jwblocal701
New member
OK what is the BEST way to care for a xenia
food, etc
food, etc
Xenia Care
- Thread starter jwblocal701
- Start date
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Make sure that your tanks Calcium, pH, Alkalinity, and Magnesium are sufficient. Other than that, just let it be. Xenia don't actively eat. They absorb nutrients from the water. Also, make sure that your nitrates and phosphates aren't out of control. Some nitrates and phosphates are okay.
BTTRFLYGRL
New member
I have the opposite problem...Everything I have in my tank is thriving EXCEPT my Xenia
I just lost a patch, the others are looking pale...I add iodine and do weekly water changes and can't seem to keep them..
Not trying to hijack....I know many people have Xenia that grow like weeds..then others like me, don't have such luck
I just lost a patch, the others are looking pale...I add iodine and do weekly water changes and can't seem to keep them..Not trying to hijack....I know many people have Xenia that grow like weeds..then others like me, don't have such luck
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
Do you test for iodine? Are you running a skimmer?
Got any Cowries? What fishes are in the aquarium containing Xenia?
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
Certain Cowries eat Xenia.
BTTRFLYGRL
New member
I add a drop of Lugols every couple of days...I am embarrassed to admit I haven't tested my iodine level in awhile. I have a Remora Skimmer with a Mag 7.
Fish are
Arc eye Hawkfish
2- Ocellaris Clowns
Blue Damsel [have heard these like Xenia]
Hawaiian Flame Angel [is not nipping at anything...yet]
So in my case its possible one of my fish is suspect..though I haven't witnessed anything. No Cowries. I have seen a couple of hitchhiking snails with flat shells but info on them said they were safe
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
I wouldn't dose any more Lugols until you test levels.
The general care of Xenia (IME) includes:
*stable Ca/alk/pH levels in the upper range of NSW
*stable temps: if it's too high (84F+) it might melt down
too low and it tends to contract (80-82F is a good temp range to aim for)
*relatively high levels of DOC's
*at least occasional moderate water motion to wash it's polyps of accumulated bacteria/detritus
The general care of Xenia (IME) includes:
*stable Ca/alk/pH levels in the upper range of NSW
*stable temps: if it's too high (84F+) it might melt down
too low and it tends to contract (80-82F is a good temp range to aim for)
*relatively high levels of DOC's
*at least occasional moderate water motion to wash it's polyps of accumulated bacteria/detritus
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
DOC=dissolved organic compound
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
definitely possible
BTTRFLYGRL
New member
You mean my tank may be TOO clean!! I'd just assume do without the Xenia then
blange3
Brewer and Reefer
Glad to hear I'm not the only one who is Xenia challenged!
I've had them in 3 different tanks. They lived for about 8 months without growth or deterioration and then started to shrink. They haven't disappeared totally, but not doing well. I got another colony about a month ago and had to move it from my softie tank to my LPS tank and it is starting to look less full. I'm also mushroom challenged, but everything else is thriving.
My ph is generally 8.05. I have trouble getting it higher than 8.1. Everything else is OK.
I've had them in 3 different tanks. They lived for about 8 months without growth or deterioration and then started to shrink. They haven't disappeared totally, but not doing well. I got another colony about a month ago and had to move it from my softie tank to my LPS tank and it is starting to look less full. I'm also mushroom challenged, but everything else is thriving.
My ph is generally 8.05. I have trouble getting it higher than 8.1. Everything else is OK.
lildraken
New member
Well I think my salinity is too low, or it may be my water hardness. Not sure how to correct the water hardness 13dKH which is too high. I've been told to just let it fall on its own. Calcium, Iodine, Magn/ Stron, ammonia, nitrate/nitrite... they have always been optimal... so it can only be either the water hardness or the salinity. I'll keep an update if i'm successful
MrMexReefer
In Memoriam
an interesting thing about the xenias in my tank is that when i first got them, i had 2 small frags... and the bigger healthier looking one just kid of wilted, and spilled out this milky brown substance into the water ... but i never removed it. Now, nearly 3 months later, they are still in there looking half dead, but still retracting and stuff. The smaller colony seems to be growing very slowly. Ive noticed that since i added "purple up" to my water, they have been pulsing more frequently. Is that a sign of increased nutrition, and therefore growth....?
I had Xenia I was ready to frag off it was literally out of control. Then out of the blue it just started withdrawl and almost went into extinctinction for no reason. I tested everything and noticed nothing out of the ordinary.
Finally after several water changes I seen it start to come back on its own. I still cant come up with a reason for why it died back like it did.
Currently out of all that i had growing I was able to save about 4 small heads which seem tobe thirving again.
Strange the Xenia it likes semi-high nutrient water I believe. I skim heavy too which may have shocked it some? No idea really.
Finally after several water changes I seen it start to come back on its own. I still cant come up with a reason for why it died back like it did.
Currently out of all that i had growing I was able to save about 4 small heads which seem tobe thirving again.
Strange the Xenia it likes semi-high nutrient water I believe. I skim heavy too which may have shocked it some? No idea really.
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