
Quick Notes about Pulsing Xenia
Name | Pulsing Xenia |
Common Names | Pulse coral, Pumping Xenia, Red Sea Xeni ... |
Scientific Name | |
Tank size (minimum) | 10 gallons (~40 liters) |
Keeping | Easy |
Do I need to feed my Xenia?
While not necessary, you can feed your Xenia if you feel the need. There are two different techniques to feeding corals; spot feeding and blanket feeding. Spot feeding involves pipetting food items directly over the polyps, using a coral feeder.
What are the habitat requirements for pulsing Xenia?
The habitat requirements for Pulsing Xenia are much the same as most other soft corals, and LPS and SPS hard corals as well. As all of these animals are found in tropical coral reef ecosystems, the tank requirements they have are all very similar.
How do I care for my pulsing Xenia?
Pulsing Xenia requires moderate to high illumination levels for optimal growth, nonetheless, the coral can thrive in low – moderate lighting. Ensure to provide enough bright, indirect lighting to enable Pulsing Xenia carry out photosynthesis with the aid of the symbiotic alga (zooxanthellae) living in its tissue.
What corals can I put with the pulsing Xenia?
Also, the Pulsing Xenia can serve as a nutrient export, so it may be placed in the refugium to scrub excess dissolved nutrients from the tank water. Note: You can put aggressive corals (like Frogspawn, Torch corals, etc.) along the perimeter of the Pulsing Xenia.

What do pulsing Xenias eat?
NitrateXenia feed off of Nitrate in the tank as they grow and would have uses in a refugium. The key is to regularly remove the growth so they can grow again and consume more nitrates. A Xenia refugium also serves as an excellent sanctuary for fry as they provide limitless hiding places.
Where do I put pulsing Xenia?
Xenia Control TipsPlace Xenia on “island” so that it can't reach other rock work easily and spread.Place Xenia higher up in your tank as it will not typically spread down.Be prepared to throw some out from time to time.Try to keep phosphates and nitrates low to help control rapid growth.Consider a Xenia-only tank.More items...
How do you make Xenia grow faster?
1:199:02The Secret To Pulsing Xenia - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPeople put it on the overflow. On the back of their tank. And it'll actually grow over that entireMorePeople put it on the overflow. On the back of their tank. And it'll actually grow over that entire pane of glass anything it comes into contact with it's going to grow on but it doesn't have a sting.
Are pulsing Xenia easy to keep?
As for the area, they are naturally found in the Indo – Pacific area and the Red Sea. This soft coral species is thought to be tolerant of high nutrient loads, which is what makes them easy to care for in a typical beginner reef tank.
Do you need to feed pulsing Xenia?
Pulsing Xenia coral stays healthy under good lighting such as LED, T5 or Metal Halide. There is no need for direct feeding because the coral feeds itself through photosynthesis. Stable water parameters are key, but higher nitrates and phosphates can make Pulsing Xenia grow faster.
Do Xenia closed up at night?
Mine do the same thing as reefshadow's, they will close up after the lights go out, but during the night they will kinda re-open (not fully) and pulse...
Why are my pulsing Xenia not pulsing?
Xenia are a good way to tell what your alkalinity is doing in the tank. When it's low the pulsing slows down. When it gets too high you will see that when the xenia pulses the tips don't come together at the same time, the pulsing will be disjointed.
Will pulsing Xenia grow on sand?
Active Member. Xenia will definitely frag itself and pop up at any spot in your tank. In my opinion its not hard to keep up with though as long as you take the time to do so. Also unless you want it to cover all of your rock work it is best kept to an island.
Why do Xenia stopped pulsing?
Valuable Member. Check your alk, xenia will stop pulsing if alk drops, good alk indicator coral. Test alk, cal phosphate and mag and report back.
Will Xenia sting other corals?
No, these are not venomous corals. If they grow next to some other coral, they will not be stinging them. But you should know that they will outcompete other corals and will cover up the areas around them.
Why is my Xenia coral dying?
Reasons Why Xenia Coral Is Dying. Xenia Corals can be temperamental creatures who know just how they like things to be. Many factors that can lead to their death include lighting, water quality, or nutrients.
Do Xenia like high flow?
pom pom xenia actually prefers higher flow but adapts well to most conditions. If you did a comparrison and put a frag in high flow and low flow you will notice much faster and more dense growth from the high flow. You will also notice that it will grow toward the flow not away from it.
How do I stop Xenia lag?
0:206:39TOP 3 WAYS TO FIX LAG ON XENIA EMULATOR GUIDE! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUse on emphasizing and you're going to go more to the performance. Side you apply that. Because thatMoreUse on emphasizing and you're going to go more to the performance. Side you apply that. Because that bit when you're going over more towards performance than quality.
How do I get Xenia to work?
How to use XeniaDownload the latest build of Xenia from the official site.Extract the zip file containing Xenia to a folder of your choice.Launch Xenia. You might get a Windows Defender popup. ... You'll be presented a blank screen and a menu bar at the top.Click on file, then open. ... That's all there is to it.
How do I use Vulkan in Xenia?
0:183:24HOW TO USE VULKAN ON XENIA EMULATOR GUIDE! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSettings if you at least open the zenia emblem at least once or play the game at least once and saveMoreSettings if you at least open the zenia emblem at least once or play the game at least once and save it you guys should have these exact same contacts in your folder.
How do I change Xenia settings?
1:094:44XENIA EMULATOR HOW TO CHANGE SETTINGS! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis is a zinnia. Um configuration settings aka this is where you change the settings. So this isMoreThis is a zinnia. Um configuration settings aka this is where you change the settings. So this is where you see your cpu your actual cpu by the way where you can um change certain settings.
What kind of light do you need for Xenia?
Xenia is a photosynthetic coral, and therefore needs reef quality lights (LED, Metal Halide, T5, VHO, PC), although the lighting needs are in the moderate to lower end of the spectrum.
How to frag Xenia coral?
Propagating or fragging. The pulsing xenia coral is easy to frag. As described earlier, it will grow over just about any substrate, so the easiest way to frag it is to place some live rock rubble or shells right next to it, and the colony will grow right onto your intended frag substrate. Simply cut or tear away the rubble ...
How tall is a Xenia elongate?
The pom-pom xenia head sits atop a stem that is generally about 3 inches tall (when fully grown).
How to transport frags?
Simply cut or tear away the rubble and you have an easy-to-transport frag to start the colony growing in another area of the tank or to give to a friend.
Can Xenia corals sting?
These corals would not sting nearby corals nor affect them in an aggressive chemical or stinging warfare kind of way. They may, however, outcompete and overgrow other slower-growing corals, so be sure to allow for ample space between your Xenia colony and your next coral.
Can Xenia coral grow in a tank?
If you want to grow this coral in your tank, one piece of advice is to try and locate it on an island in your tank. Pulsing Xenia is a rapidly growing, encrusting-type species that will creep along andy surface and grow new polyps. Therefore it is possible that over time, and left unchecked, an individual Pulsing Xenia coral could conceivably ...
Is pulsing xenia causing palytoxin poisoning?
A couple of years ago, there was a lot of (fake) news about the pulsing xenia causing palytoxin poisoning. I don’t believe I have seen conclusive proof that the poisoning was caused by the x. elongata, rather than a palythoa, but in the meantime, you may want to pause on adding this to your tank, until the details get sorted out. Here is some of what is being said in the news:
Where is the best place to put pulsing xenia?
The best location for Pulsing Xenia is near the bottom of your tank.
How Can I Stop Pulsing Xenia Coral from Spreading?
One of the main difficulties in taking care of a Pulsing Xenia coral is keeping its spread under control. As beautiful as it is, having a tank full of this coral will surely damage the view, not to mention the health of any other living creature inside. It is of great importance to pay close attention to its growth speed, and to be disciplined in taking proper precautions and care so as not to let it spread too much.
How to remove Xenia coral?
Pulsing Xenia coral must be removed from the bottom of its stem in order to prevent it from growing back again. It is a good idea to annoy the coral a little bit by waving your hand around it, causing it to shut and stop pulsing for a time. Thus, we get a better visual angle to remove it properly. Using the tweezers, clamp the coral as close to the rock as you can and pull sideways. It is relevant to do so in this direction so as not to tear the stem, leaving a stump. You can help yourself by twitching or twisting the clamped stem a bit. Remember to dispose of any piece of coral you remove, so as not to let it grow once again in a different location.
What kind of light do Xenia corals need?
As regards light, it is important to remember that the natural environment of a Pulsing Xenia coral is in the Indo Pacific Ocean, and that it lives in depths of up to 30 feet. This means that light levels should not be very strong. LED or T5, which are common reef quality lights in aquariums, would be a very good choice. Should you need to buy a set of lights for your tank, the AquaIllumination AI Prime 16 HD would be an excellent option. Metal Halide lights have also been proven to help Pulsing Xenia coral stay healthy.
Why is my Xenia coral not looking good?
This coral uses those nutrients in order to grow faster and stronger, so their levels should not be low or limited if you want it to spread through your tank. Thus, it is often said that if your Pulsing Xenia is not looking good, it may be because your aquarium is not dirty enough.
Why is Pulsing Xenia coral good for beginners?
This is because the coral can make its own food through photosynthesis. Moreover, these corals have very poorly developed digestion systems, and that is why they may not take in what is directly fed to them. This is why they rely mostly on nutrients in the water and light, making these factors key for a healthy growth.
Why is my Xenia roaming?
Pay attention to roaming Xenia. Roaming Xenia may be caused by different factors, such as water movement , or other living creatures inside the same tank. It may even happen due to your own removal of excess growth. Bear in mind that roaming Xenia may find a hidden spot and start spreading again from a different location, and once this happens, getting rid of it may become a difficult task.
What is pulsing xenia?
Pulsing Xenia - A Unique Soft Coral But Buyer Beware! - AquariumStoreDepot
Why do Xenias pulse in the aquarium?
Some aquarists cannot keep them alive while others grow them so well that they become invasive in the tank. Usually this is because one’s tank actually may be too specialized for xenia.
What is a SPS heavy tank?
A SPS heavy tank would be a tank where Xenia would not grow as fast as SPS tank setups have as low phosphates and nitrates as possible while soft coral tanks have some phosphates and nitrates above trace amounts.
What is the scientific name for Xenia?
Pulsing Xenia goes by its scientific name Xenia elongata. It has study stalks covered with a crown of featherly polyps. The polyps open and and close in a pulsing motion which is where it gets its name from. As they grow, they group into colonies and spread into mats across the rockwork. Scientific Name.
How to keep xenia corals in tank?
Any type of grow that appears on another rock should be removed immediately. Removal can be done by gently pulled out by walking a fingernail around the base of the coral to slowly loosen it. If you are planning to have them in your tank long-term, you will need to be prepare to trim them down as they grow to keep them contained.
Can you put Xenia in a clownfish tank?
A Xenia only tank is actually pretty breathtaking, though I personally would never consider one in a large display tank. If you have a smaller tank, it’s definitely something you can consider and would provide an easy to care coral. They actually are very compatible with clownfish as they readily host them.
Can Xenia fry in a sump?
Put Them in The Sump. Xenia feed off of Nitrate in the tank as they grow and would have uses in a refugium. The key is to regularly remove the growth so they can grow again and consume more nitrates. A Xenia refugium also serves as an excellent sanctuary for fry as they provide limitless hiding places.
Why Xenia Corals Pulse?
Reef enthusiasts love Pulsing Xenia. Most likely because of the way it looks in a display tank. Watching how they pulse their polyps in the water is a view that never gets old.
Where is the Pulsing Xenia coral found?
It’s commonly found in the Indo Pacific Ocean and the Red Sea, where it inhabits areas of water at depths of 0 to 30 feet. There are over 60 different varieties of xenia corals, ...
What to do if your nitrates are high?
If the level of nitrates in your tank is higher than usual, consider putting a xenia in your sump, as a part of the refugium. At last, you can let nature takes its course. If you have more aggressive corals in your tank, such as Hammers, Torch corals or Frogspawn Coral, they will take care of it.
How do Xenia corals spread?
They are very hard to get rid of. Xenia corals have an interesting way of propagation called the “walking” technique, where one of the stalks will snap off and grow in another place.
What is dominant SPS tank?
A dominant SPS tank is a tank with lower levels of nitrates, resulting in less food for xenia, and with that slower growth rate. Of course, that’s not always the case.
How many different xenia corals are there?
There are over 60 different varieties of xenia corals, some of them pretty common in the aquarium hobby. You can find the most popular color morphs (brown, white and cream) in almost every local fish store.
Is Pulsing Xenia hard coral?
Pulsing Xenia is a pretty hard coral. But, why some can’t keep them alive? The answer lay in one simple fact.
How to get Xenia?
The best way to obtain Xenia is to go to a local reef club. Chances are a member has some and would be happy to share a frag. Not only that, but they can share their experience with that exact species. To frag it, simply pull a piece of some rock.
How to control Xenia?
Xenia Control Tips. Place Xenia on “island” so that it can’t reach other rock work easily and spread. Place Xenia higher up in your tank as it will not typically spread down. Be prepared to throw some out from time to time. Try to keep phosphates and nitrates low to help control rapid growth.
What is a pulsing coral?
The beautiful pulsing Xenia coral is a stellar addition to a reef tank or an absolute nightmare. It’s often referred to as the Pom Pom Coral for the pulsing motion of it’s tips. Consider the pros and cons of this engaging coral before you pull the trigger.
How does Xenia coral spread?
Xenia coral spreads in your reef tank by adhering to rock work it comes in contact with as it grows. It attaches itself to the new rock and either breaks off from the original clump, or it will remain attached if relatively adjacent. Xenia is almost like stretching bubblegum, but in slow motion.
How to frag Xenia?
To frag it, simply pull a piece of some rock. When placing it in a new tank or new position you can more or less just put it where you want it and it will adhere to the rock after 30 minutes or an hour. I’ve stuffed the end in a crevice typically. As long as there isn’t too much flow in that spot it will stay put. Occasionally Xenia will release and float around until it finds a home it prefers but this is rare. Usually that only happens when initially placing it.
How to remove Xenia from rock?
When it’s time to remove some Xenia it’s relatively easy to do by either slowly pulling or using a fingernail or something similar around it’s base. Be sure to remove ALL from rock that you don’t want Xenia on as even the smallest of pieces will begin to grow.
Does Xenia stop pulsing?
Sometimes Xenia will stop pulsing. It’s disappointing when this happens but it’s not necessarily permanent. It isn’t a sign that the coral is in poor health so there’s no need for concern. Unfortunately not much is know about why this happens and what can be done to get the pulsing to start up again.
How to fragging a Xenia?
This is the most subtle way of fragging the pulsing xenia as it involves only a little technicality on your end. All you have to do is chop off the xenia’s stalk and rubber band onto some other frag that you can easily find. Only the binding period is a little intense where you need to wait for the xenia stalk to adhere with other frags; that is why a rubber band is used to provide it enough support until adhering can begin.
How to make Xenia stick to rock?
You can place a cut part of xenia on a rock that has super glue to hold it. A rubber band can help make the xenia stick to a piece of rock of a frag plug.
How long does it take for a Xenia frag to attach?
Simply take a xenia strand and attach it to another frag from some other xenia, tie rubber band all around them and leave them be. They will attach within 24-48 hours, and once they are attached with others, just enough, you can remove the rubber band as well.
What is a xenia bag?
These bags are made up of mesh that allows for perforation, which means that freshwater will continue to invade to provide nutrition and oxygen for the xenia stalks that you have placed within. But on the bright side of things, it will act as a barrier, not allowing the xenia stalks to grow out of the perforated mesh.
What happens if you puncture a Xenia?
But in the process of doing so, if you puncture it, it will deflate and take some serious time to heal on its own, leading to weeks. This is where the overall chance of survival starts to get thin.
Is fragging xenia easy?
Fragging xenia properly can be a bit of trouble, but the right set of information on your end can make things easier. Understanding the possible lines of complications that might occur during the process of fragging and keenly following on various different options available for this process is the key here.
Can you fragging a Xenia on rocks?
It might be extremely difficult working with the rocks and fragging your xenia directly onto a rock. That is where the idea of using the mesh bags come into play. You can get them from any aquarium or supplies store very easily.
How to fagging Xenia coral?
Fragging Xenia corals is pretty simple. You will not be causing any stress to the coral. Just put tiny rocks around the full-grown coral. When it gets used-to to the tank, it will start to spread out, and it will expand to those tiny rocks in the vicinity.
What is Xenia coral?
Xenia Coral: 8 thing you must know (A complete care guide) Xenia Coral, also knowns as the Pulsing Xenia Coral, is a photosynthetic soft marine coral gene belonging to the family of Xeniidae. It is a very popular, fast-growing coral.
How much does Xenia coral cost?
Xenia Coral. PRICES: You will normally be spending about $30 for a frag of this coral. CARE LEVEL: Xenia is a very easy, beginner-friendly coral. It is the best fit for people who are willing to start with soft corals.
How do corals get their nutrition?
These corals get most of their nutrition from photosynthesis, i.e., mostly feeding on the light. But it is really advised to feed them some other food if you want them to grow faster. So you can feed them some liquid food now and then.
Can Xenia corals be stinging?
No, these are not venomous corals. If they grow next to some other coral, they will not be stinging them. But you should know that they will outcompete other corals and will cover up the areas around them. So if you have a lot of Zoas and you have assigned a rock to it, most of the time, Xenia will cover the rock faster than your other Zoas.
Where to put Xeina coral?
You should know that these corals like moderate to lower lightning, so if you do have a very bright tank, it is good to place them towards the lower part of the tank or near darker places.
Can Xenia cover rocks?
So if you have a lot of Zoas and you have assigned a rock to it, most of the time, Xenia will cover the rock faster than your other Zoas. These corals can also grow on top of corals too, so it can also cause a disturbance with your corals.

A Warning
Ideal Habitat
- Pulsing xenia coral is generally found in shallow waters, in strong light, and high tidal conditions. In the wild, they have even been found to thrive in polluted waters. As for the area, they are naturally found in the Indo – Pacific area and the Red Sea. This soft coral speciesis thought to be tolerant of high nutrient loads, which is what makes them easy to care for in a typical beginner r…
Feeding
- Xenia is a photosynthetic coral, and therefore needs reef quality lights (LED, Metal Halide, T5, VHO, PC), although the lighting needs are in the moderate to lower end of the spectrum. They are also thought to absorb some of their nutrients from the water. I’m not aware of any evidence that target/direct feedingis necessary or helpful. It seems int...
Behavior and Tank Mates
- These corals would not sting nearby corals nor affect them in an aggressive chemical or stinging warfare kind of way. They may, however, outcompete and overgrow other slower-growing corals, so be sure to allow for ample space between your Xenia colony and your next coral. Fish and invertebrates with a ‘taste’ for the soft, fleshy polyps of soft corals may target the Xenia elongata…
Propagating Or Fragging
- The pulsing xenia coral is easy to frag. As described earlier, it will grow over just about any substrate, so the easiest way to fragit is to place some live rock rubble or shells right next to it, and the colony will grow right onto your intended frag substrate. Simply cut or tear away the rubble and you have an easy-to-transport frag to start the colony growing in another area of the t…
Troubleshooting and Some Personal Observations
- Here are a few observations from my own personal experience with this aquarium coral. I was a bit reluctant to share at first, because I wasn’t totally sure these are repeatable, indisputable observations, so take them with a grain a reef crystals (salt) as just that…observations I noticed a trend that as salinity increased in my tank because of evaporation and missed top off the water …