Please help with my xenias...

[ant]

Yesterday morning I noticed my xenias not looking so good, still open and pulsing, but kind of shrivel looking. I checked water and everything looked good except my SG was a up from evap loss, 1.025. Ammon/nitrite-0/0, nitrate-0, ph-8.2. I went ahead and did a 20% water change. They closed while I cleaned the tank and did the water change and haven't opened since. They're even a different color, almost white instead of a light brown. I feel horrible and really don't have a clue as what to do. I've had them for 3 weeks now and they've been doing great until yesterday. I was excited because I saw a bunch of new little arms forming. Everyone else in the tank looks great. Fish, crabs, snails, featherduster and brown polyp all look good. Tanks is 20 gal, 4 months old with LR and LS. Any suggestions?
Thanks, Ant.
ps-I tried posting this under the reef section but no responses so far. Maybe I should have started here.

 

[lion_crazz]

How much did your change the SG when you did the water change? That might have stressed the Xenia even more.

 

[ross]

Ant, come get some xenia from me! I have tons you can just have! email me bassmaster15@hotmail.com and we can work something out!

 

[ant]

lion-I did a 20% with 1.023 SG. Do you think that did it?
Ross-thank you so much I might take you up on that if I can figure out why mine are dying. I'm so bummed. I don't want to put more in there so they'll die. I RELLY appreciate it. :yes:
Ant.

 

[lion_crazz]

That might have done it but it is not going to kill them. Give them a few days to work off their stress from the up and down SG. They should be okay if all of your other levels are okay.

 

[mudplayerx]

I think your xenia is fine. Mine shriven up and turn colors all the time. You have to keep in mind that they are pretty much just empty sacs of skin, only the amount of water they draw in affects their shape, and this often changes their color as well.

 

[ant]

Thanks for the support you guys. I really appreciate it. I will wait and see. I got a new thermometer to make sure the temp is where it should be. Where do you keep your temp at for corals? Also, I started the new skimmer on Sunday. Hope that helps.

 

[mudplayerx]

78-80 degrees is usually a good temperature for corals. Although, it is better to look up the natural habitat of corals before you buy them, and try to keep a tank only full of corals from the same ocean.

 

[lion_crazz]

Originally Posted by mudplayerx
to look up the natural habitat of corals before you buy them, and try to keep a tank only full of corals from the same ocean.
Always the best idea.
I normally recommend keeping a reef tank anywhere from 76-79.

 

[ant]

Oh gosh, I just raised mine a little so I'm headed back down to lower it again (breath)! I should have been better prepaired for them. However, they were doing great for the few weeks I had them. New buds forming and it looks like it was going to split. hmmm. :thinking:

 

[mudplayerx]

Temperature stability is very important as well, so try not to change the temp more than 2 degrees in 24 hours.

 

[ant]

In spite of changing the temp it didn't go up. It still reading 79-80. The xenias look horrible this morning...poor things. I just don't get it. Three days ago they were open, full and pulsing and now they are all shriveled and white. I'm really bummed. Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[lion_crazz]

Well give them a chance, they will reopen.
In the meantime, this is even more the reason to think about getting an auto-top off system. It will save you the time from having to dump freshwater into your tank, and it will save your corals the SG spikes. They really are not that expensive ($60 for the full set-up), but they definitely come in handy.

 

[ant]

Lion-I haven't thought about an auto top off system. I don't think I knew they exhisted but it doesn't surpise me. My problem now is...where do you plug everything in too? I have so many cords and plugs right now. I was thinking about buying another power head but didn't because of this little problem. I have a power strip that's all used up and two outlets too. I'd love to have corals but maybe I'll stick to a FOWLR tank. Not as fun but still very enjoyable.
I really appreciate all of the advice I've recieved.
Thanks everyone, Ant.

 

[ross]

Ant, some people just have a hard time keeping xenia, some people grow it like crazy. I would encourage you to try again, and i have some for free if you want it. just LMK!

 

[trainfever]

What kind of lights do you have? Xenias like a lot of light.

 

[sik72]

Hey Ant, What else do you have in your tank???? I have a xenia and just went thru same thing.... Mine is recovering now.

 

[mudplayerx]

I know I'm going to get jumped on by the big guys here for saying this, but I'll take my chances Go do some research on the net on iodine and xenias. Unhealthy xenias have been known to recover much more quickly if you buy an iodine test kit and maintain your levels.
Also, xenias have been known to shrivel up if they are subjected to too high a water current. I have metal halide lighting so I do not know how xenias fare under less intense lighting. My guess is that they need pretty strong lighting since marine biologists have been unable to prove that the pulsing motion is for filter feeding.

 

[speg]

Go out and purchase some of that Kent Marine Tech-I... This stuff is 'IT'. As far as the lights you do not need metal halides for them at all. Im packing two 96 watt lights and my Xenia are growing like weeds.. i've been around to every LFS asking how much they'll buy frags from me You could also try maybe adding some Vitamine C to your tank. I 'believe' that helps stressed corals.... do research im not 100% sure. From the way my Xenia act I cant believe that these things can even die I've sliced mine up, ripped them apart, cut them over and over.... and they only flurish. I tried attaching one to a rock in one of my first attempts and it ended up ripping itself off the toothpick and falling way back behind my rocks underneath in a cavern that my pistol shrimp made (way at the bottom of the tank mind you!). Somehow that thing was able to attach himself to the rock down there, and slowly climb its way up to a better lighted position.
Check everything that could be wrong, then recheck, then give it one more try... this time with feeling!