Xenia Tops falling off?

darwell3

New Member
I have had my xenia in my tank for about 10 days now and some of the tops are looing like they are melting and dieing sos help? what is affecting it this way?
 

jumpfrog

Active Member
First, welcome tot the board!
Next, have you checked all you water parameters?
First thing to do when something goes wrong is check your water. Then, once you have all your numbers, post your problem, water numbers, lighting and filtering. The sharks and others with great experience can then help you narrow down the possibilities to get to the root of your problem.
Too many things to look at to find the problem.
So, enough of my preaching, just trying to help a new "guy."
How is your water and other parameters?
 
HMM. the xenia heads falling off...im pretty sure that that means the xenia is under lots of stress with something in the water. Most of the time, it is alk and iodine. These tend to really affect the xenia, esspesially the iodine. Iodine does seem to do something that the xenia doesnt like, most of the time it will die if the iodine levels are too high, and will also die if the alk is too low. Alot of people say that xenias like hardly any current, while others say high current. High current make it harder to pulse, and no current tends to make them "droop" some of the time. I have found it that medium current works great with most xenias. Xenias tend to all have different needs. Xenias like medium lighting, and medium current, and SOME nitrate. Nitrate just gives them something that they like, Around 5ppm is the best for xenias, any higher and they will not live as good/die in the tank. What are your levels(nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, alk, pH, iodine, and calcium?) What lighting do you have? How much current and light do you give it?
PS, welcome to the BB!
 

nm reef

Active Member
Really need more info on your system to even begin to help. Size of system...how long has it been established...filtration...water tests...additives used...any new changes...other tank critters...the more info you provide the better. You're problem could be related to lighting/circulation/water chemistry/other corals/predators/additives(or lack of)....the list is endless.
For the most part though xenia is a hardy and adaptive coral. :cool:
 

demosthenes

Active Member
Sorry, but I have to disagree w/ one statement made by you Bob, and I've never heard that nitrate statement, but I disagree w/ this statement:
Originally posted by Bob the Builder: High current make it harder to pulse <hr></blockquote>
This, I have to say, is untrue. Xenias don't pulse as much in high current due to the fact that it is not as much required. The exact reasoning behind the pulsing is unknown, but may be to filter plankton out of the water, to absorb more lighting, or to flush out their systems. It can be any number of things, but I just had to say that the reason they don't pulse as much in high current is not because it is hard, but because it is less required.
 
The current statement i read in a book...
Anyway, the nitrate statement i know is true. Some corals just need the nitrate to live. Nobody knows why, just like nobody knows why xenias pulse. I know there is xenias, and 2 other corals that need some nitrate, i think it was a plate and a ?? These xenias seem to be really mysterious corals... <img src="graemlins//eek.gif" border="0" alt="[eek]" />
 
Top