Feeding Xenia
can you be specific about foods for these animals ?
<yep... they cannot be fed organismally (particles)... they have diminished feeding mechanisms/structures. They are believed to be almost fully autotrophic (photosynthetic). What little they are suspected of eating is by absorption. Most tanks are not so well skimmed that there is inevitably enough dissolved organics to feed Xenia. Rest easy, my friend... good light and water quality is enough to grow this beautiful weed <smile>. With kind regards, Anthony>
TIA Dave 

Feeding Xeniid contradiction... are photosynthetic    4/4/06
Hi Bob,
I was doing some reading on Xeniids and feeding and I think I came across a contradiction... one response says they are photosynthetic, but your post says they are not...see the below
Please advise as I'm trying to figure out what to feed... :)   
Thanks
Lee
Feeding Xenia
can you be specific about foods for these animals ?
<yep... they cannot be fed organismally (particles)... they have diminished feeding mechanisms/structures. They are believed to be almost fully autotrophic (photosynthetic). What little they are suspected of eating is by absorption. Most tanks are not so well skimmed that there is inevitably enough dissolved organics to feed Xenia. Rest easy, my friend... good light and water quality is enough to grow this beautiful weed <smile>. With kind regards, Anthony>
TIA Dave
Hope this finds you well amidst all the recent chaos.
<Yes my friend, thank you>
Quick lighting question.
Am trying to isolate causes for my xenia not pumping, am thinking it may be lighting.
<Hmm, unlikely... as you likely know these soft corals are not photosynthetic>
I have a 60 gallon, 20 inch deep tank, with 130 gallons in blue/white
pc lighting. I am also keeping a derasa clam, and hope to acquire a toadstool
and other leathers as well (no hard corals planned). Is my lighting enough? Is
it worth the $300 to upgrade to a 220 pc watt for the animals I hope to keep?
<For the other animals yes. Look to alkalinity, biomineral, iodide deficiency, testing, augmentation for your Xeniids though. Bob Fenner>
Cheers,
Javier
<Yes to Xeniids being photosynthetic... will try to find/place this message next to the above. Thank you for this. Bob Fenner>