I just bought 3 stalks of xenia. can anyone give me some basic care for them, pH, alk, lighting, H2O flow, etc? And also, the LFS told me that the larger the stalk of xenias the less expensive it is. Is this true? or is he just BS-ing me

Depends on the xenia as there are numerous species of xenia. But in general, I've had the best success with intense lighting and high current. If a dealer i sell to places the xenia in inadequate lighting, they don't pump at all. Perhaps their tank parameters aren't up to snuff as well, but my suspicions that lighting is important are confirmed by the fact that shaded xenias in my main tank although receiving adequate current don't do as well and sometimes don't pump at all. I don't do anything special other than keeping the normal parameters of PH, alkalinity and calcium and I don't add supplements.

The xenia I have is Xenia elongata and if it takes a liking to tank conditions, it can double to triple in population in a month's time so beware.

As far as size, doesn't make sense that larger xenias are less expensive. I'd qualify that question with how big is the colony. Wholesale prices are adjusted accordingly for sizes and the bigger the colony the more it cost. This is from experience in selling cultured xenia to various LFS.

HTH,

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John Susbilla
Visit my Flashy new site: John's Reef Flat
tubs@firstworld.net

I also have the xenia elongata. they do pump but the problem is that they pump for a little bit and then retract, and then stick out and pump a lil and retract again. are they acclimating? and how long does this usually take?

any ? about xenias look @ this guys "Xenia Weed". Pretty cool http://www.rodsreef.com/images/xenia.jpg


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Remember Fish are alive when we get them, lets keep it that way!!!

Invisibleman,

My best guess is yeah they are probably just acclimating. Give it about a week and see how they look.

Jmick, the pic looks familiar. I grow the stuff now in my 30 gallon sump and its literally a carpet of xenia. I installed a 175 PFO MH with a 10K bulb that I won at WMC last year. I don't mind however as it has been providing me income (sell to LFS) to support my reefaholic spending sprees <[img]/ubb/uhoh3.gif[/img]

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John Susbilla
Visit my Flashy new site: John's Reef Flat
tubs@firstworld.net

Hi,
Thought I would jump in on this. I'm having a problem with my xenia. When I put them in my tank about a two weeks ago, everything seemed fine. About a week ago they closed up and have not extended since. Water tests fine as well. Also good water flow around them. Any Ideas?
Thanks!
Ace

Have you tried a water change or added some carbon for at least a temporary time? If it is something chemical related that could take care of it.

[This message has been edited by tubs (edited 02-23-2001).]

Ace,

I had the same problem when my tank was newer. I don't really know what happened but this is what I did. I got more light, the tank matured and ph went up, I stopped using tapwater. Now xenia is great and I get to sell some of it every two weeks.

Hope this helps.

RR

Hi tubs & fetidskunk,
The tank is a 75g. that has been setup for two years. I have 440 watts of VHO lighting and a 4-6 inch sandbed. I'll try adding some carbon for a few days and see if that helps. The only other issue is my tap water. I don't have any type of water treatment since it has not been an issue so far.
Ace

Ace,

Hope all goes well. Also what position are they in the tank. Try and see also if placing them higher in the tank makes any difference.

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John Susbilla
Visit my Flashy new site: John's Reef Flat
tubs@firstworld.net

thay are very subseptable to the ph and the alk so definitaly watch them closely. I have seen tank rased xena that have started to puls in the bag befour i got home from my lfs. if the water is good in your tank thay should start to puls very quickly in about an hour. that is what hapened with the ones that i bough and their are quite a few difrent typs out their. i also now that like anemones some people can keep them and cant even if thay do everthy corectaly and have good water

Hi,
Tubs, they are placed low in the tank. I'll move them up some to see if that helps.

Neal359,
My PH seems fine. I'll check the Alk now to see if I have a problem.
Thanks!
Ace

What about NUTRIENTS? do they need to be fed or is there some type of plankton that you need to add to the water? cause my tank is using water RO water from albertsons.

Hi Invisible man,

I don't add any supplemental trace elements yet the Xenia elongata thrives more than I want to. Maybe for other species it may be more important but heck all the corals in my tank are doing really well without the supplements.

As for as for feeding the xenia do not have mouths nor a discernable digestive organ. Primarily rely on the symbiotic zooxs as well as direct nutrient (organic and inorganic) uptake from the water. I feed very heavy so this helps feed xenia indirectly.

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John Susbilla
Visit my Flashy new site: John's Reef Flat
tubs@firstworld.net

Just a thought..What is your temp? Xenia are very sensitive and are usually the first corals to indicate someting is "off" in my tank. Xenia tend to like high light and moderate to high current. I also have found that they are doing better than ever since I removed my skimmer.
Gayle

Bocaswim, "...since I removed my skimmer"? REally? How is your water quality now? I have always been terrified about turning my skimmer off.

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It seems like the more I know, the less I want to know.

My temp was at 83 degrees so I lowered it to about 79 and the xenias thrived...

As far as I can tell everything seems fine. I don't really go the checking paramenters daily route, I just watch my tank-alot. Temp is around 80.
The xenia is out of control as are mushrooms, zooanthids, star polyps, and ricordia. I just recently added some sps frags, no real success story yet, but montipora capricornis and digitata are just starting to take off. I do not have a reactor but may add one in the future.
I have shut off the skimmer and never looked back, well maybe a little. I have quite a bit of sponge growth and other stuff on the live rock which I read recently may eventually replace skimmers. I did not remove the skimmer because I read this, it was just coincidental, but it may explain why I have not had any real problems since doing so.
HTH
Gayle