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Non-Pulsing Xenia (Xenia umbellata) is a soft (non-skeletal) coral - leathery or fleshy depending on genus, more parameter-tolerant than stony corals, and an excellent choice for beginners building their first reef. The species sits within a recognized hobby category and is sold both as wild-collected specimens (where legal) and as aquacultured frags from coral farms like ORA, Tidal Gardens, World Wide Corals, Battle Corals, and Jason Fox Signature Corals.
Soft coral is the easiest entry point into reef-keeping for a reason: leathers, mushrooms, and zoanthids tolerate parameter swings, lower light, and lower flow than any stony coral. The trade-off is they cannot be fragged or shipped with the precision SPS allows, and they grow more slowly in proportion to their established size.
The Non-Pulsing Xenia requires the parameters that all SPS-dominant or mixed reef tanks target. The numbers below are the husbandry floor - hitting these consistently is more important than hitting them perfectly.
For LPS and soft coral, alkalinity stability is still important but the species is more forgiving than SPS. Two-part dosing once daily is sufficient for most LPS and soft systems.
Non-Pulsing Xenia requires low to moderate PAR - target 50-150 micromoles at the placement. Soft coral colors up well under heavily blue-shifted spectrum and is one of the few groups that genuinely benefits from "blue-only" running schedules during peak hours. Photoperiod should be 8-10 hours of full output with 30-minute ramp-up and ramp-down on either end. Avoid running peak intensity for more than 6 hours - longer photoperiods produce more algae growth than coral growth.
Non-Pulsing Xenia tolerates a wide range of flow - 5-15x tank volume per hour is usually sufficient. Soft corals like leathers and Sinularia will sway gracefully in proper flow but reject placement in dead zones (tissue mucus accumulates and the colony recedes).
Soft corals tolerate the widest placement range - low light bottom placements work for many genus, while higher placement under blue-heavy spectrum produces the strongest fluorescence. Allow space for growth - leathers and mushrooms expand significantly over 6-12 months.
Soft corals feed on dissolved organic matter, suspended particulates, and (for some species) target-fed micron-sized particles. Most do well with broadcast amino-acid dosing 2-3x weekly; target-feeding is unnecessary for most leathers and mushrooms but does benefit specific genera like Anthelia, Xenia, and certain GSP varieties.
Soft coral propagation is the easiest in the hobby. Leathers (Sarcophyton, Sinularia) propagate from cap cuttings - take a 1-inch piece, secure with rubber band to a piece of rubble, and within 2-3 weeks new tissue covers the rubble. Zoanthids propagate by cutting through the mat with a razor blade (wear gloves and goggles - palytoxin is real). Mushrooms (Rhodactis, Discosoma) propagate from cap cuttings or by cutting the foot in half - both halves regenerate.
Fast Aquatics connects you to vetted vendors of the Non-Pulsing Xenia across all 50 US states. Every listing on Fast Aquatics ships overnight via FedEx Priority Overnight or UPS Next Day Air. Climate-aware shipping holds the order if forecasted temperatures at your ZIP exceed safe thresholds. The 4-hour DOA window starts at carrier-reported delivery, with photo-evidence-based claim filing and Fast Aquatics mediation when needed. An optional Tiered Living Guarantee (1mo / 3mo / 6mo / 12mo) extends coverage well beyond the standard arrival-state protection.
Other soft coral in the same genus (Xenia).
The Non-Pulsing Xenia requires a minimum tank size of 10 gallons. Larger systems are recommended for adult specimens to allow proper territory and stable water chemistry.
The Non-Pulsing Xenia is rated beginner care difficulty. a beginner-friendly species suitable for hobbyists in their first year of fishkeeping
Photosynthetic
Fast Aquatics connects you to vetted vendors selling captive-bred and aquacultured specimens of this species across all 50 US states. Carrier-tracked overnight shipping with 4-hour DOA guarantee on every order.
Yes, the Non-Pulsing Xenia is reef-safe and suitable for established mixed reef systems.