Xenia burst

[Arturo]

Hi, just wanted to know why my xenia exploded... at first it was ok, i decided to raise the PH because the level was under 8.3, so then i mixed about three teaspoons of buffer to half gallon, i poured it to the stream near the powerheads. Next thing the xenia began to get bloated and finally ripped!! Today my xenia is decolored and has no signs of life. What was wrong with the process? Should I raise PH more slowly??? Well at least I still have my devilhand...hehe!!

 

[ADA33]

3 teaspoons to a half gallon seems like double the amount that is of the norm. What did you use for buffer? Also it is better to drip it in.

 

[Arturo]

Hi Denny

Thanks for your response, yeah I used double the amount... I use Kent marine buffer but reading the PH it was under 8.2, still it had very bad results for the xenia.

In the begginning of all this mess I had too much hair algae in the rocks, the LFS keeper told me to brush the rocks in water and install them in my aquarium. Next thing every thing began to change. My PH went down to 8.0 and so I decided to add buffer with these terrible results. I will never trust that guy again...

In Mexico it is very difficult to find good places to buy corals and get good advice... So I think I will stick around this forum for my aquariums sake...

THKS

 

[jeeperrs]

You don't HAVE to be above 8.3. In the chemistry forum you will see that the range is 7.8- 8.4 (I believe this is right). I do know that all the LFS people I have talked to suggest to just leave it alone as long as I am above 7.8 and am not having bad signs with my corals or fish. The main thing you don't want to do is make sudden changes in the water. I think on the Kent buffer it should say to add a certain amount, wait, and add more if you need. With all that said I don't know if the pH is what made your corals do what they did but try not to over correct to fast. Also, I have been told time and time again to just let it run it course. They say if I do small and frequent water changes I will be just fine and the tank will adjust itself. So far it is holding true

OH, did you wash the rocks in saltwater that has no chlorine or did you use tap water? The rocks can hold a lot of water in them so make sure you are using water that is safe enough to put in your tank because some of it will stay in the rock.

 

[Arturo]

OOOpsss!!! I missed that one, I washed the rocks with tap water the bad thing is that coralline algae is getting white...I had no trouble like this before and I hope I had seen this forum before.

Do you think the coralline is bleaching because of the tap water or the PH raise?? I will not do any of those mistakes from now on but I still dont Know which is the cause of the coralline and xenia deaths...

 

[GreyHawk1968]

Coralline from the freshwater bath most likely and then the sudden spike in hardness and PH didn't help a bit.
Take it slow and adjust a little at a time. Most corals will live long enough to give you the time needed.
Exploded huh? Well Xenia are pretty tough so just keep monitoring. And remember that if the stalk dies off and leaves a pad of flesh on the rock it will come back if conditions are right.