Xenia dissolving

[akopley]

My xenia which was once thriving and growing all over the tank recently began to die. Only in certain parts but its as if the xenia are just melting away. I have read that this can be a normal occurance. Does anyone else have experience with this?

[reefhead165]

Mine are all over my tank but not dissolving....how old are they?

[ahullsb]

It seems like xenia either thrives, or melts away like you are seeing. I wish I had answers for you but I don't. But from my personal experience with xenia, I would be extremely happy if mine would melt away as well. It is very hard to contain in my tank. Is it getting a lot of light? Mine grew more quickly when I got them high up in my tank.

[tmz]

I had thriving ,spreading colonies in a tank separate from my display but integrated into my system. When I rduced nutrients with a better skimmer and some vodka dosing they drashed. I still have a few but they don't spread. It is thought that xenia are a bit heterotrophic and rely on absorbtion of organic materials to supplement photosynthesis.Cyclical growth and crashing seem to indicate the exhaustiion of some limiting element they need.

[messina06]

vodka dosing? Please explain

[kremit2007]

I have a Xenia who just two days ago exhibited what you are describing. My Xenia has in fact recovered and is about 3/4 filled out again, and looking very healthy.

[jamiep]

Originally posted by messina06
vodka dosing? Please explain

Vodka can give the nitrating bacteria energy to work so your nitrates will drop more quickly. It has its side effects aswell like lowering O2 content.

Heres a link for vodka
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=288714&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

Sugar can also give the same result
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=898931&highlight=dosing+sugar

[tmz]

Vodka is pure ethanol which is an efficient carbon source for waterborne bacteria. When more carbon is available,more bacteia grow taking up dissolved nutirent material into their bodies. The bacteria are inturn taken out by the skimmer more readlily than the dissoved organic material . They may also be consumed by som,e corals.The result of this is a reduction in dissolved oraganic material which nuisance algae (hair algae,diatoms) need. It may be that xenia need this material as well.
Oxygen is not really an issue unless the bacteria crash.

[MR PALM BEACH]

I had the same issue not to long ago with 2 stalks, funny thing was all other corals stayed perfectly healthy and showed no signs of stress.