which should be easy. But for some reason I cant keep it alive for longer than a week. I have zoas, Kenya trees, anenome, GSP, and frog spawn that are all doing great. What am I doing wrong?

[Reef-Geek]

They like semi dirty water

[martinmcnally]

I had the same problem, I used to be able to keep them but not anymore, they just wither up and die.

[reefwars]

They don't really like alot of llight directly they can melt away like zoa's in no time. They do like flow but not directly . In lower flow areas they tend to pulse more and also when adding fine foods or water changes. Sometimes they stop pulsing if they have plenty of food. Xenia has always been a weed for me and I gave away all I could but still have some popping up here and there lol:) goodluck

[daniella3d]

MIne love very strong light. The stronger the better and the bigger they become and the faster they grow. I have never seen a xenia bleach from too much light.

When I see that it is turning sort of bluish and sort of shrinking I take it out of the aquarium for a Lugol iodine dip for about 20 minutes. It looks bad a bit for a day or 2 but come back after that much stronger.

I have tried twice no to keep Pulsing Xenia, which should be easy. But for some reason I cant keep it alive for longer than a week. I have zoas, Kenya trees, anenome, GSP, and frog spawn that are all doing great. What am I doing wrong?

[steve fedyk]

Are you using zeovite?

[whatcaneyedo]

Near pristine water conditions here and lots of light from 250W of MH. I used to have problems with xenia in the past when my tank was dirtier and I've had it grow into areas of poorer lighting then die. Everyone seems to make contradicting claims about this coral.

[Nebthet]

I used to have the same problem as you when it came to xenia. I had it placed halfway up in my tank and it would just melt away. Finally I got fed up and broke it off the rock it was on and moved the last remaining little frag to my sand bed.

This is what I had left of my xenia as of July 1st 2010
http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo269/nebthet1/Saltwater2/55g%20Reef/xenia07-01-2010.jpg

By 07-29-2010 the frag began growing and I also ordered a small frag of what was suppose to be purple xenia but turned out to be regular.
http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo269/nebthet1/Saltwater2/55g%20Reef/xenia07-29-2010.jpg

08-22-2010 both frags are growing and beginning to spread.
http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo269/nebthet1/Saltwater2/55g%20Reef/pulsingxenia08-22-2010.jpg
http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo269/nebthet1/Saltwater2/55g%20Reef/purplexenia08-22-2010.jpg

and as of this month, 11-07-2010 it has grown substantially in the week and a half since this pick, has continued to split grow and walk. So I know where people say it grows like a weed.
http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo269/nebthet1/Saltwater2/55g%20Reef/xenia11-07-2010.jpg

So I see a few of your tank info on your signature, but how many lights are in the T5 fixture you use. If it is 6 or more, move the xenia down to the sand bed and let them grow up from there.

[Rogue951]

I'm trying to keep mine penned in the corner. Stalks growing up the glass are great to just peel off. but I'm having problems getting them off the rock.

[paddyob]

Check your temp as well. I had Xenia in the past and I found when the temp in my tank raised a few degrees.... summer temp in apartment was 80-82 F... it melted away even though everything else was fine.

[bryceschutte]

4 t5 bulbs. I guess I will try putting them down lower in my tank.

No zeovite.

[ponokareefer]

I've tried a few different types of Xenia in various spots in my tank over the years and the results are always the same, it withers away into nothing over a period of time. I've even had it flourish for quite a while covering great areas, and then suddenly, just start dieing off for no apparent reason.

[Nebthet]

I'm trying to keep mine penned in the corner. Stalks growing up the glass are great to just peel off. but I'm having problems getting them off the rock.

Depending on how it is on your rocks, you could try getting some frag plugs and temporarily gluing them to your rockwork, butted right up against the xenia you want to remove which should coax it to attach to the frag plug. Once on that, you can remove the plug and sell the xenia frags.

bryceschutte:

4 bulbs on a 90 isn't all that bad for light. If the xenia you have is placed near the top then moving it halfway down or lower should help. Also try keeping it in a low to moderate flow area. Mine spreads more when it has less flow on it.