Xenia fading

[BonesCJ]

I just picked up some Xenia about a week ago and after just two days it had started to look pretty poor, very shriveled and poor color. I dose daily with Nano Reef A & B, top off with RO and add iodine every other day, have done a water change and the PH is stable at about 8.2 with a temp of 80-82 degrees and Sal of 1.026. It has not started to fall apart yet but is still looking poor. All other corals in the tank (mushrooms, polyps, zoas and 1 leather) are doing great and the mushrooms are splitting rapidly. Any suggestions? Oh and 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and 10-15ppm Nitrate. I am dealing with a high phosphate issue from bad top off water but am using Phos-X to remove it.

[nathanemmerich]

Im not to sure if i am the best person to give advice but for me xenia works only when i put it at the top of the tank up by the lights. I run 2X96watt PC lighting. when i dont put them close to the light the base of the xenia deflates somewhat. Mine are in medium current.

[mikeatjac]

The best advise I can give is lots of flow and not a clean tank.

[ffjpayne]

i think that they need lots of iodine, but i could be wrong i have not been able to keep xenia very good tried twice and they both died.

[Satori]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7504696#post7504696 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mikeatjac
The best advise I can give is lots of flow and not a clean tank.

That's funny; you're posting on my home board, and I'm in Jacksonville for a few days!

As far as the xenia, I don't know if this is the problem, but it doesn't transport well. Did you get it local? During the big tank switch, I had some xenia in a temporary fuge in a rubbermaid tub, covered up with rocks for a week. It's now in my new fuge with T-5s. It took a hit, but it seems to be recovering.

However, it seems that frags of my xenia can't survive the hour drive to Tucson.

[superman1013]

They definitely don't travel well... They like lots of flow

[fishaholic911]

Who did you buy them from? I would ask him or her to give you more if the do not make it. LOL Anyway xenia are very hardy once established but do not always fair well in transport.Let me know if you lose them and if mine make it with the tank switch I will get you some more.

[kscrimshaw]

I am by far NOT an expert, but why are you adding iodine every other day? Do you check your levels regularly? Sounds like xenia may need iodine supplements, but too much of anything can still be toxic.

[BonesCJ]

It is the instructions on the bottle.

[Fat Surgeon]

How is it doing? Suggestion.....put it in more flow if it has'nt recovered. Because you have this in a Nano(is this right?) you may be also be overdoing the Iodine. Larger systems can handle a little overdosing, but I wouldnt be surprised if you have enough Iodine in your salt mix when you do water changes to skip the iodine with your smaller system. If anything, cut the Iodine addition back to twice per week, put in Med flow area and see what happens. Good luck!

PS: Try the "soft coral keepers" forum. It's full of Xenia Q & A

[BonesCJ]

Its a 55 gallon tank so I don't think its considered a Nano, just not huge either.

[Fat Surgeon]

Nope, defintely not a Nano. Is the Xenia better?

[BonesCJ]

nope,
no better
no worse

[AZreefkeeper]

chirs
send me a pic of the xenia, is it Red Sea, Elongata or Fiji? I have all three including a yellow strain from Mike Paletta (doesn't look very yellow in my tank) and some Bali long stalk. What is your hardness? just because your pH is up there doesn't mean your hardness is correct.

[AZreefkeeper]

I mean dkH. or alk.

[BonesCJ]

ITS ALIVE.... ALIVE!!!

Well it would seem miracles do happen, my xenia seems to be almost fully recovered. It is just starting to pulse and its colors are looking alot more normal, and the tiny orange Zoas on the rock as well have opened up so I am very pleased. It almost seemed that it just needed alot of time to recover and adjust from the 30 minute trip from where I bought it to its new home tank.

[Satori]

Cool, glad to hear it made it!

[BonesCJ]

Here is the Xenia along with some Zoa colonies

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/577/110188Xenia_and_Zoas.JPG

[fishaholic911]

Very nice !