What's mixed in with these zoas?

[ReefGirlSara]

The guy I got this from said it was pulsating xenia, but I really don't think so...

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc65/sararuder/IMG_4233.jpg

[nano mania]

You have Xenias mixed in

[ACBlinky]

Looks like Xenia to me - it doesn't always pulse, it's finicky that way.

[ReefGirlSara]

Maybe I just had a different kind of xenia before, but the pink xenia I had was very soft and squishy, and if it was ever out of the water it deflated ALOT but this is kind of more meaty I guess you'd say, maybe it's just a hardier variety...no pulsating at all, either.

[ReefGirlSara]

Oh, and would you say this is a good thing or a bad thing that they are growing together? I have heard of xenia taking over tanks, but in the past mine all just got smaller and smaller until one day it was gone. I'm still not entirely convinced this is xenia...but should I be worried about it taking over the zoas if it is? I think it sort of looks neat together for the time being.

[ReefGirlSara]

All the xenia I've ever seen has these frills on the pulsating 'finger' or 'petal' parts, like in this photo.

http://www.tylermerrick.com/images/corals/xenia.jpg

These flower-like things don't have those frills at all.

[ihavtats29]

its xenia there are diferant types of xenia i had some in a older reff tank i had as it grows you can frag it out to your lfs for store credit

[ACBlinky]

It may be another type of coral, something else in the same family, it's hard to tell. We'd need a REALLY detailed picture... I'd just enjoy them, see what they do over time. I don't think it's harming anything that they're growing together -- neither coral looks unhappy about the arrangement.

[ReefGirlSara]

Thanks for the help!! If my camera skills improve I may post a better pic.

:)

[MarkusII]

Hello,

for me it does not really look like Xenia, they normally have larger polyps..

more like cespitularia: Cespitularia sp. 01 (http://www.meerwasser-lexikon.de/eng/83/564/0/info.htm)

but often the same species of corals look different in different tanks and also depending on the water flow they are exposed to...

regards

Markus

[nano mania]

Cespitularia and Xenia are both Genus in the Family Xeniidae.
All very similar in morphology and requirements.

If you have Xenia that slowly shrink and disappear, I have found two soutions that have worked for me; Xenia need iodine or good health and they enjoy a higher Nitrate levels 10-15 ppm. They are good nitrogen exporters.

[ahullsb]

It looks very similar to some xenia that my roommate has. And yes, xenia can easily take over your tank if it like the parameters. But maybe it will stay put with zoas around it. Xenia spreads, and it looks like it has nowhere to go.

[ahullsb]

Does it look like any of these?

<a href="http://s78.photobucket.com/albums/j94/ahullsb/aquarium/archive/?action=view&current=1e3220fe.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j94/ahullsb/aquarium/archive/1e3220fe.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s78.photobucket.com/albums/j94/ahullsb/aquarium/archive/?action=view&current=b7ba1168.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j94/ahullsb/aquarium/archive/b7ba1168.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s78.photobucket.com/albums/j94/ahullsb/aquarium/archive/?action=view&current=aa74bfa8.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j94/ahullsb/aquarium/archive/aa74bfa8.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>