Pulsing Xenia not pulsing (most of the time).

[Mihai]

Hi,

I got a pulsing Xenia yesterday and most of the time is not pulsing.
I think that last night when I first placed it on the bottom of the tank (lower current and lower light) it was pulsing more than today.

Today is pulsing a few minutes, then another hour is just tighthly closed (like in the picture). Even when it's pulsing is not opening its fingers too much.

I read that it doesn't need any special food (except for light), so that shouldn't be the cause. It stopped pulsing when I moved it up closer too the light and in a relatively stronger current (not to bad though, and not laminar flow).

I also read that if it is not pulsing is not necessarily a bad sign (which implies that it normally is, but not always).

The tank is a 90 gal pretty new (LR in it for 1 month, DSB but not very live yet and cleaning crew), with crummy lights (4x40 NO fluorescents) and for now (until I fix my sump) circulation is in the form of 1 RIO 1400 blasting along its length.

Any advice on how to save (if it's in any danger) the Xenia? The other soft corals that I got are doing fine (as far as a beginner can tell). I know that some (Wade ), consider Xenia a pest, but I decided that I like this pest (and maybe even go for a full soft coral tank), and I'd not like it to die.

Also, yesterday, Xenia was the only coral with a smell on it. Not necessarily a bad smell, but it did smell strongly like something.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Many thanks,
Mihai

 

[Anonymous]

Check your PH...its said the Xenia will pulse less or more if the PH is off...actually my Xenia is fully open and hardly ever pulses...

 

[Mihai]

Good point: I just checked the water: pristine .

Temp: 78F
SG: 1.245
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: <3ppm
PH: 8.2

The Xenia started pulsing nicely immediately after I read the test results (perhaps it was impressed with the water quality). However, it did pulse on and off throughout the day, mostly "off", so I expect it to stop shortly.

When it doesn't pulse is also very stiff (see attached picture). When it pulses it waves a lot in the current.

Thanks,
Mihai

 

[taikonaut]

It is in the process of adjust to new environment. don't move it around so much, since this will stress it out, and possibly kill it. The worst thing Xenia newbies (this applies to seasoned reefkeepers) is to tinker everything just to get a Xenia to pulse, and in the process, got nothing accomplished but managed to kill pretty much everything (include the Xenia) in the tank and learnt nothing but be a bit disappointed.

As for the smelly, well, let me say that some people brag about the ability to ID a Xenia by the particular smell . As long as it is not like rotten shellfish/seafood, the smell (which is worse than phe*/poo for some people), is normal.

 

[Mihai]

One more thing:

I also had another very similar but very small (3-4 polyps) Xenia coming on the same rock as some small zoanthides. While I was posting the first Xenia question it disappeared!. Completly, I got the rock out of the water and it is not there anymore? Does anybody know, when it dies is falls off the rock (and got blown away)? Or do I have somthing that can eat 4 polyps in less than 1/2h? (that would be scarry).

Mihai

 

[taikonaut]

Xenia can discompose within hours rignt in front of you eye... but check around and see if you accidentally scrap it off or something.

In addition to showing good water parameter, let them watch the older Steinfield's also can get them to pulse more

 

[Mihai]

Oh, but I looked . Before the disparition though I found a dead polyp in the sand. After the disparition... nothing, not even this polyp. Completly melted, even the rock is white and clean.

I don't have Seinfeld, but I'll try with Friends .
M.

 

[Mihai]

Good news: as of this morning (last night?) the Xenia is pulsing all the time. It might have been an aclimatization problem (as I didn't change anything in the mean time).

I'm as happy as a clam .

M.

 

[taikonaut]

So you watched Friends last night?