Dying Xenia

[notajr.fan]

Three weeks ago I put a pom-pom xenia in my 7g bowfront with 32w pc lighting which has been established for 7 months. The rock came with about ten stalks, some of which pulsed, others did not. About a week after introduction I noticed that the rock started to look bare. Well this morning the rock is completely bare and I have no idea what happened. As I watched the last stalk detach itself from the rock, it appeared as if I just twisted itself right off the rock. The xenia then fell to the substate so I placed the 3 fallen stalks on other pieces of rock to see if they would attach-no such luck as of yet.
Tank parameters looked fine, nitrites,nitrates,ammonia all 0, Ph was low @ 8, and SG is 1.023. Also in the tank are a closed brain, frogspawn, hairy mushrooms, and spaghetti leather. So my question is what did I do wrong? Lighting? Alleopathy? or am I just one of those people who should not try keeping xenia in my tank?

 

[bertoni]

[welcome]

That SG is very low. I target 1.026, which is the canonical "average natural waters". I'm not sure it's low enough to cause this problem. It might be allelopathy. Do you run carbon?

 

[notajr.fan]

Yes I do run carbon. All my other corals are thriving so I don't think SG is an issue, but again my knowledge is limited at best.

 

[EmergencyDpt]

Mine did the same thing. I'm thinking it was the cooler weather. The tank was getting down around 76 at night. From my understanding it's part of thier lifecycle to grow in the summer then die in the winter. Check your temps. Mine love it around 80-82.

 

[davidcalgary29]

They might've starved. Many related species need some form of supplemental feeding, and I believe that many xenias import nutrients from the water column.

I wouldn't give up on your coral completely, though -- they might have migrated to a more favourable location in your tank. I've kept my xenia in a 5.5 nano for awhile now, and they seem to be doing quite well with supplemental feedings.

 

[Rjukan]

Isnt that a lot to have in a 7 gal tank? I dont know much myself, but maybe there could be some coral warfare being waged in your little tank? Dont brain corals have sweeper tentacles?

I do know that xenia is nutrient dependant, so maybe your tank is running overly clean, if there is such a thing?

 

[DRM1966]

I've had great luck with different types of Xenia, they require a ton of light, so place them as close as possible. I've never fed my tanks or Xenia directly and have had it propagate like mad. They will not pulse without enough light, and tend to loose their brighter color as well. I've always kept my calc and alk in the middle of recommended ranges as well.

 

[zukihara]

If 76 degrees, coral warfare or lack of food would kill xenias I would have been rid of them long ago!