How to grow Xenia corals?
Setting up a lighting system for Xenia corals, won’t break your budget. Led, T5, Metal Halides are all good choices for these corals. In terms of water flow, moderation is the key. Experiment until you find the sweet spot. These types of corals will grow even without additional feeding.
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.
Can you get rid of pulsing xenia coral?
However, not every aquarist has luck with them. While some reef enthusiasts say that can’t get rid of the Pulsing Xenia coral, others claim that they can’t keep them alive.
What do you use to grow Xenia?
I dose calcium, Red Sea buffer, and just recently, phytoplankton but that is probably not relevant as xenia growth occurred before this. 8. mainly cyclopeeze. I know this is a long survey but it would be helpful if anyone who has success in growing xenia would fill it out.
What do Xenia corals eat?
Xenia get most of their energy from the products of photosynthesis by their zooxanthellae (symbiotic dinoflagellate algae that live in their tissues). They are not thought to feed on particulate foods, though they are known to absorb dissolved organic compounds from the water.
Do you need to feed Xenia coral?
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.
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.
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.
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.
Where do I put Xenia in my tank?
Place the xenia on its own rock away from others. You will want to place them at least 4 or 5 inches away from any other rock. 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.
Why is my Xenia shrinking?
xenia just like any other coral will not shrivel and disappear because it is acclimating to your system. if your system is established and healthy and your coral is healthy it should flourish. shriveling and dying or disappearing is a sign that something is wrong either with your water params or the specimen itself.
How do you know if coral has too much light?
Well-Known Member. Keep a look out for a coral color being pale vs bleached as well. A coral that goes pale very quickly after making a lighting adjustment is normally from to much light. A coral that does it slowly can be from to little light, to high or low a temp or to low nutrients.
Why are my Xenia melting?
If the calibration is not proper then the actual measurement might be lower and cause the Xenia to melt. You can cross check your salinity in the LFS.
How fast do Xenia corals grow?
In the right environment one Pulsing Xenia can multiply in just one year to cover the hard surfaces of a smaller aquarium. Slower growing corals, which is the vast majority of them, can be overwhelmed by a happy Xenia colony.
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...
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.
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.
How fast does Xenia coral grow?
In the right environment one Pulsing Xenia can multiply in just one year to cover the hard surfaces of a smaller aquarium. Slower growing corals, which is the vast majority of them, can be overwhelmed by a happy Xenia colony.
Why is 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.
Why is my pulsing Xenia shrinking?
xenia just like any other coral will not shrivel and disappear because it is acclimating to your system. if your system is established and healthy and your coral is healthy it should flourish. shriveling and dying or disappearing is a sign that something is wrong either with your water params or the specimen itself.
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 ...
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.
What is the scientific name for a pulse coral?
It also goes by some other names, like Xenia elongata (the official scientific classification), or Pulse Coral, Pulsing Xenia, Hand Coral, Pom Pom Coral, Red Sea Xenia or Bouquet Encrusting coral in some areas.
Why is coral called "easy to care for"?
This easy to care for coral gets its name because of the rhythmic pulsing action of the coral polyps that look like a hand opening and closing. This activity, which is relatively uncommon among the sessile invertebrates we keep in the tank, is part of what makes this coral endearing. Once accustomed to the tank, ...
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).
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 ...
How do Xenia corals absorb nutrients?
Specific feeding habits are largely unknown. They are thought to absorb most of their nutrients through their soft tissue via photosynthesis in their zooxanthellae. They will also feed on the dissolved nutrients in your tank and actually seem to thrive in tanks with increased levels of dissolved nutrients (possibly aided by the pulsing of the coral). They do not require any additional feeding which makes Xenia Coral fairly easy to care for.
What level of light does Xenia Coral need?
Xenia Coral Lighting. (Level 6 to 10 ): Xenia can adapt to a wide range of lighting conditions but seem to prefer more intense lighting since they are a photosynthetic coral. As always, be sure to properly acclimate to new lighting.
What is Xenia coral sensitivity?
Xenia Coral Sensitivity. (Level 1): Though generally very easy to care for, these corals can be somewhat unpredictable. Some colonies show impressive tolerance and forgiveness of varying conditions while others do not. They are also notorious for sudden and explainable death and do not ship well.
Where did Pulsing Xenia come from?
Common names: Pulse Coral, Xenia, Pulsing Xenia, Pom Pom Coral, Red Sea Xenia. Natural origin: Indo-Pacific. Xenia Coral are typically easy to care for but can be unpredictable at times. Pulsing Xenia Coral and Pom Pom Xenia Coral are a very popular, fast-growing and easy to frag soft corals species which are known for their pulsing action ...
Is Xenia coral toxic?
Xenia are basically harmless to other coral but when injured or dying, they can release toxins. Carbon filtration and prompt removal of injured/dying species can help control any ill-effects of this toxic release.
Does Xenia coral stop pulsing?
Xenia Coral Not Pulsing. Pulsing activity is something of a mystery (its function and mechanism are currently unknown). Xenia in aquariums sometimes stop pulsing (often without observable cause) but continue to live and grow regardless. Some aquarists have noticed a cessation of pulsing with low pH and/or alkalinity.
Can Xenia corals pulsate?
Xenia can handle a wide range of water conditions but usually prefer a lower water flow. The pulsing action that you see is the coral pushing water through to increase circulation near the coral. They also do just fine in a higher water flow environment as well but this can cause the pulsing motion to cease.
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.
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.
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 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.
Why are corals good for beginners?
Most likely because of their ability to grow fast and populate a new tank in no time. Once they get used to the water parameters in your tank, they will spread like a weed.
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, ...
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 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 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.
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.
Why do veterans keep SPS corals alive?
Veterans maintaining SPS corals may struggle to keep them alive due to having tanks too clean. There is even some talk of people using pulsing Xenia coral in in-sump refugiums as they would use macroalgae.
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 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.
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.
What is the secret to Xenia growing like mad?
The secret to xenia growing like mad: what is it?! For some people, it's like a weed and for others it just melts away. No one really knows the secret but perhaps we can find some correlations by listing a few things that "crazy-xenia-growers" use in their tanks.
What to do if your Xenia is not doing well?
if you have xenia thats not doing so well it will probably be copper... they are really sensitive to that stuff and it will make them look all frail and crappy.. otherwise you shouldnt have any problem with growing.. they dont need to much light but obviously the more light the better and they are a very hardy coral. just try to keep everything the same.. try to keep all of your parameters the same, dont do huge water changes all the time and keep temp about the same. my experience with it is when i first got my tank it wasnt really stable and xenia was doing alright.. then i got settled down and it took off.
Does Xenia like nitrate?
Xenia would seem to like nitrate in my experience, which may explain why it's sluggish in SPS or low nutrient tanks.
Does Xenia grow well in a tank?
my experience with xenia is that if you can get it from an established tank, it does very well. I've put mine through many conditions (high nutrient, low nutrient, high light, high flow, low flow, mid light, etc) and it keeps growing.
Can a sps tank survive if the salinity is low?
if salinity is low, or if water is super clean (like in an sps dominated tank) it tends not to thrive... [but there are exceptions]
Can corals grow in a chiller?
Before I had a chiller I never had success with them. Some corals can handle temps above 88 Xenias will not. Now that I have a chiller they grow fast. I found they grow quicker in my heavy feed tank.
Do xenia crash colonies?
xenia are known to randomly crash entire colonies in captivity. They tend to do better in tanks that have more than one species of xenia and anthelia. iodine,magnesium, 1.026, STABLE PH (they are very sensitive to ph swings)
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 …