Sleepy Xenia

fredly · 07-27-2001, 01:12 AM

Hello to all. I'm concerned about my xenia. I have a 110 with 300W NO/VHO FLO lighting (bulbs < 1yr old) and a mountain of LR that places them about 18" from the light. When I first got these things they grew like crazy. Now they are just there - barely pulsing, but still have good color and extend some during the day. I use EcoSytems Reef Solution, keep the temp between 76 and 79, and test zero trates, trites, and ammonia. Water is 100% RO/DI with 20% change every 3 months. Very light bioload too - 5 small/medium fish, cleaner shrimp, snails, few small hermits. I suspect marginal lighting, but can't understand how they did great for 3 months then slowed down. Any ideas?

Jeeper

Wrasse Man · 07-27-2001, 08:54 AM

I'll take a stab at it.
Lighting could be an issue, but I am not sure, so I'll let someone else touch on that.
As far as pulsing goes, I have heard of people adding Iodine/Iodide to the tank, and supposedly that works. It didn't work for mine. I found that maintaining a high alk seemed to do it for mine. They would just sort of sit there, looking like cool flowers, then when I added my Kalk make-up they would start pumping like mad, so my suggestion would to make sure your Alk is up.

HTH

Alice · 07-27-2001, 09:35 AM

Hi Jeepreefer;

Xenia are sometimes touchy. The will thrive in one person's tank, while failing miserably in another's tank that is not that dissimiliar; or they will do great for a while, even under better lighting than yours and then just fade away, melting down to little nubs. Nobody's really been able to put their finger on it.

That being said, Xenia like a lot of light. They are not autotrophic feeders (relying soley on their zooxanthelle for food), actually no corals, with the exception ~possibly~ of some of the coralimorphs (mushrooms) are autotrophic. Xenia do feed on food in the water column (heterotrophic feeding) but of a fairly small prey size.

You don't have much light over your tank and the bulbs have about reached the end of their lifespan (are you planning an upgrade?) I think that the Xenia just isn't able to gain enough nutrition from its zooxanthelle. When that happens, and the coral becomes weak, it then often loses its able to feed heterotphically and just sinks further down. Try feeding it a mixture of phytoplankton and some "reef mush", mashed up frozen cubes and/or some zooplankton (harder to find); see if this helps bring it back.

~Alice

[ 07-27-2001: Message edited by: Alice ]

DennisW · 07-28-2001, 09:49 PM

Alkalinity!!!!!!!!!!! Definitly alkalinity. It plays a major role in my opinion of whether these little guys pump or not.

Good Luck!

Dennis

fredly · 07-29-2001, 01:05 AM

Thanks all for the assist. I'm not sure if there is a correlation between "buffering capacity" (term on the test kit scale) and KH, but definitely it tests on the low end and my PH had dropped to about 8.1, soooo I got some Kent Superbuffer and will adjust slowly (50% of the recommended dose) over the next week or so. Sure hope it's the alk!

Jeeper

fredly · 08-07-2001, 12:29 AM

Dennis (and everyone else...),

Thanks for the tip on alk. My Xenias are recovering nicely after what should have killed everything in the tank. I took a sample of my water to the LFS and had it checked for pH and Alk. Can you believe my pH was 7.6!! This was after adding 3 doses of Kent Superbuffer over a week. Alk was down around 110ppm. Since then I've shown no mercy in daily dosing to correct the situation and the turnaround is remarkable. Since I started this tank I have tested with the dry tab kits. The pH always looked right on 8.4 to me but either it's a lousy test or I'm color blind. I had no idea that my pH could drop that much without more serious effects. Bottom line is I need to get a good test kit and I certainly won't trust dry tabs again.

My Xenia Thank You,
Jeep

Brooke · 08-07-2001, 09:40 AM

Which reminds me that I really, really, need to get a pH monitor. Maybe you do too!http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PA&Product_Code=PIN-PH&Category_Code=Pinpoint

Glad your xenia have perked up. I have found that xenia are very adaptable to different lighting conditions, so they should continue to do good when you get your alk and pH up. Another issue that can arise is the xenia needing a haircut! Pruning occasionally will keep them nice and healthy and will get you $$$ from your friends and LFS!

Have fun-
Brooke