• Ksenia pulsating has changed.

  • Natalie

Good afternoon. Ksenia's pulsating has changed her tentacles. They have become sharp and thin. She continues to pulsate. In the photo, you can see what Ksenia looked like (in the photo with the clowns) and what she looks like now. The changes occurred today; yesterday Ksenia looked normal. Yesterday, I placed a filter with activated carbon for the first time; could this be a reaction to the carbon? Also, yesterday I spent several hours cleaning the aquarium, rearranging the stones, etc. What advice do you have?

Daniel9952

Actually, Ksenia doesn't like water that is too clean.

Nicholas5194

Did the light change? Did it intensify? What are the water parameters for pH and KH?

Courtney4094

The water parameters have not changed: pH=8.1-8.3 (changes throughout the day, I monitor it with a device), KH=6.4, Ca=430, Mg=1400, PO4=0, NO3=0. The lighting has indeed changed. I replaced the electromagnetic ballast in the metal halide fixture with an electronic one, for a 250W metal halide lamp at 20,000K. As a result of the ballast replacement, the lamp started emitting a warmer color; I did not change the lamp itself. Fixture: one 250W metal halide lamp, two 24W T5 lamps, aquarium 150L. The lighting schedule has also changed. Previously, both the metal halide lamp and the T5 lamps were on. Now, during the day, only the metal halide lamp is on, and I turn on the T5 lamps only in the morning and at dinner.

Steven757

This is too low, raise it to at least 8. The change in spectrum also affects the polyp's openness. Some time is needed for adaptation. By the way, zero nitrate levels are not very favorable for Xenia; they usually feel better with a small amount present.

Tara2761

I know that KH=6.4 is low, for the last three Sundays I've been adding chemicals from the cut. Before adding the chemicals, KH was below 6, but that's unlikely to be the reason. I suspect the coal, as I didn't use it at all before. Maybe it makes sense to change the water? After water changes, the corals in my aquarium always respond positively!

Ricardo7341

And how are things with the ME?

Nicole

I only add Seachem Reef Fusion 1 and Reef Fusion 2, and I don't add any other supplements. I also don't have a calcium reactor yet.

Nicholas

The KH is a bit low, but in my aquarium, it temporarily spiked to 5-6 (TM test until 01/13) for corals, and when it comes to Xenia, they did not react at all. Either 100% or partially, but it definitely reacted to the carbon. +1 to Anatoly's post. The ME can also be "refreshed." Additional side issues with Xenia may arise with changes in current. When weakened, it also pulsates less. I can confidently say that with a light of 2.4 W/L at a height of 20 cm, you can completely burn the polyps of pink Xenia. The white one reacts precisely with the polyps becoming more pronounced.

Michelle

I had Ksenia reacting like this to being thrown by the hermit "face in the sand" and being pulled "into the fresh air from the water."

Jeremy

Thank you for your participation and advice, KVEDOR AKHVANASIEVICH! The thing is, I haven't changed Ksenia's position. Under this light, she has grown almost three times from the little bush I bought, and everything was fine until the last day. I will refresh the water, but what should I do with the coal? Should I remove it or leave it in the filter? Other corals, as I see, are also not thrilled with the coal - Sarcophyton, Euphyllia Ancora, Euphyllia Divisa, Caulastrea, Hydnophora Grandis, Briarium are opening up but less than usual, somehow halfway...

Chelsea

After such conclusions, I would remove it without hesitation, although perhaps it's not about the angle.

James5032

Hmm... for some reason, I thought activated carbon was essential for a marine aquarium. I measured the phosphates - zero. Okay, tomorrow I'll change 10% of the water and take the carbon out of the filter... thanks!

Cindy

Tolik, most likely the issue is not with the carbon itself, but with its quality. I have Fluval carbon in my 60L aquarium, and I periodically switch to synthetic cotton for a short time. Ksenia of two types feels not only good but also breeds, just like all the soft corals (I use the aquarium as a breeding ground for soft corals). And the light, in my opinion, almost 300 watts for a 150L aquarium is too much, especially since they are "experimenting" with it!!! P.S. I don't have a skimmer in this aquarium, I change 5% of the water weekly, adding 25% from the large aquarium, but I also add a little food for the corals!

Kathy

Yesterday I changed 10% of the water, removed the carbon. No changes - Ksenia has sharp tentacles, the sarcophyton and tubastrea are not opening at all, the other corals are only half open compared to how they were before. I will try to change another 10% of the water in a few days.

Andrew419

Not earlier than a week will any results be visible.

Derek7322

I would add - the only reason why I can periodically introduce coal into the system is the POSSIBLE toxins from corals, both during their normal life activities and (especially) after fragmentation.

Mario

Everything is correct. Chemistry in the sea should be strictly necessary, especially with dosing. Ksenia reacts sharply to chemicals and very clean water. I turn off the foam generator at night and leave only the air compressor for aeration. And everything is fine - Ksyusha flutters her eyelashes and reproduces.

Nicole263

Regarding whether some pump is malfunctioning or the water is "tingling." Could this affect the corals in any way? The water was "tingling" a while ago... The Tubastrea is already opening up. Ksenia is also slowly recovering - the tentacles have noticeably thickened. The Sarcophyton is closed. The Euphyllias are not opening up much; they used to look healthier.

Ricardo7341

And if you were being slightly shocked (by electricity) at home (around the clock) - would you feel normal?

Chad9037

In order for current to flow, there must be at least two contacts with a potential difference. This is not the case in an aquarium; otherwise, there would be a short circuit. Therefore, corals are unaffected, but there is a danger for humans. If you put your hand in such an aquarium and touch, for example, a non-insulated part of a heating radiator with the other hand, you could get electrocuted. Here is an article about growing corals using electricity - As for humans, our situation is much worse than that of corals in an aquarium - we constantly live in an electric field - a 220V network in the walls, mobile phones, electric transport, mobile operator towers...

Loretta5483

Not long ago, a film about coral cultivation in Indonesia using electric current was shown on "Animal Planet." I watched it and was amazed. It's astonishing, but it's a fact...

Jessica

I'm telling you, the fish and shrimp have died, the euphyllia is still recovering. As far as I know, when the pump is malfunctioning, it can be determined not by "pinching" but with a device. I had someone help me figure this out when it happened while I was on a business trip, so ask him how to check it properly, but it's definitely not by "pinching"! And regarding growing corals with electricity, I doubt they connect 220 volts to it!

Sarah7284

I had the same thing, I think the problem with Ksyukha is that soft corals like a bit of nitrates in the water, zero nitrates are more for SPS. In new aquariums, when nitrates and phosphates fluctuate, soft corals feel good.

Jennifer5371

Everything, Ksyusha has fully recovered, and the other corals as well. I don't think it's about nitrates, because I had zero nitrates before; it's more likely about the organics.

Jennifer

What? Do organics and nitrates exist independently of each other? Nitrites, nitrates, and phosphates are indicators of the presence of organics in the aquarium... more precisely, their excessive presence depending on the test readings.

Karen2578

Nitrates, nitrites, and phosphates are inorganic compounds and can be the end product of the decomposition of certain organic compounds, mainly proteins. Non-protein organic compounds may contain neither nitrogen nor phosphorus. Moreover, the nitrogen cycle can occur completely, up to gaseous nitrogen (which is essentially what we aim for in aquariums).