HELP - pulsing xenia is dying - HELP

[key5000]

Hello All,

Would anyone help me on my pulsing xenia, it's shrinking and dying.

I love pulsing xenia but have never able to keep it alive, already bought it 4 times but they all dying after couple of months.

Please help on how to keep this alive.

My tank is 100GL display with 30GL sum/refugium + Skimmer

All fish and other coral are doing fine except pulsing xenia.

 

[reefes pieces]

Sorry to hear but first thing we need is ur water params. Also Xenia is one of those corals that either thrive or die in people's tanks w/o explanation

 

[reefes pieces]

You can also try dosing lugols iodine to see if it brings it back.

 

[gr1mm]

You can also try dosing lugols iodine to see if it brings it back.

+++++++1^^^^^^

 

[key5000]

All reading are perfect except for phosphate, it's little out of range.

When I move Xenia down to the sump, 3 days now, at least I don't see it shrink any more.

Does anyone know why?

 

[Six2seven]

All reading are perfect except for phosphate, it's little out of range.

When I move Xenia down to the sump, 3 days now, at least I don't see it shrink any more.

Does anyone know why?

Maybe it didn't have enough flow, maybe too much light. Maybe your tank is too clean for it. I've always used it to measure how clean my tank is. Xenia usually like dirtier tanks.

 

[nex]

Also Xenia is one of those corals that either thrive or die in people's tanks w/o explanation

+1

Some things aren't meant to be.. xenias may just not like your tank...

 

[key5000]

Already try many different spots with hi-low flow, more/less light but still no go.
Maybe my tank is too clean?
How do I know that my tank is TOO CLEAN?

 

[robert_ellis]

Already try many different spots with hi-low flow, more/less light but still no go.
Maybe my tank is too clean?
How do I know that my tank is TOO CLEAN?

One way is your pulsing Xenia die... I've always read the Xenia like the. 20-50 range of nitrates ... Some people use a Xenia fuge to rid their tank of nitrates.

 

[reefes pieces]

May need to be more specific here. What's ur nitrate level, phos, Cal, Alk, Mag? Also how old is your tank?

All reading are perfect except for phosphate, it's little out of range.

When I move Xenia down to the sump, 3 days now, at least I don't see it shrink any more.

Does anyone know why?

 

[Six2seven]

May need to be more specific here. What's ur nitrate level, phos, Cal, Alk, Mag? Also how old is your tank?

Yep, please post your levels so we can help. Otherwise it's just blind advice

 

[key5000]

PH: 8.2
Amonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
Cal: 480
Phosphate: 0.5 - 1.0 (I know it is high, Green Hair Algae is growing :-( ; I'm trying to bring it down now by adding Phosphate reactor)

1.5 years old 100GL tank
1.2" crush coral subtrate
100lb+ live rock
30GL sum/fugium: double filter bags; 4lb live rock; carbon; fiber mess filter; skimmer
1 Hydor wavemaker rate at 1140GPH
1 Jebao Wavemaker rate at 2000GPH (set at random wave speed)

Yellow & Blue tang; pair clown, pair bangal; psudo
5 turbo snail and 10 hermit crab

Candy cane (8 head)
Frog spawn (original 3 heads, now split to 6 head; on the way to split again to 7 heads)
Green Hammer Head (2 head; currently growing 3 more small head)
Torch coral
Red/white coco worm
Birdnest
Coal coral
Kenya tree
3 different kind of Zoan
5 other SPS that I don't remember the name
about 15 mushroom

 

[reefes pieces]

Did you already start your P04 reactor? Do you test for alk?

 

[key5000]

The reactor will come in next Monday.
For now, I only put the PhosGuard into the filter bag and leave it inside my sock filter.
I don't have a test for Akaline. Is this matter for Xenia?

 

[reefes pieces]

Alkalinity is a must to test. I highly suggest picking up an Alk test kit on black friday. Socaltropicalfish in fullerton is having a huge sale on test kits. However if you don't grab one I can test your alk for you.

 

[Six2seven]

IMO keeping alk stable is the most important.

 

[reefes pieces]

+1 I agree. I bought that test kit before I bought a Cal kit. Almost all corals if not all depend on stable alkalinity.

IMO keeping alk stable is the most important.

 

[key5000]

What alkalinity test that you recommend?
Which one do you have?

What is the pro/con for alkalinity?
Will alkalinity cause Xenia to die?

Sorry, too many questions.

 

[key5000]

Where is Socaltropicalfish locate?

I'm Anaheim @ 91&5 Freeway

 

[reefes pieces]

Corals thrive in a certain alkalinity range much like calcium. Also, do you make your own saltwater and how do you test salinity? If you aren't using one I highly suggest a refractometer over a hydrometer

What alkalinity test that you recommend?
Which one do you have? i use Lamotte

What is the pro/con for alkalinity? Not sure what you mean by this. Pro: it keeps coral alive. Con: without stable alk corals can die?
Will alkalinity cause Xenia to die? It can

Sorry, too many questions.