Pulsing Xenia Care Guide
Xenia umbellata is a pulsing soft coral whose polyps rhythmically open and close. It is photosynthetic, fast-growing and can spread aggressively in a reef tank.
Overview
Xenia umbellata is a pulsing soft coral of the family Xeniidae and the type species of the genus Xenia. It is unusual among corals for its rhythmic pulsing, in which the polyps repeatedly open and close their many-fingered hands to push water away from the colony. The form resembles a stalk topped with a bouquet of pulsing polyps. It is a fast-growing, photosynthetic coral popular in reef tanks.
Taxonomy
- Class: Octocorallia
- Family: Xeniidae
- Genus: Xenia
- Scientific name: Xenia umbellata Lamarck, 1816
- Note: type species of the genus (WoRMS, order Malacalcyonacea)
Habitat
The species occurs on Indo-Pacific and Red Sea reefs, where it has been recorded at sites such as Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. As a photosynthetic soft coral it depends on its symbiotic zooxanthellae for much of its nutrition.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 24–26 °C (75–79 °F)
- pH: 8.1–8.4
- Specific gravity: 1.024–1.026
- Carbonate hardness (dKH): 8–11
- Calcium: 380–450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280–1350 ppm
- Nitrate: below ~15 ppm; phosphate below ~0.1 ppm
- Lighting: medium, about 75–175 PAR
- Flow: low to moderate, indirect
- Minimum tank age: about 3 months
Moderate light and gentle, indirect flow encourage strong pulsing; flow that is too direct can interfere with the motion. Xenia often grows readily and does not require high-intensity light.
Diet
Xenia umbellata is mainly photosynthetic and meets most of its energy needs through its zooxanthellae, supplemented by absorbing dissolved nutrients; supplemental amino acids or phytoplankton may be offered but heavy feeding is unnecessary.
Compatibility
It is reef, fish and shrimp safe and lacks strong stinging tentacles, but it grows quickly and can overtake rockwork by spreading along stolons and releasing floating fragments, so growth control and placement on isolated rock are advisable.