I’m worried about my xenia...

[taylorn13]

Hi guys! I just purchased my first corals on Thursday. I got a Zoanthid and Xenia frag. Zoanthids have been doing great in my tank so far. They even opened up the very next day when I turned the light on for the first time. My Xenia is a different story. I purchased a xenia on a frag plug and put it in a lower light and lower flow area of my tank and it seemed to be doing well. The next morning I woke up to find it had fell off the frag plug and tore part of the stalk. I took it off the frag plug and moved the stalk into a hold in the rock island I had it on. Even since then it has yet to open up. It fully closes at night, but when I turn the light on it opens, but I still do not see the feather-like projections that it had at my lfs. It’s almost like it wants to fully open up but can’t. It has not pulsed since I got it. I’d have to say it actually looks bigger now than when I got it. I’m not sure what else to do, so I was hoping you guys could give me advice. I’ll include pictures of my xenia from today. Thanks!

 

[taylorn13]

Hi guys! I just purchased my first corals on Thursday. I got a Zoanthid and Xenia frag. Zoanthids have been doing great in my tank so far. They even opened up the very next day when I turned the light on for the first time. My Xenia is a different story. I purchased a xenia on a frag plug and put it in a lower light and lower flow area of my tank and it seemed to be doing well. The next morning I woke up to find it had fell off the frag plug and tore part of the stalk. I took it off the frag plug and moved the stalk into a hold in the rock island I had it on. Even since then it has yet to open up. It fully closes at night, but when I turn the light on it opens, but I still do not see the feather-like projections that it had at my lfs. It’s almost like it wants to fully open up but can’t. It has not pulsed since I got it. I’d have to say it actually looks bigger now than when I got it. I’m not sure what else to do, so I was hoping you guys could give me advice. I’ll include pictures of my xenia from today. Thanks!

Totally forgot to include that my params are 0 for ammonia and nitrites. Nitrates are 10ppm. pH 8.0. Temp 78°F. I added mineral supplements for corals the day I added them into the tank. My reef test kit is coming tomorrow, so I’ll update on the levels when it comes in!

 

[proxy001]

Xenia act funny, specially if you water is too pristine. They will survive. Check salinity just in case.

 

[WIReefer]

Xenia’s can be weird mine open where they want too! Just give it some time to adjust.

 

[taylorn13]

Xenia act funny, specially if you water is too pristine. They will survive. Check salinity just in case.

Checked it this morning and it was 1.025 which is what it is constantly. Completely forgot to add that. Thanks for reminding me!

 

[Picasso Clown]

It’s totally cool, basically impossible to kill a xenia nowadays. Here’s what mine looked like when I got it (rescued out of a neglected tank I bought on Craigslist)

and here’s the exact same piece today

Stability is the biggest thing, moderate flow is good AFTER it attaches, you can also superglue the stem to a new plug/the rock to help it attach quicker. As stated above, they like kind of a dirty tank with lots of nutrients so keep that in mind! For the most part, they don’t do well at all in sps dominant tanks just cause there’s not enough for them to filter feed on. I’ve a tank thats 90% acros and the Xenia in there has not pulsed or grown at all in 3 months, but it’s still kickin. Give it time and don’t freak out

 

[taylorn13]

It’s totally cool, basically impossible to kill a xenia nowadays. Here’s what mine looked like when I got it (rescued out of a neglected tank I bought on Craigslist)

and here’s the exact same piece today

Stability is the biggest thing, moderate flow is good AFTER it attaches, you can also superglue the stem to a new plug/the rock to help it attach quicker. As stated above, they like kind of a dirty tank with lots of nutrients so keep that in mind! For the most part, they don’t do well at all in sps dominant tanks just cause there’s not enough for them to filter feed on. I’ve a tank thats 90% acros and the Xenia in there has not pulsed or grown at all in 3 months, but it’s still kickin. Give it time and don’t freak out

Your tank is BEAUTIFUL

 

[User]

It’s totally cool, basically impossible to kill a xenia nowadays. Here’s what mine looked like when I got it (rescued out of a neglected tank I bought on Craigslist)

and here’s the exact same piece today

Stability is the biggest thing, moderate flow is good AFTER it attaches, you can also superglue the stem to a new plug/the rock to help it attach quicker. As stated above, they like kind of a dirty tank with lots of nutrients so keep that in mind! For the most part, they don’t do well at all in sps dominant tanks just cause there’s not enough for them to filter feed on. I’ve a tank thats 90% acros and the Xenia in there has not pulsed or grown at all in 3 months, but it’s still kickin. Give it time and don’t freak out

I like those firework cloves. Nice

 

[Picasso Clown]

Your tank is BEAUTIFUL

I like those firework cloves. Nice

Thanks y’all!! Just set it up in Feb 2020. My first reef tank but my father’s been in the hobby for 30 years. Best birthday present ever!! Traded a sweet 16 for this tank and I’ve never regretted it

 

[taylorn13]

Thanks y’all!! Just set it up in Feb 2020. My first reef tank but my father’s been in the hobby for 30 years. Best birthday present ever!! Traded a sweet 16 for this tank and I’ve never regretted it

My tank was a high school graduation present! I don’t regret it either

 

[Picasso Clown]

My tank was a high school graduation present! I don’t regret it either

Got a job and worked my butt off, now I have three reef tanks and an empty bank account...

 

[taylorn13]

Got a job and worked my butt off, now I have three reef tanks and an empty bank account...

Wow... I hope I don’t go crazy with corals because it seems now that every coral I see I want! I can’t be doing that with a tuition bill to pay soon lol!

 

[PTXReef]

It’s totally cool, basically impossible to kill a xenia nowadays. Here’s what mine looked like when I got it (rescued out of a neglected tank I bought on Craigslist)

and here’s the exact same piece today

Stability is the biggest thing, moderate flow is good AFTER it attaches, you can also superglue the stem to a new plug/the rock to help it attach quicker. As stated above, they like kind of a dirty tank with lots of nutrients so keep that in mind! For the most part, they don’t do well at all in sps dominant tanks just cause there’s not enough for them to filter feed on. I’ve a tank thats 90% acros and the Xenia in there has not pulsed or grown at all in 3 months, but it’s still kickin. Give it time and don’t freak out

Definitely agree with @Picasso Clown's advice! My xenias stopped pulsing once I moved it into my more pristine DT. Once I started feeding more heavily/adding phyto/adding coral food, they started pulsing and looking puffier than ever (owner of a LFS says it's due to iodine). Yours will be fine! Once they take hold, they will grow like crazy.

 

[taylorn13]

Definitely agree with @Picasso Clown's advice! My xenias stopped pulsing once I moved it into my more pristine DT. Once I started feeding more heavily/adding phyto/adding coral food, they started pulsing and looking puffier than ever (owner of a LFS says it's due to iodine). Yours will be fine! Once they take hold, they will grow like crazy.

Thanks for the advice! In my mineral supplements, it does have iodine in it, so I think it’s still trying to take hold! It did go through quite the amount of trauma lol!