Xenias dying!!! Help!!!!

Hello everyone! Its me (again)

I am having an issue with BOTH of my xenias (pulsing xenias and another kind that are more or a sarker purple)... it seems as if they are shrinking/wilting and it almost seems as if the individual fingers are being eaten? Everyday they get smaller and smaller. Everything in my tank as I test the water is PERECT... the green star polyp and brain seem to be fine as well, its just xenias! Is this normal? All my water paramters are also perfect alk and calcium perfect? I change my water once a week.. the xenias were thriving... now.. they are VERY small! anyone?

 

Sounds like you might have a nudi or a crab munching on it... pics may help.

 

I agree it could be something unknown by you, in your tank. I had a crab in my 75 that I had never seen before and it explained a lot of what was happening to my coral. I didnt find it until I was breaking the tank down.

Xenia is a hit or miss coral, some people have great luck with it, others cant grow it for nothing. Xenia also seems to do better in water that is less than perfect.

 

do you have a skimmer running? IME xenia and anthelia do better with extra nutrients hanging out in the water. just saying.....could be a crab or a nudi though

 

In my opinion I would let them DIE! I had some Xenia once upon a time...and they quickly overran the tank! These as well as GSP and Blue Cloves are some of the fastest growing, noxious corals I can think of.

But in all actuality, what are your exact water params? SG, calcium, alk, mag, etc.

 

I do have a skimmer running..

Cal = 500 ppm.
Alk = 9? DKH
Ph = 8.0-8.3
SG = .023
Temp =73.0
Photos:




What is a nudi? I have never heard of them... I have seen tiny crabs... Could those be it?

 

a nudi is a type of snail looking thingy XD. Just look up a nudibranch and you'll get results

 

Yes, as TheSaltwaterGuy said, a 'nudi' (nudibranch) looks somewhat similar to a slug. There are good ones and bad ones - some eat algae, aiptasia, and microorganisms, while others destroy corals. If you have seen crabs though, they could likely be the culprit - but keep an eye out for nudibranchs and flatworms!

 

There is a Nudibranch that specifically eats and only eats Xenia. It is hard to see because it looks exactly like the Xenia. You really have to keep an eye out for the little bugger.

After that you maybe polishing your water too aggressively for Xenia.

 

I had a big group of xenia but when i moved to a bigger tank i had a break out of cyano then i was doing water changes every couple days and added a huge clean up crew not sure which one killed all and only my xenias but they are gone im guessing it was the water changes due to the fact this is the nicest tank ive had in 4 years lol my brother Jtoby1989 has a very nice tank and barley changes his water maybe once every two months he grows xenia like no other we cut them off a rock within two days they were back