We know how difficult it is to treat pulsing xenia. Sometimes without proper care, it will die. To keep your pulsing xenia healthy, you need in-depth queries.
Why is your pulsing xenia dying?
Improper acclimation is one of the main reasons why pulsing xenia dies. Another reason might be a strong current flow that affects pulsing xenia.
Multiple corals together or a mismatch of phosphate/nitrates could be the reason too. Lastly, rapid growth also causes pulsing xenia’s death.
This might not seem enough. Therefore, we’ve broken down all the causes with solutions that you should acknowledge.
Why Is Pulsing Xenia Dying?
Every plant faces death. That’s inevitable. But sometimes, some can die early. For example, you might have to say goodbye to frogspawn coral too soon. This happens due to improper care.
The same can be said for pulsing xenia. There are obvious reasons behind the plant dying. These are discussed below-
Reason 1: Improper Acclimation
The location of pulsing xenia has an important influence on its development. It may seem simple to maintain. But the improper position might harm it.
For example, this causes it to cease pulsating or even slip into bad health.
While travel broadens the mind for hobbyists, it is especially troublesome for pulsing xenia.
It’s not fun for them when it comes to shipping. Even a quick trip to the neighborhood fish store is no pleasure for them.
Solution: Right Place For Pulsing Xenia
Place the xenia coral on its rock. Maintain at least 4 to 5 inches apart from other stones and corals.
This is because they spread swiftly under ideal conditions. So they may be difficult to control.
This similar process can lead bubble corals to their death too. That’s why to be careful!
Any new growth that emerges on another surface should be eliminated immediately. To do so, softly scrape the new rock with your fingernail.
Also, ensure you’re placing them at the bottom of your tank. Let them adjust there. After a few days, you can bring them up to their resting spot.
This way, they won’t get bleached from exposure to too much light.
Precautions
Now, if you buy a new one, you should remember a few things-
There’s no need to get them out of the car, buddy. Always let fresh pulsing xenia settle in your tank for half an hour.
This way, the temperature is equalized before you take them out of their bag.
Then, for a few weeks, let them sit on a frag rack.
Reason 2: Strong Current
When it comes to pulsing xenial, the level of current is important. Strong currents may cause your xenia to be pulseless. Or it can cease to pulse.
Solution: Determine Preferred Current
You can determine whether they like the current or not. Because they would shrivel into a ball if they didn’t like it, so, choose a location where water flow is minimal.
Reason 3: Improper Lighting
Pulsing xenia requires reef-quality lighting. These include LED, Metal Halide, T5, VHO, and PC.
They prefer medium to low light conditions.
So, if you don’t maintain that specific condition, you’ll lead your pulsing xenia to death.
Solution: Fix the Lighting
Remember that, as previously indicated, light levels should not be excessive.
So, check if the lighting is higher than the required amount. If yes, quickly fix the rating.
Also, be sure to leave a 12″ space between the light and the tank water surface. This is to be done if the lighting condition is between 64-70w MH. For T5 lighting, the gap can be 6″.
Furthermore, you might have a biocube 32. If yes, it might be the right time to upgrade the biocube 32 light because you’ll surely get many benefits.
Reason 4: Multiple Corals Being Hostile
Pulsing xenia develops and spreads rapidly. So, this one plant alone requires lots of nutrients in the water.
Without enough nutrients, it may not exhibit all of its beauty and pulsating.
But there are other corals in a tank. So, it has to share its food with other corals.
As it needs more food, other corals may become hostile to it. Hence, it might start dying without proper nutrients.
Solution: One Separate Tank for Pulsing Xenia
The solution is simple; you have to place these corals in one tank. And other corals should be in another tank.
Also, remember, there are xenia-eating angelfish, crabs, snails, and the stings of other corals. These may readily harm the colony. So, make sure these aren’t present in the tank that’s for the xenia.
Reason 5: Mismatches of Phosphate and Nitrates
Pulsing Xenia coral feeds primarily on nitrate and phosphate. You can control its growth and spread by controlling its food.
But sometimes, because of your mistake, xenia may suffer from malnutrition.
Solution: Fix Phosphate and Nitrates Level
First, there’s no specific PO4 and NO3 amount mentioned for this plant. But the amount should be moderate because xenia likes nitrate and a little bit of phosphate.
Along with this, ensure a proper idea of the importance of water parameters. This way, you can keep the pulsing xenia healthy.
FAQs
Question: Why is my pulsing xenia shivering?
Answer: Xenia, like any other coral, will not shrivel and die due to acclimatization. If your system and coral are established and healthy, they should flourish.
Crumbling, dying, or disappearing specimens suggest an issue with the water or the specimen.
Question: Is it easy to maintain pulsing xenia?
Answer: These are easy to maintain because they are soft and radiate. Pulsing xenia is easy to frag.
Question: Does pulsing Xenia radiate toxication?
Answer: Xenia has no palytoxin! If you have this pulsing monster overgrowing your reef tank, you are safe.
Bottom Line
Hopefully, this piece might help you to know why your pulsing xenia is dying.
You’ll either love or hate Xenia’s rapid growth. It’s a gorgeous coral that would look great in the right reefer’s tank.
They will thrive in a tank with an excellent flow but not too clean. When it comes to reefing, don’t go in blind.
