xenia growth, then death?

Eugene Ciccimaro · 08/12/2006, 12:44 PM

I bought a small frag of xenia about 6 months ago. It quickly spread like a weed for about 3 months. Then, about a month ago, it started to not extend as much, and now, looks like its dying. I don't know what veriety it is, but it pulses. My general water parameters have not changed (Ca, alk, pH, fine; no ammonia). I've read that maybe iodine helps, maybe not. Or they like "dirty" water (but my tank is pretty stable (about 2 1/2 years old). All other coral (all soft) are growing fine.

Any suggestions?

jasper24 · 08/12/2006, 01:06 PM

No one knows. I started with 1 stalk about 7 months ago. It quickly spread to take over about 1/4 of my 58G tank. Then about 3 weeks ago it started "melting". Now I have about 3 stalks left. Actually I am not upset as it was getting out of control. All of my lps, clams, fish, etc are fine.

surfjeepzx · 08/12/2006, 02:56 PM

water change

mfp4073 · 08/13/2006, 02:23 AM

my LFS and I are having debates on if it was my xenia that died and crashed my tank or something else happened and that killed my xenia while my tank was crashing. We really dont know the answer....but I went to work one day and all was good, came home with ammonia off the charts and cloudy water. Water changes could not get the ammonia down, so I ended up moving everything to another tank and am completely recycling the tank.

End suggestion...keep an eye on it and keep testing often.

steve68 · 08/13/2006, 05:32 AM

what i have noticed is that Xenia is a nutrient export, in my tank it did great cuz i only did water changes once a month & when i did it was not a lot of water that i would change, it kept growing like a weed & i really like the way it was covering the one side of my 210, but other corals where not doing so great so i start it to do weekly water changes 15% at a time & then i bought an ozone generator & the water was so clear it was amazing but i had noticed the xenia not doing well at all, well just by luck i was home one day when it all start it to melt, i had enough time to take it all out but it had done it's damage, all the toxins from the xenia killed 2 of my SPS colonies that where right next to the xenia, so be carefull when it starts to die off, granted i had a lot but the toxins are deadly, iodine will help just dont add to much.

Xenia1
Xenia2
Xenia3

Eugene Ciccimaro · 08/13/2006, 06:57 AM

thanks all. It shows no signs of melting. One stalk just kept shrinking till it dissapeared. ? I'll watch out though.

Bret61081 · 08/13/2006, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Eugene Ciccimaro
thanks all. It shows no signs of melting. One stalk just kept shrinking till it dissapeared. ? I'll watch out though.

Thats exactly what happens to mine. It will do great for about 2-3 months spread to like 3-4 stalks...then die down to 1 or 2. Its been doing this since Dec when I got it. Wish I knew why, but no one could tell me!

08/12/2006, 12:44 PM	#1
Eugene Ciccimaro Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Outside Phila. Posts: 136	xenia growth, then death? I bought a small frag of xenia about 6 months ago. It quickly spread like a weed for about 3 months. Then, about a month ago, it started to not extend as much, and now, looks like its dying. I don't know what veriety it is, but it pulses. My general water parameters have not changed (Ca, alk, pH, fine; no ammonia). I've read that maybe iodine helps, maybe not. Or they like "dirty" water (but my tank is pretty stable (about 2 1/2 years old). All other coral (all soft) are growing fine. Any suggestions? __________________ I think its becoming a mental disorder. Current Tank Info: 50g display, 10g sump, 10g fug, PC orbit

08/12/2006, 02:56 PM	#3
surfjeepzx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wilbur by the Sea, FL Posts: 842	water change __________________ << All that matters Current Tank Info: 135 Acrylic flatback hex. 30 gallon sump. Twin Coralvue 250w MH's w/ 14k Hamiltons, Icecap 660 VHO, 4 URI reflected 110 actinic's. Rio 17hf return & 2 mj1200's (mod'd) pwrhds in tank. All natural... seawater

08/13/2006, 02:23 AM	#4
mfp4073 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 1,506	my LFS and I are having debates on if it was my xenia that died and crashed my tank or something else happened and that killed my xenia while my tank was crashing. We really dont know the answer....but I went to work one day and all was good, came home with ammonia off the charts and cloudy water. Water changes could not get the ammonia down, so I ended up moving everything to another tank and am completely recycling the tank. End suggestion...keep an eye on it and keep testing often. __________________ Bristle worms are evil and need to be eradicated, at night they creep out of the tank and charge internet porn to your credit cards....ask me how I know. Anyone else notice that anthelia smells like fresh cut water chestnuts? ....they call me chad Current Tank Info: 1 crashed 75 gal..it was really beautiful while it lasted.

08/13/2006, 05:32 AM	#5
steve68 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Piscataway,NJ Posts: 4,058	what i have noticed is that Xenia is a nutrient export, in my tank it did great cuz i only did water changes once a month & when i did it was not a lot of water that i would change, it kept growing like a weed & i really like the way it was covering the one side of my 210, but other corals where not doing so great so i start it to do weekly water changes 15% at a time & then i bought an ozone generator & the water was so clear it was amazing but i had noticed the xenia not doing well at all, well just by luck i was home one day when it all start it to melt, i had enough time to take it all out but it had done it's damage, all the toxins from the xenia killed 2 of my SPS colonies that where right next to the xenia, so be carefull when it starts to die off, granted i had a lot but the toxins are deadly, iodine will help just dont add to much. Xenia1 Xenia2 Xenia3 __________________ "Never Give Up Never Surrender" Current Tank Info: 50 Breeder with 250w MH 10k XM bulb & 2 24inch VHO atinic 03,210 gallon Reef tank. 3 250 W MH,MRC CR-2 Reactor & MR-2 Skimmer,150 gallon sump,125 gallon refugium,75 Gallon Frag Tank & adding more water volume every t

08/13/2006, 06:57 AM	#6
Eugene Ciccimaro Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Outside Phila. Posts: 136	thanks all. It shows no signs of melting. One stalk just kept shrinking till it dissapeared. ? I'll watch out though. __________________ I think its becoming a mental disorder. Current Tank Info: 50g display, 10g sump, 10g fug, PC orbit

08/12/2006, 01:06 PM	#2
jasper24 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 2,120	No one knows. I started with 1 stalk about 7 months ago. It quickly spread to take over about 1/4 of my 58G tank. Then about 3 weeks ago it started "melting". Now I have about 3 stalks left. Actually I am not upset as it was getting out of control. All of my lps, clams, fish, etc are fine.