Not so pulsing Xenia..

[Border09]

Hey Guys, I bought a pulsing Xenia which died 3 days later (when I got back from DC). My GSP are also not coming out. I bought an alkaline test today (red sea, I hate it!). Any ideas?

The fish, crabs, button polyps and shrimp are great!

Tank:
34 Gallon Solana w/ protein skimmer and 2 power heads

Params are :
Salinity - 1.0235
Alkaline - 2.8-3.0, so it's a bit high
Calcium level - 420
pH -8.3
Phosphate - 0.5
Ammonia - 0.25
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - either between 0-2
Temp - 80

--- Just did all the tests now

Operating for 2 months.

I normally do a 10% water change Friday/Saturday.

 

[KathyC]

Were the xenia dead in the tank when you got back? When was that? Might want to increase the size of the Fri/Sat water change to Friday and a higher percentage to knock that ammonia reading down to zero

 

[BZimon]

Seems like ammonia...xenia can be sensative to water param changes. 2 months isn't too long to have a reef up and running. Run some carbon and a good 20% water change especially after you had a death.. Sorry to hear about your loss.

 

[Border09]

Yeah, I don't know why the ammonia is up to .25. Ammonia and nitrates were both 0 on the Friday i bought the Xenia. It was added Friday night, left for DC on Sat morning and got back late Sunday-- it was dead, left it a few days because I've heard it sometimes comes back from a nub, but then the head fell off...

Geezo!

 

[Border09]

P.S.

How do I run carbon? Kinda new to this whole thing- forgive me for sounding daft!

 

[KathyC]

Leaving it in there wasn't a good idea. That is where your ammonia came from. When stuff closes up you can leave it in the tank, when it melts and turns to mush, it isn't coming back
Do a big water change before it affects any of your other corals/fish. Do you have a reactor to run any carbon in? If not, at least put some in a media bag and get it into a high flow area asap.
..and please do keep us updated!

 

[Border09]

Okay, I'm not sure if there is a refractor, but I looked in the stand and there are 2 bags of charcoal- i'm not sure I thought I placed one in there when we set the tank up, but I just looked in the back and I didn't see any...hmm...

 

[BZimon]

Throw some bagged carbon in the chamber.

 

[Border09]

I'm gonna do a 20% water change tonight and i'll let you guys know what the readings are. I'm sad about the Xenia, it's really cool looking!

I also hope my GSPs start coming out again. They were look really nice, better than in the store!