Xenia Collapse?
- Thread starter bigworm175
- Start date
Orochimaru
1 of 3 legendary ninjas
Thebanker,
how often are you changing water? and bioload? TIA
how often are you changing water? and bioload? TIA
To be honest, I don't intentionally do any water changes.
I end up changing about 5 gallons per month, as a result of cleaning out my canister filter where I run activated carbon. Every two months, i swap the old GFO for new GFO in the reactor, and change a little water by letting the reactor run clear. Those are the only ways in which water leaves my aquarium.
Yes, I know water changes are beneficial for many reasons, I've read Randy Holmes-Farley's articles and all that good stuff. They're just inconvenient for me, and the tank looks great, so I'm sticking with my routine.
My bioload is 2 oscellaris clowns, 1 royal gramma, 1 blue damsel, 1 filefish (for aiptasia control), and 2 little scooter blennies.
I end up changing about 5 gallons per month, as a result of cleaning out my canister filter where I run activated carbon. Every two months, i swap the old GFO for new GFO in the reactor, and change a little water by letting the reactor run clear. Those are the only ways in which water leaves my aquarium.
Yes, I know water changes are beneficial for many reasons, I've read Randy Holmes-Farley's articles and all that good stuff. They're just inconvenient for me, and the tank looks great, so I'm sticking with my routine.
My bioload is 2 oscellaris clowns, 1 royal gramma, 1 blue damsel, 1 filefish (for aiptasia control), and 2 little scooter blennies.
Orochimaru
1 of 3 legendary ninjas
hahaha...that is what I was hoping for. When I had lots of xenia, I didn't do any water change either. Not that I want to be lazy now but I am trying to do what ever it takes to get my xenia to spread. thanks.
IMHO - Nobody knows why this happens. Not the "experts" or anyone else. I have read many a theory, but they are just that. Many have been expressed in this thread.
I kept Xenia and it was growing like a weed, then one day I had one stalk "melt" on one side of my tank while the Xenia on the other side thrived.
Then a few months later, I had half the remaining Xenia melt, while stalks right next to it were still doing great...and I mean right next to it.
Finally after another couple of months the last of the Xenia died off.
If there was one clear indicator that would cause Xenia to fail, I would not have expected this type of die off. Especially when it happened right next to each other.
I kept Xenia and it was growing like a weed, then one day I had one stalk "melt" on one side of my tank while the Xenia on the other side thrived.
Then a few months later, I had half the remaining Xenia melt, while stalks right next to it were still doing great...and I mean right next to it.
Finally after another couple of months the last of the Xenia died off.
If there was one clear indicator that would cause Xenia to fail, I would not have expected this type of die off. Especially when it happened right next to each other.
Orochimaru
1 of 3 legendary ninjas
I wish I could afford lake forest:lolspin:
I will definitely look you up for more xenia if needed. thanks again!
bigworm175
New member
Dave71,
Now that kind of die-off is just strange. It throws a wrench into my salinity conclusion. Maybe salinity is a culprit but there are other mysterious causes. It is interesting that it did all eventually die off. Because I put my faith in science, I have to believe we can discover what's going on with these pretty little corals. Why hasn't any study solved this??
The xenia in my nano is going through a growth spurt. These are 2 stalks from the now extinct forest in the 120. I just don't get this coral.
Now that kind of die-off is just strange. It throws a wrench into my salinity conclusion. Maybe salinity is a culprit but there are other mysterious causes. It is interesting that it did all eventually die off. Because I put my faith in science, I have to believe we can discover what's going on with these pretty little corals. Why hasn't any study solved this??
The xenia in my nano is going through a growth spurt. These are 2 stalks from the now extinct forest in the 120. I just don't get this coral.
scuba guy ron
New member
If anyone finds out how they are controlled you'd better patent it. There are alot of people that wish they never introduced it to their systems(myself included). These corals grow lie a weed. It overgrows and kils everything. You should consider youself lucky IMO
blasterman789
New member
Where are you not getting this info?
Xenia are one of the densest nitrate sinks in reef ecology, and I just recently ran across another test on xenia composition -vs- macro algaes that confirms Xenia indeed consume nitrate at a faster rate.
Do you have fish in the tank? Then you have nitrate - it's simply being consumed as fast as it's produced. Kinda thought this stuff was reefing 101.
Try growing Xenia in a tank with no fish in it and see if you're pulling 30heads a month. Local reef store guy a few months ago made the mistake of putting Xenia frags in their SPS over-grow tank because he was short on room, and also not very experienced. That are no fish in their SPS over-grow, so there's no nutrients. Xenia withered to almost nothing in a few weeks. We still tease him about it. :lol:
Low pH bounces can hurt Xenia, and this has been discussed here before. A few months ago I had a thermo malfunction on one of my frag tanks causing my temp to bounce from 86F to 74F in 24 hours. A couple healthy clumps of Xenia I had almost turned to dust in 48hours. Nothing else I have seemed to care.
I've never seen Xenia grow 'like a weed' in a low nutrient tank. So, you're going to have to out compete it for nutrients. Look at the bright side - you're not having this issue with GSP. At least you can sell Xenia.
I agree, they say Xenia likes a nutrient rich tank, and since I do not use a skimmer or a sump etc....I figured it would thrive......well it did at first and then the weird die off.
Did more research, and concluded there is just not enough science yet to explain this coral's behavior.
bigworm175
New member
I have read about xenia liking nitrates before but I hadn't heard of it being more so than macro algae. Interesting. I think it might be a great nitrate export in a fuge if there wasn't this risk of sudden die-off releasing all of it back into the system at once.
Orochimaru
1 of 3 legendary ninjas
what are your parameters like with your xenia tank? Salinity and Alk? TIA
Orochimaru
1 of 3 legendary ninjas
Next time you go to Tongs, can I buy some xenia from you? I just got a newborn and the wife won't let me go anywhere far. I can like meet you at Tongs or something. No hurry tho. Any time you're in the area. Thanks a bunch.
Orochimaru
1 of 3 legendary ninjas
thanks...again!
scuba guy ron
New member
Orachimaru,
I keep lps,sps and softies. Nit is 0, phos 0. I have had this tank running for 5yrs. When people state that xenia growth is primarily driven by nitarates I laugh. This is why. 5 years ago I set up my reef with one xenia head and 150w of pc lighting. This single head reproduced into 8 heads over a 2yr period. When I changed to 150w mh lighting, within 60 days I had over 30. The xenia in my tank are light driven noÞ nitrate driven. If I wasn't keeping sps I'd experimenÞ with switching back.
I keep lps,sps and softies. Nit is 0, phos 0. I have had this tank running for 5yrs. When people state that xenia growth is primarily driven by nitarates I laugh. This is why. 5 years ago I set up my reef with one xenia head and 150w of pc lighting. This single head reproduced into 8 heads over a 2yr period. When I changed to 150w mh lighting, within 60 days I had over 30. The xenia in my tank are light driven noÞ nitrate driven. If I wasn't keeping sps I'd experimenÞ with switching back.
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