Pulsing Xenia

[fishy55599]

anything i should know.
defo getting these as it buy it now

 

[MissG55]

I love mine. I got a small frag and now have several patches around my tank as it spreads like wild fire!!

 

[fishguy2727]

It is prolific once settled in, but is very sensitive to changes in pH, salinity, temp, etc. They require a very long acclimation, at least 45 minutes.

Many people think that they need to supplement iodine if they have Xenia spp., but this is not true. A high quality salt used for regular water changes should provide enough iodine. Supplementations like this should only be done as needed and the need should be determined with high quality test kits. Blindly adding supplements is a good way to cause problems in your tank and waste money.

 

[fishy55599]

ive heard it speads quick

oh im getting it with my cuc so will be acclimitized for at least 2 hours.

 

[woody88]

Xenia doesn't need supplements as there's no proof that they benefit from it. But like said a good wc with a decent pro reef salt can only be good for it. It is also thought that they feed off nutrients in the tank but they ARE photosynthetic so place them up high in your tank and in an area of moderate to high flow.

They'll sulk for a good few hours after acclimation before their polyps open and start pulsing.
Once settled then watch it spread. You'll be selling your own frags just to keep it down in your tank in no time.

Bear in mind tho Xenia can thrive for ages an then suddenly wither and die for no apparent reason.

Oh and have a peg handy when you handle them as when they're exposed to our atmosphere they absolutely stink

 

[fishy55599]

oh if i place them up quite high there is a possibility they could be out of water few mins this is fin right?
i got plenty of pegs

 

[woody88]

oh if i place them up quite high there is a possibility they could be out of water few mins this is fin right?
i got plenty of pegs

They haven't got to be at the top of the tank just reasonably high up under direct light and good flow.

You might need a sick bag when you smell it! I almost heaved! Lol

Prepare to smell the worst thing ever in your life! Lol

 

[fishy55599]

okay, well ill find an amazing tank, but they would look better at the top i think. but wont know till it comes.
that sounds bad, and i gag at the smell of sick

 

[woody88]

okay, well ill find an amazing tank, but they would look better at the top i think. but wont know till it comes.
that sounds bad, and i gag at the smell of sick

It's worse than sick! Prepare to gag like you've never gagged before! Lol

Your intrigued now aren't you! You actually want to smell it now just
Out of curiosity! Lol

 

[fishy55599]

pretty sure i dont

 

[MrLiam]

I might pull my small patch out just to smell it LOL.

 

[woody88]

pretty sure i dont

You will. When that frag is in your hand you'll think 'maybe just one quick sniff. Just to see' lol

I might pull my small patch out just to smell it LOL.

Go on mate. Just to confirm it to fishy! Lol

 

[seffieuk]

You will. When that frag is in your hand you'll think 'maybe just one quick sniff. Just to see' lol

Well, you learn somthing new everyday, I didnt know that and yes you are right, if any comes out my tank I will be giving it a quick smell

Seffie x

 

[fishy55599]

haha, i havent heard that anywhere else, maybe it was because it arrived at woodys house

 

[fishguy2727]

I haven't had live colonies smell bad like that.

They are actually very good at cleaning the water column itself. Some people use Xenia in refugiums because they are so effective at improving water quality, and many people find that they don't do well if the water is too clean (like in a nice SPS tank). As stated they are photosynthetic though. IME they do best lower but still in light (not under overhangs they you may place a nonphotosynthetic filter feeder, but still low in the tank). When I kept mine higher the color was not as good. I moved it to the bottom of my 24" tall 45 and the colors greatly improved.

I would only get the White Pompom aka Pink Xenia. It is very hard to get this type to stop pumping, it has a nicer color, and is shorter and fuller than the regular kind. Here is a pic of a frag of mine: