Xenia - issues/concerns

[Triax]

Ok - I got a nice Xenia a few months ago from a friend.
Wasn't doing so hot - I got a new t5 6 bulb setup and then it flourished.
Long and flowing always pulsing.

Now over the last few days it has taken to be contracted and not so happy all the time still pulsing but droopy.

The levels are all good by stick testing salinity is 1.025-.028.

Been using coral Vite and Kentliquid Iodine, Calcium and Molybdenum (sp) etc. every other week alternately.

Please help I love the stuff - I know people think it is a nuisance -but my kids love it to death.

Any adivce would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MAReefer1]

How much Iodine are you dosing...Because I had some major problems with Iodine...and what size tank.?

 

[Triax]

72 gallon and 5 ml every 3-5 days?

 

[Moe_K]

Don't trust the stick test for salinity. Use a swing arm hydrometer, or better yet a refractometer.
Test your alkalinity with a good test kit (Salifert, Tropic Marin, even FasTest).
Get a good pH test, or better yet a pH monitor.
Test your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and phosphate.

Stop using Coral Vite. Stop using any additive for which you can't or don't test.

 

[Triax]

Phosphates run a bit high I do weekly 5 gallon water changes not including top offs.

Good points Moe K - I have been looking into a ph monitor.ammonia, nitriate and nitrite I have test kit for they are reading 0, 0 and next to zero - what kind of affect would the phosphates have.

 

[Moe_K]

I'd like to get an idea of overall water quality. Phosphates helps in that regard.

 

[Triax]

eeeexxxxcellent - I will count the test and I will count the numbers - Thank you Moe -

 

[Moe_K]

Sure.

Maybe someone can help me learn to typw.
Damn fingers.

 

[Triax]

ok - ph is at low 8.2 and alkalinity is at...4. meq/L.
Waiting on the phosphate test

 

[Triax]

phosphates came back low 0ppm PO4 - red sea liquid phosphate test - conudcted 3 times LOL

 

[Moe_K]

Hmm, those all seem okay.

 

[testhead1313]

I'm confused. What is the stick test??

 

[Liquid]

I've heard that Xenia is highly sensitive to pH and that when it stops pulsing that is an early indicator that your pH is out of whack.

 

[dad300]

Sometimes Xenia just shrinks up... no real reason that anyone can figure out...

 

[merk1_99]

Xenia is highly reactive to pH swings. Every time I add my two part to my sump it crunches for about 20 mins. Are you running a refugium during the day? What is your total pH swing for the day? morning, noon time, evening?

Personally I would stop adding all those additives. If you aren't specificly testing for them you could be causing an issue.

 

[110oceanic]

don't forget circulation. xenia love circulation.

 

[RichConley]

Don't trust the stick test for salinity. Use a swing arm hydrometer, or better yet a refractometer.

Are you talking like a test strip type thing when you say stick test?

Go with a refractometer, or a bulb/glass style hydrometer. The swing arms just aren't that accurate.

 

[Reef55]

I always used xenia as a test for alkalinity... higher the alk, the faster they pulsed, lower alk, slower pulse.

 

[GinaD]

My Xenia love bright lights and frequent water changes. They pulse like crazy.

 

[Greg Hiller]

>don't forget circulation. xenia love circulation.<

That may be so, but you wouldn't believe how little circulation I have in a growout tray that is JAM packed with the stuff and it still does well.

Xenia is variable, some tanks it does really well in, others not so. I had a 65 gallon tank up for a long time that had no skimmer, no calcium reactor, and no additions of iodine, that could grow Xenia like you wouldn't believe. Only dosing was Randy's two part calcium and alkalinity solutions, and feed the fish. Quite a few in the club saw this tank, Xenia pulsing like mad all over the back wall, and just about every rock in the tank. The pH in the tank probably also swung wildly. Until a few months ago, I'd not had a functioning pH probe for the last several years.


>Been using coral Vite and Kentliquid Iodine, Calcium and Molybdenum (sp) etc. every other week alternately.<

I'd consider laying off the coral Vite and Iodine, and molybdenum. If I were you I'd ONLY add supplements for calcium and alkalinity. I'd also check that the Xenia is not being stung or eaten by anything. A decent sized water change would also be a good move, IMO.