When will my Xenia start to pulse?

huskerreefer

huskerreefer

Member
I picked up a small Xenia from my LFS last Friday evening. My question is, how long does it normally take for the Xenia to start pulsing? I read that a thriving Xenia pulses but a failing one does not. Mine is not pulsing. All of the ends are open, just not pulsing yet. Does it need more light? I have a 14gallon BioCube and I have put him down in the sandbed near the front right side.
Thanks in advance!
 
huskerreefer

huskerreefer

Member
It's going on 3 days now and mine still aren't. Do you think I need to move it closer to the light? I only have the stock lighting that comes with the biocubes.
 
txmedic1

txmedic1

Member
mine pulsed all the way home from the fish store. how did you acclimate them? i would try moving them closer to the middle of the tank, with medium to moderate current flow. good luck.
 
huskerreefer

huskerreefer

Member
Well, I have to be honest and say I didn't do the recommended drip acclimation. I floated it for a little over a half hour and then slowly mixed water from my tank a little at a time into the bag from the lfs for another half hour.
It is getting pretty good flow near the front right hand side of the tank, I just wonder if the light isn't strong enough (only running factory biocube coral life bulbs). Correct me if I'm wrong, but by what I've read, Xenia don't eat however, they require moderate to good lighting.
 
grubsnaek

grubsnaek

Active Member
they do need a little bit better lighting, i temp acclimated and mine have split and pulse like crazy, i do believe that they need moderate to high lighting and moderate flow. if this helps any.
 
txmedic1

txmedic1

Member
i'm not an expert, but i do believe they eat. thats the whole "pulsating" action. i supplement mine with photoplankton every 2-3 days.
 
njbeacher

njbeacher

Member
Try turning off all your water flow and see if they act any different. I have noticed mine pulse more when the flow is less or none. If there is a strong enough flow, they don't pulse but stay wide open.
 
adroitmind

adroitmind

Member
They don't all pulse, that is correct. I will tell you that all my xenia started to pulse in the car on the way home. I love this stuff. It adds so much life to the aquarium and it is great for beginners, I think mine would grow in the toilet.
 
trigger11

trigger11

Member
I have had some Xenia for a couple of months. When I saw it at the LFS it was pulsing like crazy. It was beautiful. After I got it home it pulsed for a day at the most and it has never pulsed since. My nitrates are always zero pretty much and I try to keep the rest of the water levels in balance. From all of the previous research I had done on this subject the most common feeling was that Xenia like less than perfect water conditions to thrive. Also that you never really know how they will do from one tank to the next. Some people had two different tanks they had xenia in. One tank the xenia did well and the other it did not. Same water conditions and everything.
My xenia just recently croaked. Nothing else in my tank seems to be affected. All other coral is thriving and looking good. In fact, since I put in a MH lighting system they are doing great.
 
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