pulsating xenia. will it grow or melt away?

swiftmarkymark

swiftmarkymark

New Member
hello everyone. i have been wanting to get some pulsating xenia but i have heard that in some tanks they grow like a weed and in others they will just melt away. i have tons of questions. how can i succesfully grow them so they DO grow like a weed. what are you all's experiences with growing them. if you guys have had success, what do you think you did right? did you add anything to the water? what is the best type of lighting to grow them? will a T5 HO 60 watt coralife light fixture be good enough to grow them? is it better to have them closer to the light or down on the bottom? will they do more better in a aged tank than a new one? how much flow did you guys have on them? I really appreciate your opinions. i apoligize if these threads have been started before but really want your opinions. Thanks a bunch!
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Personally, I have no luck with the stuff, but I'm in the minority.
They don't like absolutely clean pristine water, at least that has been my observation. Usually they will grow like weeks, with nothing more than weekly water changes.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
I ahve never been able to keep it in the 225G.I also have no nitrates in this tank...I have one small piece inthe 54G...but that is it......as much as I like it....it just dies on me
 
S

saxman

Guest
As mentioned, the stuff either grows like a weed or won't grow at all...odd stuff, for sure.
One thing i CAN tell you is that even if it's growing well, it hates heat and will begin melting at 82*F, so keep your tank below 80*F (lower is better...76*F or 77*F).
 
wartooth1

wartooth1

Member
Its a total crapshoot getting pulsing xenia to survive long, so if I were you I'd get a small cheap frag as a tester. If it lives for a month, buy a bigger colony. Also, they hate the heat and LOVE iodine, so keeping the tank's temperature under 80 and having ideal iodine levels should greatly increase your chances of success with this coral.
 
rainbow grouper

rainbow grouper

Active Member
I personally have had great experiences with my xenia I place them near the top of my tank with 2 250 watt metal halides I never have my skimmer on
and in 2 days 2 knew colonies were beginning to form! I have loads of xenia and they are just doing brilliantly in the 4 weeks I've had it the colony has doubled in size but just be careful they hate tanks with a lot of algae I put one in my algae infested 35 gal hoping my clown would host and it got covered inn algae and died
 
wartooth1

wartooth1

Member
Oh and also pulsing xenia are rumored to be nitrate eaters. I say rumored because I've heard some people at LFSs say thats true and other say they never heard that. Allowing yourself to have a small but safe amount of nitrates in the tank may contribute to this coral's well being.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Swiftmarkymark http:///t/387334/pulsating-xenia-will-it-grow-or-melt-away#post_3407476
hello everyone. i have been wanting to get some pulsating xenia but i have heard that in some tanks they grow like a weed and in others they will just melt away. i have tons of questions. how can i succesfully grow them so they DO grow like a weed. what are you all's experiences with growing them. if you guys have had success, what do you think you did right? did you add anything to the water? what is the best type of lighting to grow them? will a T5 HO 60 watt coralife light fixture be good enough to grow them? is it better to have them closer to the light or down on the bottom? will they do more better in a aged tank than a new one? how much flow did you guys have on them? I really appreciate your opinions. i apoligize if these threads have been started before but really want your opinions. Thanks a bunch!
My favorite coral...it dances.
My advice, get them and see, they are super easy and for the most part they are also super hardy. Perfect perameter tanks don't do too well with them as a rule, because I think they like some nitrates...mine were always between 10 and 20 and were beautiful. They are also light hungry and follow it up.....So place them in the middle of the tank and turn the rock on it's side...let it climb up and it will spread as it goes, pulsing and dancing as it goes. When it reaches the top, take the rock to the bottom and let the lower ones climb, if you keep them busy climbing thay won't spread all over just upward. A single stalk costs $60.00 on my side of town, so extra to get rid of can't be all that bad if it happens.
 
swiftmarkymark

swiftmarkymark

New Member
i just really like the way they look and want a bunch in my tank. how much flow should i have on them? My LFS said that too much flow will make them not do so well and they wont pulse. is this true? speaking of algea, that reminds me i need to get a clean up crew lol
i have 2 10,000k 31w bulbs and 2 actinic 31w bulbs over my tank right now, will that be good enough? also i thinking about getting a MH for my tank.
 
swiftmarkymark

swiftmarkymark

New Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/387334/pulsating-xenia-will-it-grow-or-melt-away#post_3408553
My favorite coral...it dances.
My advice, get them and see, they are super easy and for the most part they are also super hardy. Perfect perameter tanks don't do too well with them as a rule, because I think they like some nitrates...mine were always between 10 and 20 and were beautiful. They are also light hungry and follow it up.....So place them in the middle of the tank and turn the rock on it's side...let it climb up and it will spread as it goes, pulsing and dancing as it goes. When it reaches the top, take the rock to the bottom and let the lower ones climb, if you keep them busy climbing thay won't spread all over just upward. A single stalk costs $60.00 on my side of town, so extra to get rid of can't be all that bad if it happens.
so about medium height will be good? i can post a pic of my tank that way everyone can get an understanding of what it looks like and tell me where the best place is to put it.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Swiftmarkymark http:///t/387334/pulsating-xenia-will-it-grow-or-melt-away#post_3408914
so about medium height will be good? i can post a pic of my tank that way everyone can get an understanding of what it looks like and tell me where the best place is to put it.
We would love to see your tank, so post a picture...Xenia is a real hardy coral, I said place it in the center because it likes the rocks, not the sandy bottom. It likes light and will reach for it. You do need 4 double bulb (4 50/50) Power compact lights or better to keep them...2 10K may not be enough...maybe if you put it on the top of the tank but it would have no place to climb, they are a light hungry coral.
 
swiftmarkymark

swiftmarkymark

New Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/387334/pulsating-xenia-will-it-grow-or-melt-away#post_3408924
We would love to see your tank, so post a picture...Xenia is a real hardy coral, I said place it in the center because it likes the rocks, not the sandy bottom. It likes light and will reach for it. You do need 4 double bulb (4 50/50) Power compact lights or better to keep them...2 10K may not be enough...maybe if you put it on the top of the tank but it would have no place to climb, they are a light hungry coral.
posted the pictures, tell me what you think. i think im gonna go get some xenia next week and do what you said
 
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