Pulsing Xenia

[blk822]

I just got some pulsing Xenia and they of course were closed up when I put them in the tank.This morning when I turned on the lights they started to open, but after work they are closed up tight. The guy at the LHS said it needed alot of light . I have a 29gal tank with 2 65watt PC lights, one 50/50 and one actinic. I have them about ten inches below the light ,is this to much light for them or not enough? or do I need to just give them a few days. I have never had any luck with them in the past with my old tank, so I am hoping I can have them now. Thanks for any advice.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by blk822
http:///forum/post/3230551
I just got some pulsing Xenia and they of course were closed up when I put them in the tank.This morning when I turned on the lights they started to open, but after work they are closed up tight. The guy at the LHS said it needed alot of light . I have a 29gal tank with 2 65watt PC lights, one 50/50 and one actinic. I have them about ten inches below the light ,is this to much light for them or not enough? or do I need to just give them a few days. I have never had any luck with them in the past with my old tank, so I am hoping I can have them now. Thanks for any advice.

Xenia closes into tight little fists when they feed. So it is normal at the end of the day to close. They are a tough coral...don't panic or bother them, your lights are fine, give them some rock to climb up..

 

[blk822]

Thanks for the info. Much appreciated.

 

[reefkprz]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3230556

Xenia closes into tight little fists when they feed.
huh? where did you come accross that little gem of info? xenia is about the closest coral your going to find to fully photosynthetic. they feed through absorption of nutrients, with almost no organismal feeding. (this is why they pulse) to assist in moving nutrient rich water accross their feeding surfaces.
they close up at night because since they are mostly photosynthetic, when the lights go out they cant photosynthesize, so they close up shop for the night untill they can.
as for them closing when the lights are still on, if they arent acclimated to the amount of light they are getting they will close up to reduce the amount of uv damage recieved while they grow appropriate zooxanthellae to cope with the amount of light they are now recieving.

 

[coral keeper]

+1 with reefkprZ and Xenia does not need strong light. lol I really want to grow Xenia but my angelfish wipe it out each time I add it.

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by blk822
http:///forum/post/3230551
I just got some pulsing Xenia and they of course were closed up when I put them in the tank.This morning when I turned on the lights they started to open, but after work they are closed up tight. The guy at the LHS said it needed alot of light . I have a 29gal tank with 2 65watt PC lights, one 50/50 and one actinic. I have them about ten inches below the light ,is this to much light for them or not enough? or do I need to just give them a few days. I have never had any luck with them in the past with my old tank, so I am hoping I can have them now. Thanks for any advice.
That's plenty of light. Do you know the species of Xenia you have? They are not all alike and have different requirements.
The few possibility that first come to mind are:
Light Acclimation - The lighting at the store was much different than yours. This can be intensity or even spectrum (not Kelvin Color). They will quickly adapt to different lighting.
Alkalinity Acclimation - In my experience Xenia are very sensitive to changes in Alkalinity. They will eventually adapt to a higher Alkalinity but they may never adapt to a low Alkalinity.
Temperature Acclimation - They can tolerate large temperature swings but enzyme concentrations in their tissue adapt to new temperatures very slowly. They will eventually adapt but it may take a couple of days.

 

[jstdv8]

in flowers defense mine close up when I feed the coral food. only other time other than when agitated by a crab or fish or at night.
My xenia took about 3 weeks to really be comfortable with its location and start acting normal. I even had it all melt into jelly at one point when I moved my tank and forgot it in the tub by itself with no heat or circulation. It smelled awful. But I remembered Flower mentioning something about them coming back so I put it in the tank and within 24 hours it had came back better than ever.

 

[reefkprz]

when they close in response to particulate feeding its too keep their "fronds" clear of things that may cling to their slime coat. its pureile defensiveness, and not an actual feeding response. I can see how it would be easy to mistake for a feeding action. but if it were feeding they would close then open again and close again once more food was caught. instead of just closing for a while. I probably should have clarified that a bit.

 

[blk822]

Great info, today they are starting to open alot more and get taller. I just hope they live along time.

 

[jstdv8]

Originally Posted by reefkprZ
http:///forum/post/3231121
when they close in response to particulate feeding its too keep their "fronds" clear of things that may cling to their slime coat. its pureile defensiveness, and not an actual feeding response. I can see how it would be easy to mistake for a feeding action. but if it were feeding they would close then open again and close again once more food was caught. instead of just closing for a while. I probably should have clarified that a bit.
I see, I don'tknow much about mine except they like to be left alone and they grow like crazy. I wouldnt throw one out until it melted right off the rock it was attached to because they jsut seem to keep coming back.

 

[navarack]

Hello I have a strange problem I bought some Pulsing Xenia 6 months ago not much just about the 2 inch in size, that was then now fast forward in my 175 6 foot tank is totally covered with Xenia on all my live rock.
This is my question does anyone want some? Please......

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by navarack http:///t/373914/pulsing-xenia#post_3534659
Hello I have a strange problem I bought some Pulsing Xenia 6 months ago not much just about the 2 inch in size, that was then now fast forward in my 175 6 foot tank is totally covered with Xenia on all my live rock.
This is my question does anyone want some? Please......

Hi,

Welcome to the site! If you are giving away Xenia, I'm sure you will get plenty of requests, we are not allowed to buy or sell on this site.

Have you checked with your LFS? Xenia, even a small bit like what you purchased, sells around my house for $60.00. Xenia likes a little nitrate in their water, and lots of light, it sounds like you have the perfect conditions for growing it...many folks can't keep it alive. You have a little gold mine growing there, find a fish store that will gladly pay you for it.