Xenia Question

[EmergencyRn]

I got a small frag of Pulsating Xenia couple days ago. Has opened fully in tank on day 1, but isnt pulsating like i see in videos of others xenia. Also concered about placement in tank.

Have read multiple different articles and forum postings about light and placement, all with different answers. I have tried placement in lower flow area and they lead over and don't stand up straight. Placement in high to moderate flow still no pulsating, but appear to be moving with current. Xenia is brown and white in color.

Where should I place in aquarium?
What type of flow?
Close to light or far away?

What tips do you guys have?

Thanks for help

 

[sir_dudeguy]

For them to pulse, you normally need to put them in lower flow areas and in higher light (so up higher in the tank). They'll grow anywhere in the tank, but seem to pulse best if in strong direct light.

They can handle pretty much any flow. I've seen xenia where there's no flow around it and it just pulses like crazy, or there's the xenia like mine that is in pretty strong flow and you cant tell its pulsing cuz its waving around.

And another thing....I'd put it up higher in the tank. Reason being is it grows towards the light. I started w/mine on the ground and it worked its way up all my rock, dropping babies off every inch of the way. So I had tons of xenia taking up all my rock and growing on other corals. If you place it up high in the tank (like at the top) then it has no where to go and wont overgrow stuff.

 

[EmergencyRn]

I didnt know that the xenia moved around. Guess i shouldn't glue to rock. Well they attach to rock, I am concerned that my snails may knock over.

Thanks for placement advice. Also I am using ZooPlex for feeding my zoos. When i dosed the other day the xenia closed and didn't open for like 1 hour. Zooplex is a type of plankton, shouldn't the xenia like this also.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

Zooplex is a type of plankton, shouldn't the xenia like this also.

my xenia doesnt eat anything. I dont think that it needs to for one (uses all light i think) and for another....i'm not so sure that it COULD eat anything....those hands are more just filter feeder type things and i dont think they could take in a chunk of meat. In any case, i've had my xenia for a year and have yet to see it eat anything at all. It just filters crap out of the water.

Oh, and another thing you could do to keep it from spreading over all your rock is put it on a somewhat big rock all on its own away from everything. Like a little island. I've had luck w/that as well.

Right now i've got actually got my xenia growing across the top of the rockwork. I'm sort of shooting for it to grow the whole length of the tank along the top...so far its only covered like a foot of the top rim tho. But its working great....cant grow up, wont grow down (light is at top) so it just grows sideways w/the flow.

 

[PONCHDOG2000]

i would put it up high, so it doesn't grow upward on your rocks. it will spread quickly and towards the light. so, you can put it on it's own xenia island like sirdude said, put stinging corals around it to keep it in check, or you can put rubble around it and you will have frag pieces to trade or sell.

 

[firebirdbandit]

From my experience with xenia, I have many different types and I have fragged many of them. They pulse like crazy in my main tank where they are on the bottom of the tank but receive a lot light from my metal halides. They don't pulse at all if I move them to the refugium under the 26 watt pc. They will still grow and reproduce but will not pulse. I believe that the lighting is the biggest issue with them pulsing.

 

[EmergencyRn]

Thanks for you advice guys. Think lighting is my problem right now. Currently have clip on 13 watt for my 2.5 gallon pico. The 13 watt bulb in 7000k.

This week i am getting my Current 18W delivered. It has 9w 10,000k bulb and 9w actinic.

Lets see if this helps.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

I'd keep that 13w bulb on there too if you can.