Pumping Xenia (Xenia sp.), also
known as Pulsing Xenia and Waving
Hand Xenia, is one of my favorite
corals.  Thats why I like to include it  
in all of my miniature coral reefs.  
The rhythmic movements of this
coral is absolutely mesmerizing.  At
one time it covered about 35% of my
reef tank.  I had to prune it back to
keep it from over growing all the
other corals in my reef tank.  
Pumping Xenia is the one coral in my
reef aquarium that visitors comment
most on.  This coral just calls for
attention.
Pumping Xenia has done so well in
my reef tanks that it has grown over
large portions of the front glass of
the tank.  This piece that you see on
the left, broke off the main colony,
dropped to the bottom of the reef
tank, and attached itself to the
aquarium glass.  With strong lighting,
this coral will spread all over the
aquarium faster that you might want
it to.   Don't place Pumping Xenia too
close to Metal Halides, for it doesn't
like heat very much.  Give this coral
a nice medium current and a lot of
space to grow!
All the Pumping Xenia that you see
on the right originated from 2
colonies the size of the one in the
photo above.  I have so much
Pumping Xenia that I started another
reef tank with all the additional
polyps that I removed from my main
tank.  Keep the water cool in the reef
tank and the Pumping Xenia should
do well.  I've suffered all of my loses
of Pumping Xenia during the summer
months, when things run a little
hotter in the reef tanks.  With a little
care you to can have a lively coral
reef tank.
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