Probably a "stupid" question

Hrm I haven't been on this forum for a while but a lot of information seems to be incorrect that they are receiving from other hobbyists. Xenia typically actually doesn't do well in high flow. Xenia that gets put in high flow will not pulse as well as xenia that is put in a less flow area. What high flow does for xenia is that it MAY (not all the time) help it spread quicker as the tips of the polyps are touching the liverock close to it and it may eventually spread over. But the most ideal flow is minor flow to see it at its best ( as most people keep this coral for the pulsing action). Lighting is also moderate to high if you want it at it's best condition. The pulsing action is actually the xenia absorbing the light.
However, this does not always hold true, there are just some tanks that xenia do better in and will thrive and grow like weed, and some tanks can just never seem to keep xenia. It is still a myth to even the most experienced hobbyists. That's my 2 cents for the day as I am in a rush to leave my house so excuse my run on sentences as I am just freely speaking my mind.

 

haha makes sense, thanks I plan on moving it to a moderate flow area of the tank as well as giving it partial shade in hopes it picks back up

 

I'm not sure where you found your info and mine could be wrong, but this is what I found (http://www.reefcorner.com/SpecimenSheets/pulsating_xenia.htm):

Scientific Name: Xenia elongata
Classification: Soft Coral
Common Names: Xenia, Pulsating Xenia
Description:
Pulsating Xenia has sturdy stalks up to 3" long which are tan in color. The end of the stalk is covered with a crown of feathery polyps, each carried on a stem approximately 1"-2" long. The polyps open and close in an attractive pulsing or pumping motion. Groups of these stalks form colonies that can spread into large mats. Xenia is one of the few corals that actually smells bad when removed from the water.

Natural Environment:
? Most specimens are captive grown

Care:
Hardiness: Xenia is an interesting family of coral as far as hardiness is concerned. Some hobbyist cannot seem to keep this coral alive and others find it to be a fast growing 'weed' coral. Although there are some guidelines which can be followed to improve the chance of success, no one fully understands what will guarantee success with this coral. Even a colony that has been thriving in a tank for an extended period of time can quickly go into decline and die for no obvious reason.

Lighting: Requires moderate to strong lighting. Usually, brighter is better although some hobbyist appear to have very good success with lower light levels.

Water Current: Xenia require at least moderate water flow. They are one of the few corals that seem content to be right against the strong output of a powerhead. In still waters the pumping usually diminishes and the coral goes into decline.

Temperature: Does well within a range of at least 75º to 83º F. Temperatures around 84º can sometimes appear to cause stress and Xenia appears to be more stable at lower temperatures of 76º - 78º.

Aggressiveness: Low. Xenia does not possess any apparent stinging capability and will not bother other corals, but can tend to grow over and shadow its neighbors. When happy, the coral can reproduce by division at an alarming rate and may require frequent pruning to keep it from crowding out other corals.

Feeding: Xenia is photosynthetic and does not accept any known foods. It is thought that they absorb some of their nutrients directly from the water. In fact, some hobbyist keep large colonies of Xenia as filter beds where the xenia is regularly pruned for nutrient export. It is unclear if this is very effective. Xenia may do better in tanks that are not heavily skimmed.

Supplements: The main supplement normally associated with successfully keeping Xenia is Iodine. Many authors state categorically that iodine supplements are critical to success and lack of iodine supplements will cause xenia to crash. I have keep Xenia with and without iodine supplementation and have observed no difference, so I am more skeptical of the iodine connection. Low Alkalinity levels can cause Xenia pulsing to decrease or cease altogether, so alkalinity levels should be monitored and kept above a minimum of 2.5meq/l.

Tank Positioning: Usually kept high up on the reef for strong water flow and highest possible lighting. Xenia will reproduce in the tank by attaching its stalk against adjacent surfaces it contacts and splitting into two colonies. In this way, Xenia colonies tend to 'walk' in the direction that water movement bends their stocks, so you may want to consider this in your placement. Xenia can usually be coaxed to grow up the back glass of the tank and forms a nice background display.

 

lol again lots of skepticism on it from all sides, I did mention earlier that I just added t5s and switch from my old compact flourescents that they were accustomed to, however the decline started with the cfl's so I think the just didn't like the low light after a while and possibly needed more. if it dies it dies, I'd rather try to save it, but it was only 5 dollars for the frag so I can always try again if need be its just strange though because my kenya tree was suffering the same problem, but seems to be ok during the day or at least its starting to get a bit better, they were right beside eachother but I have since separated them. Its starting to stand up again(kenya) but looks a little wrinkly at times. my mushrooms and zoos seem ok except one that rarely opens I sure hope I havent bitten off more then I can chew.

 

We love to see pictures as well. It can help us see what is going on. Somebody might see something that you are missing as well. Just a suggestion.

 

I actaully have a separate thread for this ill find the link

 

http://www.3reef.com/forums/asap/something-wrong-xenia-kenya-tree-124936.html

 

Forgot to mention that I am speaking from my personal experience because I have owned xenia for more than 5 years now and I have sold a couple well over 100 frags when I only started with 3 branches myself when I started keeping these. Again, the information that you find online may not always be right depending on the conditions and water parameters of your tank. Feel free to take my advice, or of course you can choose to ignore it. In this hobby, there is no right or wrong. Everyone has their own ways of keeping their livestock happy.

 

yeah i have heard that one haha there is no right or wrong way, there is just a better way lol, but ive been told i was wrong alot haha

 

How is you xenia doing since you moved it?
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