Xenia umbellata (White Pom Pom Xenia)

Source: liveaquaria.com

QUICK STATS

• Care Level: Moderate
  
• Temperament: Peaceful
  
• Lighting: Moderate
  
• Waterflow: Medium
  
• Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
  
• Color Form: White
  
• Family: Xeniidae
  
• Insert Date: 14 December 2009

The Pumping Xenia Coral, are also known as Pulse Coral, or Waving Hand Corals. They are colonial animals with multiple individual polyps attached to a piece of solid substrate. They form stalks as they grow, and to reproduce. The eight-tentacled polyps can pump, or pulse, and many scientists believe the pumping action of the polyps slowly opening and closing is designed to dispose of gasses and waste. However, it is still unknown why these coral do pulse, and there are many water, lighting and nutrient factors involved. It is not necessarily a sign of ill health if they do cease to pulse. The parent colony of these coral frags was acquired from one of the aquariums in our company and then quarantined and given a health inspection before being propagated.
Aquacultured Xenia are hardier than wild-caught species and tend to reproduce quickly. Therefore, provide adequate space between them and sessile animals, especially other types of soft corals. They require a medium to high light level combined with a medium to strong water movement within the aquarium. For continued good health, they will require the addition of iodine and other trace elements to the water.

They contain the symbiotic algae zooxanthellae from which they receive the majority of their nutritional requirements. Additional weekly feedings of micro-plankton or foods designed for filter feeding invertebrates are also needed.

Other links:
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/corals/pulsingxenia.php
http://www.reeflex.net/tiere/552_Xenia_umbellata.htm
http://www.fishlore.com/profile-pulsingxenia.htm

Also made a short movie

Not much news on the Xenia, just some new pictures. One of them being a "night" shot

Still seem to be doing well, not much news

Not much to report, only that the algae seems to be moving in on the Xenia.

Seems to have overcome the removal of algae.

The top is growing thin, not much coral left, but it does get more and more "roots"

The Xenia is slowly dying, or maybe it is eaten by something/someone. Not sure if it will have a place in the new environment when it keeps going like this, might decide to leave it out.

If it makes it I want to give it a spot on the side of the wall towards the polyps. If it doesn’t make it I want to get some new to put there. But like I said earlier, it depends on how it looks if I will put it back in or not.

Got a reaction from someone on youtube on one of the movies made from the Xenia. Too bad it doesn't do so well now in our aquarium.

I just got a small peice of xenia about 2-3 weeks ago, and it split last week. im exicted for it to be that big! nice tank, great vids.

Found an article on Fishlore

All of the Xenia has died now, there is none left.