Those having difficulty keeping xenias..

[XeniaMania]

I was wondering what salt are you using? Hopefully with this data, I can proceed 1 step further on figuring out why xenias can't survive in some tanks.

 

[blue20051]

My xenias werent plusing for a while but then i dosed my tank with iodine and everyone is happy. I use tropic marin

 

[XeniaMania]

Good point blue. Also, please state if you dose Iodine/Iodide or not. I use Lugol's, Tech-I, and Iodide.

 

[Agu]

Use IO, Xenia is fine.

However I had two tanks using the same water and salt (IO again) , where in one tank the Xenia was a weed and in the other tank it couldn't survive.

 

[Whaledriver]

Have you checked the basics? PH,ALK,Mg and CA?

 

[rustybucket145]

IO and dose SeaChem Reef Plus (contains iodine) on a weekly basis. Xenia, both fiji pom pom (pulsing) and some silver long tentacle variety (very slow pulse) grows like a weed.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

I see what you are trying to do, but I thought that I would offer you data on the other side. I'll try to mention everything that would effect its survival with chemistry and aggressiveness of other livestock. Let me know if you actually want water parameters. Also, to debunk the myth that two Xenia cannot be kept in the same tank, my Xenia actually grow right next to each other.

Instant Ocean
No Iodine Dosage
Occassional Limewater Dosing
Rare B-Ionic Two Part Dosing (to adjust Alk and Ca levels)
Water is Treated Tap Water. Not RO/DI. Out of tap TDS is ~660. Treated Water TDS is currently unknown.
Algal Scrubber of Chaetomorpha algae
Two species of Xenia; Pulsing Xenia (Xenia elongata?) and Pom Pom Xenia (Xenia umbellata?)

 

[XeniaMania]

Whaledriver, lets please keep the topic on track, thank you.
As for keeping more than one xenia in a tank, I got 10 so I've totally debunked that myth..:lol: Here's a picture w/ 8 types, my xenia family portrait

Travis, parameters are fine. I think it's easier to get all the info at once now that I think about it..

 

[whiteshark]

One thing I have noticed is that my pulsing xenia looks MUCH better when I use TMP as opposed to Oceanic. I have one stalk that has split about 6 times in a couple months after I started using TMP. I use Tech-I sparingly also. (haven't used any other salts scince I got the xenia)

Params

Ammonia- 0ppm
trite- 0ppm
trate- 5-10 ish ppm
Alk- 8
Ca- 450
Mag-1380

Photoperiod
Actinics- 9am-6pm
HQIs (150W)- 10am-5pm

hope that helps ya!

 

[Kaiser Tang]

I use IO and my xenia pulses it's heart out! I only dose B-Ionic.

 

[SDguy]

I use IO. Two part Kent. Kalk. B-ionic Mg. All FW is DI from my lab at work. Temp stays around 82.

I only have one species. The pompom died out. Growth is completely dependent on how much I feed the fish. Check my gallery if you need to ID it.

hth

 

[XeniaMania]

Thanx SD guy, those are Elongatas in case you're wondering. It was hard to tell at first, but the clear pic of the polyp in your psuedochromis picture helped.

 

[XeniaMania]

I think I've just come across something. Has anyone running a BB tank encouter xenia crashes?

 

[ANNIESREEF]

I use Reef Crystals...Only dose about once a month with trace elements and iodine. Tried xenia twice with no success tho everything else is doing great(mixed tank)

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

You got it, XeniaMania

Instant Ocean
No Iodine Dosage
Occassional Limewater Dosing
Rare B-Ionic Two Part Dosing (to adjust Alk and Ca levels)
Water is Treated Tap Water. Not RO/DI. Out of tap TDS is ~660. Treated Water TDS is currently unknown.
Algal Scrubber of Chaetomorpha algae
Two species of Xenia; Pulsing Xenia (Xenia elongata?) and Pom Pom Xenia (Xenia umbellata?)
Deep Sand Bed of about 3"
Tank has been running for 1 year
(1) 250w 10K Venture MH with (2) Current 65w Actinic PCs
Lighting is also about 6 months old
1g is evaporated a day
Temp: 80-82*F
SG: 1.025
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: Trace (5 or less)
pH: Steady at 8.2
Ca: 380-400
Alk: 9 dkh
Rock work is 85% DIY Rock, the other 15% was from a store.
All coral generas, SPS, LPS, and Softies with Zoanthus and Corallimorphs.

 

[raskal311]

Not really what your looking for but I notice that xenia do real well with Catalina water.

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7290422#post7290422 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by XeniaMania
Thanx SD guy, those are Elongatas in case you're wondering. It was hard to tell at first, but the clear pic of the polyp in your psuedochromis picture helped.

Thanks, that's what I thought it was, though it can get pretty compact sometimes (I think with a new MH bulb was the last time).

 

[XeniaMania]

Thanks Travis, how long have you had them and have you had any crashes? *knocking on wood*

Thanx Rascal, 1 more chalk mark for NSW levels Substrate?

SDGuy, high lighting will compact them which in my opinion is much better than the stringy sickly looking alternative

 

[brandonberry]

Temperature always seemed to be the biggest issue for me with keeping xenias. I had no problem keeping them until my tank hit 85 degrees one day, and that took them all out. I have talked with others that have had similar issues.

My xenia seemed to grow great with NSW that I collected off the NC Coast. I also used both Kent Salt and IO with no harmful effects.

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7291066#post7291066 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by XeniaMania
SDGuy, high lighting will compact them which in my opinion is much better than the stringy sickly looking alternative

Makes total sense. Hmmm, might be coming up on time to change my bulb

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7291082#post7291082 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by brandonberry
Temperature always seemed to be the biggest issue for me with keeping xenias. I had no problem keeping them until my tank hit 85 degrees one day, and that took them all out. I have talked with others that have had similar issues.

My xenia seemed to grow great with NSW that I collected off the NC Coast. I also used both Kent Salt and IO with no harmful effects.

I don't know...my tank has hit over 90 before, on more than one consecutive day, and no loss. Anyways, JME.