Do Xenia's always pulse?

powerbuddy · 05/08/2006, 08:07 PM

I have a pulsing Xenia which i got from my friends tank a few days ago....when i put him in mine he did just fine. He was spreading, waving and pulsing. Everything seemed ok with him. However; I have noticed that sometimes they will shrivel up ( close the tentancles) and stop pulsing.... for few hours... and then start pulsing again. I thought it had something to do with the lighting or the current. But I am quite confident enought that with 130 watt PC's and 3 power heads in a 30 gallon, cannot go wrong. Also ammonia and trites are zero, trates are 20. So my question comes back to my main topic question....Do Xenia's need to always pulse as a good indicator of health...

FYI....I lost two mushrooms corals unexpectedly due to bug attack. Other corals are doing fine, especially my yellow colony is growing like wild fire.

L and L · 05/08/2006, 09:19 PM

The pulsing action is still not fully understood. Some retract at night and spaced breaks during the day. Some don't retract in certain aquariums, but retract in other aquariums (Sarcophyton sp. was found to cause Xenia to pulse).

It was thought that the pulsing was for enhanced nutrient uptake, but later work leaned towards respiration and gas exchange.

So, the answer to your question would be "NO".

dfcjr · 05/08/2006, 10:01 PM

Mine ball up at night for a few hours. Also if they are in a high flow spot they wont pulse as much. IME

davocean · 05/08/2006, 10:53 PM

I have one I've fragged into 3 sections.
Low flow under good light seems to pulse the most.

powerbuddy · 05/08/2006, 11:09 PM

Oh i have put that guy directly in the path of the powerhead....

davocean · 05/08/2006, 11:16 PM

I have one there too, never notice pulsing, probably doesn't need to.
Bet if you turn off powerhead you'll see it start to pulse

spoiledcats · 05/09/2006, 06:25 AM

Mine seem to close up really tight right after the lights go out. After about 30 minutes, they open up and start pulsing again. I think it's normal for them to stop every now and then.

05/08/2006, 08:07 PM	#1
powerbuddy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 61	Do Xenia's always pulse? I have a pulsing Xenia which i got from my friends tank a few days ago....when i put him in mine he did just fine. He was spreading, waving and pulsing. Everything seemed ok with him. However; I have noticed that sometimes they will shrivel up ( close the tentancles) and stop pulsing.... for few hours... and then start pulsing again. I thought it had something to do with the lighting or the current. But I am quite confident enought that with 130 watt PC's and 3 power heads in a 30 gallon, cannot go wrong. Also ammonia and trites are zero, trates are 20. So my question comes back to my main topic question....Do Xenia's need to always pulse as a good indicator of health... FYI....I lost two mushrooms corals unexpectedly due to bug attack. Other corals are doing fine, especially my yellow colony is growing like wild fire.

05/08/2006, 09:19 PM	#2
L and L Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi Posts: 1,147	The pulsing action is still not fully understood. Some retract at night and spaced breaks during the day. Some don't retract in certain aquariums, but retract in other aquariums (Sarcophyton sp. was found to cause Xenia to pulse). It was thought that the pulsing was for enhanced nutrient uptake, but later work leaned towards respiration and gas exchange. So, the answer to your question would be "NO". __________________ Layne Current Tank Info: 100g Reef with DSB 120#LR (30g Sump /20g Refugium /20g RO/DI /5g Kalk) VHO 280w MH 2@175 10kk LiterMeter III (RO/DI and Kalk) Velocity pumps T3(sump) and T4(closed loop) EuroReef CS6-2 and 30g FOwLR (DSB, sumpless, skimmerless)

05/08/2006, 10:01 PM	#3
dfcjr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Clinton Twp.,MI. Posts: 307	Mine ball up at night for a few hours. Also if they are in a high flow spot they wont pulse as much. IME __________________ R.I.P. David James Garrett, my little brother and the best friend I'll ever have, life will never be the same without you. Current Tank Info: 65gallon mixed reef, 20gallon refugium, 250w SE MH w/ 65w actinic PC

05/08/2006, 10:53 PM	#4
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	I have one I've fragged into 3 sections. Low flow under good light seems to pulse the most. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

05/08/2006, 11:16 PM	#6
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	I have one there too, never notice pulsing, probably doesn't need to. Bet if you turn off powerhead you'll see it start to pulse __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

05/08/2006, 11:09 PM	#5
powerbuddy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 61	Oh i have put that guy directly in the path of the powerhead....

05/09/2006, 06:25 AM	#7
spoiledcats Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lehigh Valley Posts: 622	Mine seem to close up really tight right after the lights go out. After about 30 minutes, they open up and start pulsing again. I think it's normal for them to stop every now and then.