white xenia?

[rica5tully]

I have had some pulsing xenia in my tank and it's been really healthy and happy. It's a brownish color and pulses and is spreading.

Recently, though, most of it has turned a very pale color, almost white. It's still pulsing but it looks a little flimsier than before and it's a very whitish color. About 20% of it is still brown like before.

any ideas on what could be going on?

Right now I have no fish in the tank. I feed a homemade coral recipe every evening. No additives except Kalk a couple of times a week in top-off water.

I change 5% of the water every week.

Do I need to add iodine or something?

Thanks.

 

[saltycreefer]

What kind of xenia is it? A lot of xenia is white.

 

[tom obrecht]

Sounds as if you need to take some water tests. Calcium, Alkalinity, PH, Magnesium, Nitrate, Nitrite, ammonia, salinity. Need more info before making a guess what might be causing it.

 

[rica5tully]

Well, my "regular" parameters are fine (Nitrate, Ammonia, etc.). Alkalinity is normal. Ph is a little high (but it always is for some reason).

SG = 1.025

I don't know about Magnesium.

My calcium is low and I can't get it to raise. It's 360 on my test kit. But I didn't think xenia would care about calcium.

I was hoping it was just a variant color. But it used to be brown. And some of the stalks still are brown, so that's what made me nervous.

 

[hammerswinger]

Was there a change in lighting?

 

[rica5tully]

no there wasn't. the lighting has stayed the same. I think the bulbs may be older...did they just get "old" all of a sudden? I don't know.

But it's strange that 20% of the stalks are still brownish and the rest of the stalks have become white. So I have both colors (healths?) in there in the same spot.

 

[mistermikev]

It couldn't hurt to try a LITTLE iodine. Some sites like garf recommend that you dose iodide at 2x the recommended levels for xenia - I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS - but it may be helpfull to take a baster and try a little right by the xenia... I would dilute the iodine with saltwater first to make it easier to administer a small amount. hope this helps... ps what about flow? has that changed via plugging of a powerhead intake???

 

[New_Noob]

Has your temp stayed constant?

 

[rica5tully]

yeah, temp is constant, or within 1 degree over a week's time

 

[rica5tully]

Hey guys,

Is there any chance that Joe's Juice will kill xenia?

I just remembered that about the same time that my xenia turned white, I used Joe's Juice on about 7 aiptasia in the tank for the first time.

Maybe it kills xenia too? Or maybe it just turns it white? Don't know; maybe it's just a coincidence.

 

[New_Noob]

might be coincidence, id say give it time and see how it goes.