My Xenia Colony Dieing Off?

SWaquariast · 07/07/2008, 04:52 PM

I looked at my pom pom xenia colony about 15min ago and saw that there were brown to black streaks going up the sides and onto the "fingers" this is the purely pink xenia. My LFS said they are not really for sure what it is but that the colony might be dieing off.

erbio · 07/07/2008, 04:53 PM

What's your alkalinity? Are the polyps limp or still pulsing?

SWaquariast · 07/07/2008, 04:56 PM

My alk is at 6

My polyps are still slowly pulsing but very stringy.

erbio · 07/07/2008, 05:11 PM

There are many possible reasons for this but far and away the most common is a low pH. Xenia are notoriously sensitive to low pH. They stop pulsing at 8.3 and really show suffrage under 8.0. A reef aquarium ideally (to me) does not drop below 8.3 at night (low point).

What is your current pH?

How long have you had the xenia colony?

SWaquariast · 07/07/2008, 05:15 PM

My pH is at 8.2. My colony is is a year and a half old and my pH has been at 8.0 to 8.4 and in those ranges it has been perfectly healthy. My pH normally sits at 8.0-8.2. But still pulsed very well.

erbio · 07/07/2008, 05:22 PM

Have you added any new corals recently? I've heard of several issues with a xenia and colt coral combination.

Are you running any carbon?

SWaquariast · 07/07/2008, 05:35 PM

I have only added snails and hermits in the past month. I run a single carbon bag in an Aqua-Tech Filter.

dzeadow · 07/07/2008, 05:37 PM

what's your phosphate at? Xenia use phosphate to grow, so if there's none in the system, its possible it's dying.

InsaneClownFish · 07/07/2008, 05:38 PM

What's your tank temperature? Have you made any adjustments to your lighting or the placement of your Xenia. They can be very touchy and literally melt away with temp spikes.

erbio · 07/07/2008, 05:40 PM

You mentioned that they are still pulsing. I would do a small water change and change the carbon. After doing so give it a day to see if they bounce back. I am confident that they will.

erbio · 07/07/2008, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dzeadow
Xenia use phosphate to grow, so if there's none in the system, its possible it's dying.

You are correct that they need phosphate to grow but I'm quite sure that phosphate isn't the issue.

erbio · 07/07/2008, 05:46 PM

Common causes of stressed xenia include toxins from other corals, low pH, low Alkalinity and more. Change carbon and a water change.

keithcrmr · 07/07/2008, 06:54 PM

xzenia are strage as i have had mine for almost a year...sometimes they pulse sometimes they dont..one time they shrivelled up to where i almost couldn even see themfor like two months..i considered them but just left them alone anyhow..then one day i came home from work and each stalk had split and they were out pulsing again!

gbcichlids · 07/07/2008, 06:57 PM

I have not kept the white variety yet but kept the more common silver/beige four times and never was successful until I upgraded from power compacts to metal halides. Two times the coral immediately melted away. The third time it lasted 6 months and even doubled in size and THEN melted away. But now with the halides, it is over a year in the tank and almost has become a pain as it keeps growing and growing. The lfs is happy with the frags but takes only so many at a time.

I think they need lots of light and current.

erbio · 07/07/2008, 07:09 PM

Xenia are unpredictable really...

07/07/2008, 04:52 PM	#1
SWaquariast Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: USA Posts: 745	My Xenia Colony Dieing Off? I looked at my pom pom xenia colony about 15min ago and saw that there were brown to black streaks going up the sides and onto the "fingers" this is the purely pink xenia. My LFS said they are not really for sure what it is but that the colony might be dieing off. __________________ Mitch Current Tank Info: 20g Mixed reef aquarium.

07/07/2008, 04:56 PM	#3
SWaquariast Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: USA Posts: 745	My alk is at 6 My polyps are still slowly pulsing but very stringy. __________________ Mitch Current Tank Info: 20g Mixed reef aquarium.

07/07/2008, 05:15 PM	#5
SWaquariast Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: USA Posts: 745	My pH is at 8.2. My colony is is a year and a half old and my pH has been at 8.0 to 8.4 and in those ranges it has been perfectly healthy. My pH normally sits at 8.0-8.2. But still pulsed very well. __________________ Mitch Current Tank Info: 20g Mixed reef aquarium.

07/07/2008, 05:35 PM	#7
SWaquariast Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: USA Posts: 745	I have only added snails and hermits in the past month. I run a single carbon bag in an Aqua-Tech Filter. __________________ Mitch Current Tank Info: 20g Mixed reef aquarium.

07/07/2008, 05:37 PM	#8
dzeadow Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bozeman, MT Posts: 2,589	what's your phosphate at? Xenia use phosphate to grow, so if there's none in the system, its possible it's dying. __________________ - Danny Current Tank Info: Dual 50 Breeder system, 30g custom sump/fuge, MSX200, Tank1-6x24T5 retro, Tank2-4x39T5 retro

07/07/2008, 04:53 PM	#2
erbio Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NY Posts: 625	What's your alkalinity? Are the polyps limp or still pulsing?

07/07/2008, 05:11 PM	#4
erbio Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NY Posts: 625	There are many possible reasons for this but far and away the most common is a low pH. Xenia are notoriously sensitive to low pH. They stop pulsing at 8.3 and really show suffrage under 8.0. A reef aquarium ideally (to me) does not drop below 8.3 at night (low point). What is your current pH? How long have you had the xenia colony?

07/07/2008, 05:22 PM	#6
erbio Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NY Posts: 625	Have you added any new corals recently? I've heard of several issues with a xenia and colt coral combination. Are you running any carbon?

07/07/2008, 05:38 PM	#9
InsaneClownFish Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,069	What's your tank temperature? Have you made any adjustments to your lighting or the placement of your Xenia. They can be very touchy and literally melt away with temp spikes. __________________ 7 Years Reefing and Many Fresh 8 Foot Envisions

07/07/2008, 05:40 PM	#10
erbio Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NY Posts: 625	You mentioned that they are still pulsing. I would do a small water change and change the carbon. After doing so give it a day to see if they bounce back. I am confident that they will.

07/07/2008, 05:46 PM	#12
erbio Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NY Posts: 625	Common causes of stressed xenia include toxins from other corals, low pH, low Alkalinity and more. Change carbon and a water change.

07/07/2008, 06:54 PM	#13
keithcrmr Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: florida Posts: 51	xzenia are strage as i have had mine for almost a year...sometimes they pulse sometimes they dont..one time they shrivelled up to where i almost couldn even see themfor like two months..i considered them but just left them alone anyhow..then one day i came home from work and each stalk had split and they were out pulsing again!

07/07/2008, 06:57 PM	#14
gbcichlids Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 328	I have not kept the white variety yet but kept the more common silver/beige four times and never was successful until I upgraded from power compacts to metal halides. Two times the coral immediately melted away. The third time it lasted 6 months and even doubled in size and THEN melted away. But now with the halides, it is over a year in the tank and almost has become a pain as it keeps growing and growing. The lfs is happy with the frags but takes only so many at a time. I think they need lots of light and current. __________________ FOOTBALL SEASON!!! Current Tank Info: 46 bow Reef (1)150 HQI Phoenix DE 14000K (1) Radium 20000K

07/07/2008, 07:09 PM	#15
erbio Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NY Posts: 625	Xenia are unpredictable really...