[Samantha W]

My Xenia, which we have had for well over 1 year, is suddenly dying. It went from full and pulsing to shrivling up and disappearing. What should I do! I love the Xenia and it makes our tank. Our heater went out a few days ago, but the temperature never got below 74 degrees for approx 48 hours. Could this be the problem and is there anything we can do to save it?

[4G1v3N]

I would get it to a stable tank, the temp change could have done this. xenia is a pretty delicate coral when it comes to water paramaters and temp changes. I dont know how bad it is so i dont know if it could be saved.
Good luck
-jordan

[poohpouri]

Hi Xenia does sometimes fail for no reason maybe it was it's time to go

[Reef-Daddy]

"In their normal reef conditions, temperatures are 81-84 with salinity 35-36 ppt. They do not tolerate rapid changes in pH and appear particularly sensitive in high pH..." from a very trusted resource. While they can acclimate to most any reef tank environment , these are their norms and any rapid shifts in their current reef environment may not be as forgiving.

[c-c]

Samantha
Sorry to hear about your xenia. I'm wondering if you were able to save it? I love my pulsating coral. Below is a picture.


Here is my story:
I bought it as a small frag. It first propagated itself, splitting down the middle several times. Making about 6 babies. Then one morning I found a pencil urchin sitting on top of one with the whole baby ripped from the rock and in it's beak, I pulled the xenia away, from the urchin's evil clutch :mad:, amazingly it started attaching again on the rock. The pencil urchin was removed to a "fish only" tank.

The babies are struggling... (4 left) two disappeared? The mother plant is also struggling...Besides getting knocked over my a hermit crab and laying face down for a while before I saw it, it has not been growing much.
Thanks reefdaddy for your tips on pH. Wondering what is your reliable source? (Always interested in good reading )
I top off alot (about 1 liter) every day and I KNOW I add it too quickly. I will try to do it slower...
Also, I am going to try and keep the pH more acidic (lower) and must raise the temp of the tank alittle as I only keep it at 78. Thanks alot Reefdaddy for these ideas! Got anymore???

In a nice display at the dealers I saw them thriving in the top level with a mild current.
Crazy about those critters.
c-c

[Reef-Daddy]

MARINE INVERTEBRATES 500+ ESSENTIAL-TO-KNOW AQUARIUM SPECIES
RONALD L. SHIMEK, Ph.D.

I bought this at LFS ($35), especially after everytime I asked them a question, they went to this book and looked it up. I also bought the one for Marine Fish for my sister.

Within this forum, I helped Angie555 correctly Classify her Anenome, provided info on Chocolate Chip Starfish, plus a few other quotes on facts... which I don't mind (at all) looking up because there is always something new to learn.

[c-c]

I think I know the book, a small pocket size? Will look into it. Thanks.

[c-c]

Samantha, I know it was January when you said your xenia was dying. How is it going? Is it still hanging in there? Here is an interesting link you could check out if you're still interested in xenia:

To Pulse or Not to Pulse? Identification and Behavior of Xeniid Corals by Anthony Calfo - Reefkeeping.com

A quote taken from above source:

"Once established, they are characteristically fast growing and suitable for beginners. Anecdotally, aquarists have noticed occasional or even seasonal bouts of "self-destruction" when colonies boom and then suddenly crash and dissolve. At such times, these colonies usually disburse fragments that often settle and give rise to new colonies elsewhere. I am not aware of any concise data that has definitively explained this phenomenon..."
c-c

[chicago coral]

i am having the same problem ,did yours ever grow back and did you move it to another tank.

[teajay33]

Originally Posted by c-c

I think I know the book, a small pocket size? Will look into it. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Reef-Daddy

MARINE INVERTEBRATES 500+ ESSENTIAL-TO-KNOW AQUARIUM SPECIES
RONALD L. SHIMEK, Ph.D.

I bought this at LFS ($35), especially after everytime I asked them a question, they went to this book and looked it up. I also bought the one for Marine Fish for my sister.

Within this forum, I helped Angie555 correctly Classify her Anenome, provided info on Chocolate Chip Starfish, plus a few other quotes on facts... which I don't mind (at all) looking up because there is always something new to learn.

20 dollars on amazon get that and the 500+ guide to saltwater fishes and you get some free delivery wooop!