Xenia problem

[CB1]

Hi everyone,
I bought my xenia abought 3 months ago. They have been doing great. They split from the ruble on to my live rock and were really taking off. But the last few days... they won't open. One looks like it is melting away. My paramiters are good ecept the PH is about 8.6. Is that too high? and how do I lower it? Or what else could be the problem? Lighting is 150 watt 14,000 K MH

 

[CB1]

Well thanks all, I could not figure out what was wrong and received no help from you......so I did water changes. But they have all died! 6 Xenia's melted.

THANKS

 

[sinking]

sorry for your loss
i just saw this thread now..
i would guess that it was your lights that was the reason it died.
mine is growing fast under a 250w MH 10k and when daylights go off they always shrivel up..
i think 150 watt 14,000 K qould be not bright enough but maybe if the xena was close to the bulb.. but i also have a patch of xena that started as 1 polyp that is about 20" from a 150w 10k mh bulb and it is now around 15 polyps.. growing slow compaired to the big batch thats up near the 250w
in the new tank you moved it to did you have better lights?

 

[PatMayo]

I doubt the lights caused this to happen. I had xenia in my tank and never had any trouble at all and I have 150 watt mh in a 90. Never a problem. There could have been something else.

How long has the tank been up? What is your equipment list? Do you have a sump or fuge? It won't do much good now but I would be more than happy to look at all the specs and then give you my best guess.

I have heard it mentioned that this sometimes happens for no apparent reason but I think there are reasons.

Regards,

Pat

 

[gliebig]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8026037#post8026037 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sinking
sorry for your loss
i just saw this thread now..
i would guess that it was your lights that was the reason it died.
mine is growing fast under a 250w MH 10k and when daylights go off they always shrivel up..
i think 150 watt 14,000 K qould be not bright enough but maybe if the xena was close to the bulb.. but i also have a patch of xena that started as 1 polyp that is about 20" from a 150w 10k mh bulb and it is now around 15 polyps.. growing slow compaired to the big batch thats up near the 250w
in the new tank you moved it to did you have better lights?

Seriously???? Mine grow great under PC's.

 

[sinking]

like i said.... i also have a patch of xena that started as 1 polyp that is about 20" from a 150w 10k mh bulb and it is now around 15 polyps...
i was thinking because his lights were 150w 14k it would be too blue and not enough juice.. when my daylights go out and vho's are left on my xena retracts. from observing this i thought they were very light dependent but i guess i was wrong

 

[edwardbotha]

I have lots of xenia under 150w 14000k lights and r growing like weeds. i think your problem most likely has 2 do with your alkalinity. they r good indicators of a problem there. if my xenia stop pumping i know to look at my water quality. hopes this helps with future stock.

 

[scottcc]

xenia cin OH

xenia cin OH

I have xenia farm... they grow under vho, pc, mh...just about anything. They like a little nitrates...but not a hight temp.. anything over about 80 seems to cause them problems

 

[reefin300]

xenia is a little tricky but yes sometimes they can melt away for no reason.

hey if anyone is giving it away like I used to when i had it hit me up! I'm in socal and need to restock a crashed tank.

 

[BTTRFLYGRL]

I have NO luck with Xenia!
From what I am gathering, my tank maybe too clean and temps get a little high..I got my heat down to 80, but I'm not willing to give up the 'clean!'

 

[beashay]

hmmmm that is the second reply I have heard tonight that says that xenias like dirty water... on the other hand you hear people say that xenias are the first to tell that you have water problems. I have xenias.. dont have a dirty tank... lol

 

[scarter]

and yes, 8.6 is to high. What do you add to the tank.
if you are not adding kalk or anything, 8.6 is most likely an innaccurate reading.

 

[Tate]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8051396#post8051396 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gliebig
Seriously???? Mine grow great under PC's.

Ditto, kinda. Mine is growing under 112w of T-5.

I don't think light is that big of a deal for xenia. Mine even pulses. Just keep it towards the top and moderate to higher flow.

 

[maginter]

This may be a repeat, but xenias do not like chages in alkalinity. That will kill them real quick. So if they were exposed to a dose of ESV, Vinegar, Joe's juice, etc. That would pretty much wipe them out.

 

[saltyfishy123]

Same thing happend to me it should get better in 2-3 days..did it fall of the rock?

 

[gasman059]

MINE GROW EVERYWHERE!

MINE GROW EVERYWHERE!

nO MATTER WICH LIGHT SCHEME WATER PARAMETERS ETC LOL THEY CAN BE A PEST LOL
U JUST HAVE TO CUT THE BACKLOL

 

[J. Montgomery]

When I first bought my live rock it had Xenia attached to it, and it doubled in size when it was sitting under 3 x 15W fluorescent bulbs (before I got the PCs . . . and its still growing and pulsing).
I wouldn't avoid getting a Xenia b/c it has the possibility to spread. I enjoy watching mine. Like everyone says, you can always cut it (and anything else) back.

 

[xtm]

ok here's my 'educated' guess, if you will, about Xenia "mysteriously" just melting away. That is simply not possible if your parameters are correct and stable. There has GOT to be a reason why they melt and die.

Given that the original poster's pH was up at 8.60, I believe this is too high. I have observed Xenia do well in 8.10 to 8.30. They do not pulse at all under 8.00 pH but pulses rapidly approaching the 8.30 mark.

So my opinion, based on previous observation is that Xenia is intolerable of:
Extreme pH swings
Too high/too low of a pH
and Too high of a Temp. 80' is optimal but IME they melt away around the 85' mark

sorry to hear about your loss. I would have advised you to dose a small amount of vinegar to lower the pH.. that *could* help