Xenia question

[sillyfishy]

I have a new xenia (not the first) and it looks like crap. When I first put it in it looked great now 5 hours later it looks a closed up. Is that normal??Everytime I try xenia they end up dead. Everything else in my tank looks great and is super healthy. Most of my mushrooms and hammer coral I have had for years. Any thoughts on why the xenia problem....

Thanks

 

[JayM]

it goes through phases of being opened and closed. What kind of flow is it in? IME, xenia is happiest in low-medium flow, and not 'immaculate' water conditions.

 

[biggyclops]

what are your parameters? what is your setup?

 

[dupont603]

I also tried mine in a higher flow and it did not like it.It is in a low flow now and it is doing real well.

 

[Moe_K]

Can you measure your alk, calcium, and magnesium?
Any nitrites or natirates?

 

[sillyfishy]

I'll try moving it tomorrow. It's kinda near the bottom but under filter flow. I did a water change yesterdayThe specific gravity is 1.022 not sure of the rest. What about lighting?
Thanks

 

[JayM]

Any natirates?

Hey Moe, I don't measure for them

 

[jojo1n2]

They usually do fine in any lighting. once they get going, they really get going, and spread like wildfire

 

[JayM]

heh, I just unclogged a powerhead, and all my xenia closed up

 

[frank180reef]

you might raise your sg

 

[jbishop]

t would help if we had the other parameters. In general Xenia likes what you throw at it.

 

[sillyfishy]

I'll test everything today... but if everything else is doing fine, shouldn't they??

 

[Jim Tansey]

Give it some time, looks like it's been in your tank only a matter of hours.

Jim

 

[JayM]

no.

If your flow is too high, your light is too intense, your alk is low, or your water is too nutrient deprived, it will not do well. I have xenia growing like weeds in my NO fluorescent time-out tank.....low light, low flow, not the cleanest water....and it grows up the glass. I treat it like a filter feeder.

 

[phaedraeos]

Just as a counterpoint, I have pulsing xenia right in front of a Koralia 1. I have multiple colonies growing alongside my anthelia, and I blast them to keep them from taking over the rock next door. They do absolutely fine, and are always open and pulsing as much as they are able. They're about 1 foot from the Koralia itself, directly in its path.

 

[Greg Hiller]

>What about lighting? <

As another counter point, I find that Xenia likes a decent amount of lighting, particularly the whiter, short stalked, more frilly form.

I'd also suggest you for sure measure your alk and if low, get back up.