Xenia withering away

Paul_PSU · 07/09/2008, 08:01 AM

I have a pom pom xenia that I have had for about 2 months. It started to looking bad about a week ago. First it wasn't pulsating, then not inflating all the way and now just barely opens. My water parameters are all good except for my PH. It is about 8. I was so hung up on alk I hadn't tested my ph several weeks. My PH is usually 8.4. Could the swing have caused it? My alk is 8.5-9 and my Ca is 480-500. I just purchased some lugols solution after reading they benefit from it. I don't have a test so not sure what the levels are.
there is one other thing and I'm not sure if this would matter. I have a Foxface. He wedges between the xenia and the rock it's on at night. The only reason I mention this is the xenia started going down hill after he started wedging there at night. The Foxface did this with a couple mushrooms previously and both mushrooms released from the rock they were on. Not sure if this matters just found it odd.

Thanks for any help,

Paul

atwinparadox2 · 07/09/2008, 09:59 AM

if they are used to a PH of 8.4 and it dropped to 8, you bet that could be the problem. Tenths of a point in this hobby can do wonders or cause serious problems. You should see a huge difference if you get your PH back up.

Crush Coral · 07/12/2008, 07:44 AM

Mine have just withered and died as well. They never really reproduced like I hear they are suposed to. I had stopped feeding Rod's Food about 3 weeks ago when I ran out and I think they just starved w/o the extra coral food. Better to loose them than have them run over your tank.

Paul_PSU · 07/12/2008, 08:05 AM

I got the PH back up but it was too late. It just laid on top of the rocks and would not inflate at all. I just took it out of the tank before it fouled the water.

crsswift70 · 07/12/2008, 08:08 AM

just because it isn't inflated doesn't mean it's dead. Mine close up all of the time. When mine have died in the past, the "fingers" started falling off. Even then, the little stumps grew back. They never seemed to foul the water.

ssavader · 07/14/2008, 03:33 PM

Try moving it to a new location. I had the same problem with a small specimen that looked wretched. I finanaly found a tank position that it liked and it has taken off- be careful what you wish for, as it is spreading so fast it is a real pain!!!

sean1 · 07/14/2008, 08:08 PM

The foxface may also be the problem. I have some Xenias that my clowns like to host and they aren't doing well while all the other million xenias in the tank look fine. If you notice there are some spots in the tank where the foxface doesn't feel comfortable sleeping, put the xenia there and see what happens. But that is a big pH swing. It could be either.

Paul_PSU · 07/14/2008, 09:48 PM

I had it in a QT tank for a day. I put it back in last night and when I got home from work, I had to pick the pieces out of the tank. I think the PH swing was too much. I imagine the fox face didn't help any either. I just got so hung up on checking calcium, alk and mag that I ignored the PH for the past week. I never had any issues with it before. It was always 8.4.

07/09/2008, 08:01 AM	#1
Paul_PSU Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA. Posts: 1,517	Xenia withering away I have a pom pom xenia that I have had for about 2 months. It started to looking bad about a week ago. First it wasn't pulsating, then not inflating all the way and now just barely opens. My water parameters are all good except for my PH. It is about 8. I was so hung up on alk I hadn't tested my ph several weeks. My PH is usually 8.4. Could the swing have caused it? My alk is 8.5-9 and my Ca is 480-500. I just purchased some lugols solution after reading they benefit from it. I don't have a test so not sure what the levels are. there is one other thing and I'm not sure if this would matter. I have a Foxface. He wedges between the xenia and the rock it's on at night. The only reason I mention this is the xenia started going down hill after he started wedging there at night. The Foxface did this with a couple mushrooms previously and both mushrooms released from the rock they were on. Not sure if this matters just found it odd. Thanks for any help, Paul

07/14/2008, 03:33 PM	#6
ssavader Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Carmel, IN (Indianapolis suburb) Posts: 892	Try moving it to a new location. I had the same problem with a small specimen that looked wretched. I finanaly found a tank position that it liked and it has taken off- be careful what you wish for, as it is spreading so fast it is a real pain!!! __________________ Scott

07/09/2008, 09:59 AM	#2
atwinparadox2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kingston, PA Posts: 782	if they are used to a PH of 8.4 and it dropped to 8, you bet that could be the problem. Tenths of a point in this hobby can do wonders or cause serious problems. You should see a huge difference if you get your PH back up.

07/12/2008, 07:44 AM	#3
Crush Coral Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central Wisconsin Posts: 641	Mine have just withered and died as well. They never really reproduced like I hear they are suposed to. I had stopped feeding Rod's Food about 3 weeks ago when I ran out and I think they just starved w/o the extra coral food. Better to loose them than have them run over your tank.

07/12/2008, 08:05 AM	#4
Paul_PSU Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA. Posts: 1,517	I got the PH back up but it was too late. It just laid on top of the rocks and would not inflate at all. I just took it out of the tank before it fouled the water.

07/12/2008, 08:08 AM	#5
crsswift70 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Spanish Fort, AL Posts: 729	just because it isn't inflated doesn't mean it's dead. Mine close up all of the time. When mine have died in the past, the "fingers" started falling off. Even then, the little stumps grew back. They never seemed to foul the water.

07/14/2008, 08:08 PM	#7
sean1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 195	The foxface may also be the problem. I have some Xenias that my clowns like to host and they aren't doing well while all the other million xenias in the tank look fine. If you notice there are some spots in the tank where the foxface doesn't feel comfortable sleeping, put the xenia there and see what happens. But that is a big pH swing. It could be either.

07/14/2008, 09:48 PM	#8
Paul_PSU Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA. Posts: 1,517	I had it in a QT tank for a day. I put it back in last night and when I got home from work, I had to pick the pieces out of the tank. I think the PH swing was too much. I imagine the fox face didn't help any either. I just got so hung up on checking calcium, alk and mag that I ignored the PH for the past week. I never had any issues with it before. It was always 8.4.