Xenia... hitting and missing

[The0wn4g3]

No clue what is going on with this little Xenia colony, this was my first stalk and has been growing steadily for about 6months.

Anyone have any idea what the white points are? It appears the "hands" are shrivelling up and dieing off.
(ignore the cleaner shrimp "shell" i haven't had a chance to get it out yet)

Thanks

 

[gtriamy]

hmmm, water parameters?

 

[The0wn4g3]

pH is 8.1
calcium is running high but it always has (around 530)
Hardness is low around 5.5 dKH.... i've always had trouble keeping it up.
trates and trites are fine

The only think i've changed in the tank is switching from oceanic to instant ocean salts but that was about 2 months ago and this just started 2 days ago.

Thanks

 

[dots]

Xenia is sensitive to changes in chemistry, esp high alkalinity. Check your water, and recall anything you have done/added to the water to make it vary. When something does get out of whack, the stalk will shrivle up and get darker, the "hands" will ball up and "burn" into little cotton balls. I had a few that bit the dust and it was always high alk.