Got a pulsating xenia

[Tigerbarb]

Well, I got the light, and I went to my lfs to look at corals. The first thing that caught my eye was a pulsating xenia, and I asked the guy there about it, and he said it would work in my tank.
So I got the pulsating xenia, and I acclimated for over an hour, until the temperature and specific gravity of the water in the bag was the same as that of the water in the tank. It's in my tank now, and it's already starting to open up. It's pulsating, also.
I'll post a few pics later.
Lol, so now, I guess I officially own a reef tank thumbs2:

[Wiggs]

Yay Tiger <3

Grats on the Coral!

[rageybug]

Congrats on the xenia, hope it lives longer than mine did!

[Tigerbarb]

Well, now it started to close up again. What do you think's happening?

[KingFisher]

Congrats Tiger! I can't wait to see pics.:19:

[Tigerbarb]

Hmm....today, they aren't open. Could this be because they're new and still getting used to my tank?

[coachfraley]

Any pics from today?

[oldhead]

Good luck with them. Mine are still alive but not thriving as I think my tank is too clean for them. You may find that they open up again before long. They can be a little temperamental.

[Tigerbarb]

Any pics from today?Here's a pic from today
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w63/kuhliloach/Zach/IMG_0601.jpg

[Fishguy2727]

Hopefully they are just still acclimating, but they are a very hardy coral.

Do you add any iodine? I use Brightwell Aquatics' Iodion. Xenia seem to do better with supplement iodine, same with shrimp.

[labnjab]

I had xenia for several months (close to 13 or 14 heads) and they were doing extremely well when I was having a bad algae outbreak, but once I cleaned up the water they started withering away and now I'm down to 1 head. They didn't melt, just got smaller and smaller until the heads just disappeared to nothing. From what I've read on them they like dirtier water

Yours seem ok for now. I found that they will sometimes sulk for a few days but then come back. As long as they don't start to melt you should be fine.

[mr.elcajon]

from what ive heard and from experience nobody really knows why they pulse. mine pulsed for days on end. and would just stop suddenly. after a day or twot they would start back up again. xenia live mostly off the ammonias in the water. not sure who said it, but the cleaner the tank the harder they can be to grow. i kept mine in a higher region of the tank with lots of flow. started with like 2 or three heads and ended up with like 40. just sold all of it to my LFS. urs seems to still be acclimating cuz the stocks are not fully extended. give some time, and maybe switch the locations. they will grow like weeds if u get them in the right spot. heres mine at first and then 6 months later.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee215/whudufuxup/003-3.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee215/whudufuxup/XENIA.jpg

[Tigerbarb]

Well, now it seems to be doing alot better...Today, it was almost fully open :)

Also, thank you for your help, and nice pix.

[mr.elcajon]

well ty. good to here they came around. hopefully they grow as good as mine did.