Xenia ~ what makes it thrive?

BTW - smell the coral out of the water before you buy it. if it smells like strong saltwater- your good to go, if it smells other wise pass it by.

 

In time, no skimmer, you will regret that decision. Been there done that route, IMHO- no matter the tank size.

It's all about O2 - consider this.

 

Nahh I have done it both ways, still have my very first skimmer.

Small bio-load
Careful feedings
Routine water changes
High flow

There was a time when you leaned to run a system without a skimmer, I just got used to it. Having a skimmer on my tanks really did not make a huge difference, I know not to push it and how to avoid accumulation of DOC.

Skimmers are wonderful and I will have one when I upgrade.

 

Nitrates do feed Xenia IME. I employ a refugium and biopellets, and my Xenia grows slowly.

Also, I believe that high heat can trigger a Xenia crash. I had a colony crash to 50%, and I attribute it to the water temperature being too high.

 

i just started with the bio pellets and the tanks at the point were it seems like every other day when i test im seeing a slight drop in nitrates. i started to feed the corals with fuel also since my skimmer is pulling so much from the tank. i felt feeding the corals the extras would be a good idea at this time. i wonder if that would also help with xenia? its why im considering trying one more time.

i figured the heat triggered it but now why months later will it still not grow? i have used carbon to remove toxins it may have left when it crashed. and recently started removing my leathers from the tank spag leather , toadstool....gone i pulled them. i have a colt coral thats in the fug. that i will take to the fish store for a credit . hoping that the next xenia try will work.

 

Try different types of xenia also..

Pom pom xenia
Red sea
Elongata
blue xenia

 

I know this is really weird, but I had a similar issue with my Xenia growing really slowly. I bought the Xenia Pom Pom online and it was hurting forever then it bounced back and now it is going back to falling apart.

I also have a Xenia that was a hitch hiker on my trumpet coral seriously a spec of xenia on it, and it is growing faster than my other. Go figure.

Interesting convo I had with an exp. Xenia coral farmer and she had told me that she has seen Xenia turn into a paste on the rock and bounce back 2 months later so don't toss it.

I think when the colony takes a beating it doesn't quite bounce back the same until it dies and comes back.

My tank specs: Skimmer/Chemipure Elite/Fuge/79 deg temp and 0 Nitrates

 

I have also heard, if it crashes and comes back..IT comes back stronger and grows faster..

 

I have a skimmer and run carbon and I have xenia thats been growing like a weed. All I have is a pep shrimp in the tank right now livestock wise.. Not counting other corals..

 

i had three types in my tank when it crashed. the one type went first than the next one followed than my favorite in three days t was gone. my fav was the one pictured on live aquaria. im thinking i might just try that one again and no others. i did try the one that started the crash again because it was cheap from the local fish store. where they frag it. it withered away in a few weeks time