Oh Happy Day!!!!

[fishy1171]

Hello! I'm new to the reef game, and I just to let eveyone out there know that I just got all the live rock set up in my tank!! Yea me. Anyway I was just really excited about it and wanted to share the good news with people who understood!!!

:)
Jen

[GaryP]

Jen,

Congrats and welcome to my addiction! Welcome to MAAST too.

[alexwolf]

Welcome to MAAST! :)

[newhomes4reef]

Hi Jen,
Welcome to MAAST! Tell us about your tank...what size, what are your goals, what type of livestock will you keep? Do you have pics of your aquascaping yet?!

You've joined a fantastic support group to encourage your new addiction!

[Ram_Puppy]

Welcome Jenn! Pics Pics Pics!

[fishy1171]

My tank is a 55 gal that i''ve had setup for fish only the past 4 years. Since I already had a few fish in there I bought pre-cured live rock to put in so it would be less stressful on the little guys. I've been checking the levels and every thing is perfect except that my nitrates are a little high. I have 2 purple Xenias that came with the live rock one is doing great, seems very happy, but one keeps expanding for a few hours then closing up? ( Nitrates maybe???). I plan on having mostly soft corals in it and mushrooms stuff like that. Once the tank is stable and everything.
Thanks for the nice welcome!!

[Polkster13]

Sounds like you are doing a fantastic job there.

We would love to see pictures of your system. And welcome to MAAST. Hopefully, you will be able to make one of our upcoming meetings. You will learn and lot from them.

[Jenn]

From one Jenn to another - WELCOME TO MAAST!!!! :P

My xenia does this from time to time as well. Unless it stays that way for long periods of time (days), I wouldn't worry about it too much. It is an excellent coral to let you know if there are water problems though. Last time I had problems, mine all shriveled up, then stayed closed for days, then all died. I had a Ph problem as well as nitrates. HTH.

BTW, GaryP is a great xenia troubleshooter!

[GaryP]

Aw shucks! Thanks for the endorsement Jenn.

Your nitrates could be the problem. They are also sensitive to low pH and high temps. I can tell if my pH is getting low just by the rate at which they pulse. The higher the pH the faster they pulse. Another thing might be the time of day you notice them closing up. They have a tendency to do that late in the day. I'm not sure what "purple" Xenia you are referring to. Perhaps Pom Pom or Bali? They are more sensitive than the more common Xenia elongata in my experience.

[fishy1171]

you know what I am a total dork. I was reading about Xenias when I was typing oops! What I have are 2 purple kenya trees.

:blush

[grapplert]

:lol At least you came clean right away instead of playing it off!!! 8)

[gjuarez]

HAHA. Thats ok. We all make mistakes. It sounds like your off to a great start. THese guys have helped me alot and they will be very helpful to you as well. There is nothing a water change wont cure. Good luck with the nitrates.