Dying sponge what to do?

SaltH2oNewb · 01/29/2018, 05:02 PM

My purple sponge that came on a piece of love rock I bought looks like it is dying should I try removing it ? New to the hobby any info is appreciated

thanks

billdogg · 01/29/2018, 06:11 PM

It certainly does look more dead than alive! I would suggest removing the rock from the tank and scraping off as much as you can, then scrubbing the area with a small stiff brush. Rinse the rock in a little old tank water and put it back in your tank.

How old is your tank? Eventually sponges will just sort of show up on their own, although many, if exposed to air, are doomed from the get-go.

HBtank · 01/29/2018, 06:53 PM

Yeah, sponges are tricky, some will never make it, and some will thrive in your tank. I have ~5 types from my live rock that do well and have been sustaining for 10 years.

One thing I have noticed, unless it is a photosynthetic, do not place them in light. All the sponges I have are on the undersides of rocks and generally get decimated by algea and do not do well in direct light. Whenever I do any rock changes I have to re-place a few of my white ball sponges to keep them shaded (although they tolerate light the most).

heathlindner25 · 01/29/2018, 07:57 PM

I say leave it and let the decaying matter further your tanks progression. It looks like the orange sponge underneath is doing well.

01/29/2018, 06:11 PM	#2
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	It certainly does look more dead than alive! I would suggest removing the rock from the tank and scraping off as much as you can, then scrubbing the area with a small stiff brush. Rinse the rock in a little old tank water and put it back in your tank. How old is your tank? Eventually sponges will just sort of show up on their own, although many, if exposed to air, are doomed from the get-go. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

01/29/2018, 06:53 PM	#3
HBtank Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 2,957	Yeah, sponges are tricky, some will never make it, and some will thrive in your tank. I have ~5 types from my live rock that do well and have been sustaining for 10 years. One thing I have noticed, unless it is a photosynthetic, do not place them in light. All the sponges I have are on the undersides of rocks and generally get decimated by algea and do not do well in direct light. Whenever I do any rock changes I have to re-place a few of my white ball sponges to keep them shaded (although they tolerate light the most). __________________ 80g Aiptasia dominated reef tank.. with fish and now a bunch of berghia! Current Tank Info: 80g tank, re-starting a reef after a zoanthid nudibranch plauge, followed by months of steady and unstoppable STN/RTN, crashed; stayed FOWLR for a couple years, currently an aiptasia dominated reef tank with fishies and BERGHIA

01/29/2018, 07:57 PM	#4
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	I say leave it and let the decaying matter further your tanks progression. It looks like the orange sponge underneath is doing well.