Xenia
Xenia spp. - Waving hand corals - pulse corals, pulsing Xenia.
Size- heights 4"/ polyps reach diameters of about 0.5inch.
Range- Indo Pacific
Aquarium Size- Nano tanks 1 gal or more.
Lighting- Do best under moderate to bright lighting.
Foods and feeding- Get most of their nutrition from their
zooxanthellae but do well with microphytoplankton supplements.
Aquarium Suitability/Compatibility: Easy to grow and keep.
Cpative care- Xenia species are specialized for different microhabitats, but normal reef conditions with temperatures in the 81 to 84 F (27 to 29 C) range, with salinities of 35 to 36ppt will be a good starting point. They like moderate, continuous current. They do not tolerate rapid changes in pH and appear particularly sensitive to a high pH, so care should be taken during the addition of Kalkwasser to prevent the pH from rising too quickly. Xenia are characterized by having large polyps arising off and central stalk or core. The distinctive pulsing actions of the ployps will mesmerize viewers, but theis behavior is not yet fully understood and not all colonies can be counted upon to pulse.
ORDER: ALCYONACEA - FAMILY: XENIDAE - SOFT CORAL
-XENIA SP. - ENCRUSTING CORAL
-RED SEA, TROPICAL INDO PACIFIC
-SEX NONE
-ENCRUSTING CORALS GROW VERY WELL IN AQUARIA. AN INDIRECT MODERATE CURRENT IS BEST. FILAMENTOUS ALGAE MUST BE AVOIDED. EXCESSIVE NITRATE CONCENTRATIONS LEAD TO A DECREASE IN THE PUMPING ACTIVITY OF THE POLYPS.
-SUNLIGHT ZONE. PLACE IN A BRIGHTLY LIT AREA. METAL HALIDE AND ACTINIC LIGHTS ARE REQURIED.
-THE GREAT PART OF ITS NUTRITIONAL REQURIEMENT IS SUPPLIED BY ITS SYMBIOTIC PARTNERS THE ZOOXANTHELIAE. IT IS NOT AN ACTIVE PLANKTIVORE.
-THE LENGTH OF THE POLYPS OF XENIAL SP. IS AWE INSPIRING. UNDERSTANDABLY, THE POLYPS CANNOT BE COMPLETELY RETRACTED. THE PUMPING MOTIONS OF THE POLYPS ARE FOR RESPIRATION, NOT TO CAPTURE PLANKTON.
Hope the above helps a bit.
