Viagra for Xenia?

[michika]

My Xenia needs some viagra, or something...

Everynight once the lights turn off my Xenia looses is stature and bends over like a limp noodle. The heads aren't overly large, and the stalk is about the diameter of a nickle. Is this normal?

If its not normal how do I get my xenia to stay standing all the time?

[Beverly]

What kind of flow does the xenia have? If it's very low flow, you might want to increase it. Also, what's the alk, pH, Ca and Mg in the tank? Sometimes, when these are out of whack, a coral such as xenia might be trying to tell you something.

[michika]

It is in medium flow.

At last testing everything in my tank was fine; pH 8.2, temp 79-81, nitrate, nitrite 0, Ca ~380-400ppm, etc.

It has been doing this for a while, probably three or four months. It doesn't seem to adversely affect it, its just strange. All my other sps, lps, clams have shown no indication of anything wrong water wise.

Have you ever seen or heard of this before?

[marie]

Xenia, mostly uses photosynthesis as a food source and only a small portion from the dissolved organics in the water. It probably shuts down for awhile when the lights go out because it doesn't need to be open.

As long as it's growing and looks good during the day i wouldn't worry about it

[michika]

Good to know.

I was concerned its limpness wasn't normal...

Thank you!

[JOSH]

mine does it too, at night it closes up, by morning they are open almost instantly, nothing to worry about

[1bigstud]

Yah nothing to worry about, mine shrink whenever I trun the lights off, and occasionaly when I turn my pumps off during water changes some of them will slump over. I wouldnt be to worried unless this was occuring frequently with the lights on

[G1GY]

What's the water temp like?

Cold water can cause some shrinkage also!

[OCDP]

Originally Posted by G1GY

What's the water temp like?

Cold water can cause some shrinkage also!