Are metal halides too much for xenia?

[FloridaFishMan]

Hi,
I have had some xenia for a couple weeks and now they are kind of shrinking up. I have them about 12" under the water with 130pc (12hrs) and 250watt MH 10k that is run 4.5 hrs a day. Do you think the lighting is too much for them? All my parameters are 0ppm.

Also, does anyone have a lot of small spiraled feather dusters growing in their tank? I have seen them in other's tanks but they are usually under live rock and in dark areas, mine grow all over. Do you think they will subside once my tank becomes more established?

thanks,
Chris

[xtopher_vw]

No I have had them grow under 400 watt halides, I would check your water perams.

[Ira NZ]

No, that's not too much light for them. What are the rest of your test results?

[afishyonados]

Are you supplementing any trace elements or Iodide? If overdosed, this can cause the Xenia to pinch up. It may be an indicator species warning you!

[wrassie86]

Mine are under 400w MH also.maybe your water is to clean for them.i think xenia prefure dirtier water and alittle iodine.
I found things in my tank look better when i keep trace amounts of nitrate.

[jay24k]

Some people have good luck with them. Others don't. I have a ton and they are about 5 inches from the light all the way to the bottom. (They are growing up the side of my tank.)

[FloridaFishMan]

Thanks everyone. My water is clean. pH is 8-8.1 calcium is about 400 and I do small additive supplements of a two part additive along with a kalk drip. I have other corals that are doign just fine. greena and orange digis, GSP, some shrooms, some zoos and some frogspawn.

I have heard that some people have luck with them and some don't. Why is that? They are supposed to be easy corals right?

[narow37]

mine start closing up when my phosphates start to rise. check that out if you havent already.

[RichConley]

Have you had any temp spikes lately? That seems to kill mine off quicker than anything else.

[FloridaFishMan]

I tested my phosphates and they were 0ppm. My temp is pretty steady. It is usually between 76-78, but as of yesterday a cold front came in and the tank was at lowest 75.6. But this has just happened and the xenia were doing this before.

Do they like high flow over them? or do they prefer more indirect flow?

[trmiv]

I find they can adapt to almost any lighting. I've had mine high, low and everywhere over my tank with a 250w halide, and they always adapt.

[FloridaFishMan]

Could they be in the process of adapting to new lighting maybe? How long would that usually take?