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Xenia melting, cut it

T

twan

In a 12hr period 1/2 of my xenia went from fine to brown covered and melting.
I cut off the offending parts since I dont have a QT tank.
The rock is back in the tank.
Some parts of the base of the xenia I cut off the rock are still there.
Is this releasing toxins?
Any probs?
All other corals and fish are fine (for now).

Fast replies if you can I hope it wont grenade my tank!

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Phyl

Phyl

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Melting xenia can definitely kill a tank. The heads you left look ok for now, but if they start to melt like the other ones did, get them out of there. I'd rather see them in a bucket of saltwater with a powerhead if you can't be there to watch over them.
 
C

Carlo

If you have other corals in the tank I'd completely remove the xenia from the tank and possible due what Phyl suggested with the bucket (good idea).

When xenia starts to kick it will usually all go. It's better to be safe then sorry. If you go the bucket route you can always move it back later if it stays healthy.

Did you happen to just do a water change or add anything to the tank? Any recent changes?

Carlo
 
T

twan

I did a water change 2 days before this but nothing different about the WC. I do 2 gallons every week.

Today the rest of the xenia on the rock went south. I cut the rest of it off outside the tank (eww the stink)
then I scrubbed the rocks off. Some of the "feet" of the xenia remain. The rock is back in the tank should i remove it 100%?

I also changed out another gallon today when cleaning the rock.
 
T

twan

Took the rock out cause im scared!
The rock is in a bucket with a heater and a PW. How long should I keep it in there? Till the feet of the cut xenia fall off?


Other corals and fish are fine and eating, I am worried though. Will test water params tomorrow.
 
Phyl

Phyl

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
With a bigger tank I wouldn't think twice about the amount of the foot you have left on there, but with only 12g bad goes real bad quickly. You should know in a couple of days if the rest of the xenia is going to live or die.
 
C

Carlo

Twan what salt mix do you use?

Do you happen to know the normal pH of your tank?
How long did you mix the water before adding it to the tank?
Did you check the pH of the salt water mix before adding it to the tank?

I ask these specific questions because I've notice xenia going south with rapid pH changes and this is one way it could happen.

Carlo
 
S

Subliminal

NJRC Member
Didn't you just add a few new corals?

Maybe that 'chemical warfare' I've always heard about is what's going on, and the xenia is just losing..?
 
T

twan

Ok for the questions posted. I use catalina premixed SW all the time and maintain the same PH and temp. The water is brought up to temp to match the tank and circulated with a PH for about 8hrs before the change.

The corals added the last time (2 weeks ago) were a toadstool leather, monti cap, rics and some zoa's none of which are near the xenia.
 
T

twan

No change in temp to note. Normal flux.
There is some xenia on the back wall that is doing ok.
The xenia that was on that rock was ALL cut off and the rock placed in a bucket with a PH and heater while the rest of it dies off.

How long and how should I treat that rock before I put it back? The rock/bucket stinks so bad.
It was one of my bigger pieces and I fear now I dont have enough rock per gallon.

Am i going about this the right way?

Thanks for the current and future responses. Aside from slight RSA my tank has been happy for the 1 year..........this is my 1st real issue.
 
Phyl

Phyl

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Start testing the nitrate cycle in the bucket. If it smells then it is a good thing you pulled the rock out of the tank. You might want to scrub the rest of the foot off so you can get your rock back into your tank. I understand your fear! Cut way back on feeding and increase your water change schedule until you can get the rock back in.
 
T

twan

The rock has been in a bucket for 3 days with just a PH and heater. I am going to give it another scrub today and 24hrs with new SW.
Then back in the tank it goes with tomorrow WC. Wish me luck!
 
Phyl

Phyl

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Sounds like a good plan. How does the stuff still on the rock look? Firm? or mushy?
 
T

twan

There is only one piece of the many feet that were on left on the rock. It is kinda fleshy and the size of a dime. I'll scrub it off for good measure.

Waterchange (2g) due in 1hr. Tests before WC without rock in the tank:
ph - 8.2
amm - 0
trite - 0
trate -10
 
Phyl

Phyl

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
If it feels good (and is your last piece in the tank) don't bother to scrub. Maybe it will regrow! Test looks good. Rock is definitely ready to go back.
 
T

twan

Rock is back in. I dont have pics but there is not a hint of Xenia left on it. The rock does look a little white (nothing on the surface to blow off, I tried) like when the rock 1st cycled.
Seachem ammonia alert insert shows no ammonia. RedSea ammonia test shows between 0 and .25 so there is a trace right now in the tank 12hrs after adding the rock back. Be worried? Stay the course?
 
Phyl

Phyl

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
I'd be inclined to stay the course, but keep your eye on it. Plan to do a water change tonight. Your tank should compensate quickly for any adjustments being made by the removal/addition of rock. Sounds like the coraline bleached. It can be tempermental so I wouldn't be concerned about the "new" look of the rock.
 
T

twan

Did a small (1g) WC on friday night and still saw a trace of ammonia.
I was outta town Saturday and when I returned Sunday all was still fine.
Will run full tests 2nite and continue weekly 2g changes this Thursday.
I think getting it out and off ASAP saved me.
 
T

twan

New Tests Monday

ph - 8.2
amm - 0
trite - trace
trate - between 5 and 10

Looks like whatever die off there was from the rock being out of the tank is making its way through the nitrogen cycle. Fish and corals are fine.

Xenia that was on the back wall is pulsing again.
 
C

Carlo

Looking good so far. Keep an eye on the Nitrites since even trace amounts are a problem for some inverts. It also gives you "false" readings on your Nitrates. Once your Nitrites are at zero get a baseline on your Nitrates and then watch to see if they go up or down.

Watching the Nitrates of course is a good indicator of how well your rock/sand/filtration is able to handle your bio-load. Hopefully you'll see the Nitrates drop and not go up.

Once you get rid of the Nitrites completely give us a reading on calcium, alkalinity, nitrates and pH. I'd personally like to see you get the pH up higher to around 8.4 which is closer to what most of our corals come from in the wild and is far better for Xenia. Xenia likes more alkaline water (8.4-8.6). HOWEVER we don't want to adjust pH right now as the higher your pH the more toxic ammonia and nitrites are. Lower pH values are better with ammonia and nitrites in the water.

Carlo
 
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