pulsing xenia

[floridian91]

I have some pulsing xenia that were doing well. The past couple of days they stopped pulsating. I have been doing water changes on schedule and all tank parameters are within safe limits (Ca, phos, pH, alk, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates). The other corals in the tank are doing well. I have them at the top of the tank, near the lights. I have 130watts of 10,000k white light and actinic lights in a 54 gal corner bowfront tank. I do have a protein skimmer. The only thing I can think of that may have caused this, is that a couple of days ago I noticed the pump to my tank was clogged so the water movement in the tank slowed down a bit. As soon as I noticed this, I cleaned the pump and the water flow was back to normal. A couple of days later, I did a water change and today the tank is looking clean and all water chems. are ok. Will they be ok? They are open and not limp, they are just not pulsating today.

 

[Anonymous]

What are your Salinity, Ca and ALK levels?

Safe isn't good enough, they need to be balanced.

If I were to put money on it I'd say your Salinity and ALK are low as compared to your Calcium.

 

[floridian91]

My calcium is 420mg/L, Kh is 100mg/L, specific gravity (measured with a hydrometer) is 1.021 with salinity approx. 29.

 

[Anonymous]

IMO you Kh should be a lot higher, at least 50% higher at 150 - 175 mg/L and your Salinity should be a lot higher - at least 35ppt.

Just my opinion, hopefully you'll receive more opinions.

Your Calcium is also perfect IMO

 

[Anonymous]

Xenia pulse when they want to. Sorta like BTA's bubbling. There's no rhyme or reason to it. :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

>...There's no rhyme or reason to it.

Yes there is, but we just don't know.

 

[wyw]

Mine tend to stop pulsing when they are slightly unhappy but not so pissed off that they shrink up. Usually it's because my salinity is off. Once a set quit pulsing when I moved some things around and placed them down current from some zoothoids. The zoo's seemed to release just enough of something to irritate them. I moved the zoo's and all was well.

 

[Anonymous]

IMO you Kh should be a lot higher, at least 50% higher at 150 - 175 mg/L and your Salinity should be a lot higher - at least 35ppt.

Just my opinion, hopefully you'll receive more opinions.

Your Calcium is also perfect IMO

:lol: What Guy said! Your KH and SG is way low. I've noticed my Xenia are the first thing to show me the water quality isn't exactly right, and they outright sulk if my SG is off.

 

[floridian91]

Thanks for all your help everyone. How do I go about making changes to my specific gravity. It is around 1.021. Should changes be made gradually and do you have any suggestions?

 

[Anonymous]

Gradual. Anything drastic will send everything into shock! 8O Do it over a period of 3-5 days.

~wings~

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all your help everyone. How do I go about making changes to my specific gravity. It is around 1.021. Should changes be made gradually and do you have any suggestions?

You can simply let evaporation raise the SG slowly. How much makeup water do you put in the tank, and how often? You can add saltwater back into the tank, instead of strictly freshwater and carefully move it up that way.

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah! That's an even better way.
~wings~

 

[KenFitz]

Resurrected:

What are the best parameters for pulsing xenia.. Mine specimen being only a few days in the tank is currently fine, however I am a little concerned that my params may not be ideal for it.

Currently at 0 are Amm, Nitrite.
Nitrate <10
Phos <0.035
SG 1.023
PH 8.0-8.1

Currently I dont test for anything else - (what test should I get next), and I hear Iodine is important....

I do 10% water changes in a 90L tank every week to two weeks, No skimming, use carbon, Rowaphos and Purigen - there is approx 14Kg LR in the tank.

All other inhabitants are fine showing no stress, eating well.....

Thanks...

(I talk/write too much... )

 

[Anonymous]

Looks ok. You're PO4 looks a bit high, probably due to no skimming (nutrient export).

 

[Anonymous]

Just my opinions:

The parameters you listed look fine to me except S.G. I would bump it up to 1.026. If you just use saltwater for replacing evaporated water for a while the Salinity will rise slowly & safely.

I would recommend testing Alkalinity and Calcium if you are keeping corals.

In my opinion Iodine is not important to Xenia and dosing Iodine can do a lot more harm than good.