sponges

jl1199 · 01/17/2007, 12:13 PM

What are the advantages and disadvateges to adding sponges to your tank, and how hard are they to keep?

papagimp · 01/17/2007, 12:21 PM

Advantages: Their pretty to look at. Some nudi's will eat certain sponges, but it's hit and miss. No real "advantage" to adding one.

Disadvantages: None that I know of.

As for the ease of their care, it will depend on the sponge but as a general rule of thumb, not the easiest of livestock to keep alive for any amount of time in a home aquarium. Some smaller less decorative species will pop up from time to time, like the q-tip sponges and whatnot, but the nice ornamental sponge trees and tube sponges and stuff along that line, going to be tough. Some will need lighting requirements, others need proper filter feeding foods. Just going to have to do alot of research on them if your hearts truly set on sponges. otherwise, leave em to experts or the ocean.

kipher · 01/17/2007, 02:27 PM

FWIW. Don't expose sponges to air. If it develops a air pocket inside of its "body" it will die. Or so I've read, I've never attempted to keep a sponge.

bertoni · 01/17/2007, 02:31 PM

To Reef Central

Also, a lot of the sponges for sale can be hard to keep.

Crusty Old Shellback · 01/17/2007, 02:36 PM

Sponges are filterfeeders and are a great addition to a estabilished tank. The will help filter out some of the bad stuff from the water.

Disadvantage is that if they die, they will polute the tank and cause an amonia spike. But you can generally tell when they die as they turn white.

I've tried several species of sponges in my tank and also have a lot of hitchicker sponges in there as well. They come in all different colors. Some are photosenthetic and will need light. Most, however, like subdued light or darkness. As for not exposing them to air, that's pretty much a wifestale. I do 50% waterchanges on my tanks and my sponges are exposed to the air for about 1/2 hour or more. The biggest thing with exposing them to air is to NOT TOUCH them. As this will squeeze out the water and allow air in them which will kill them. But just exposing them to air generally does not do it.

About the only sponge that I have had a problem with when exposed to air is the blue spong. It seems tempremental at best though. As for my others, I have yellow, pink, red, brown, white, purple, and a few others in the tank. Most are very small but add a little splash of color here and there. They are all hitchickers and I do not feed them or feed the tank and filter feeder food. I just feed my fish pellets and an occasional frozen cube of various varites. However, my tank is well estabilished, it's going on about 8 years old now.

bertoni · 01/17/2007, 03:04 PM

There are many species of sponges, including some intertidal sponges. Some will die on exposure to air, some won't. Best not to take the chance, in my opinion.

sunfish11 · 01/17/2007, 06:43 PM

See these articles...

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-07/rs/index.php

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/rs/index.php

awestruck · 01/18/2007, 09:10 AM

I have an orange tree sponge and it's doing very well. It rests on a small rock under a ledge--important because this type likes darker, shady spots.

01/17/2007, 12:13 PM	#1
jl1199 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 5	sponges What are the advantages and disadvateges to adding sponges to your tank, and how hard are they to keep?

01/17/2007, 12:21 PM	#2
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	Advantages: Their pretty to look at. Some nudi's will eat certain sponges, but it's hit and miss. No real "advantage" to adding one. Disadvantages: None that I know of. As for the ease of their care, it will depend on the sponge but as a general rule of thumb, not the easiest of livestock to keep alive for any amount of time in a home aquarium. Some smaller less decorative species will pop up from time to time, like the q-tip sponges and whatnot, but the nice ornamental sponge trees and tube sponges and stuff along that line, going to be tough. Some will need lighting requirements, others need proper filter feeding foods. Just going to have to do alot of research on them if your hearts truly set on sponges. otherwise, leave em to experts or the ocean. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

01/17/2007, 02:27 PM	#3
kipher Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Edwardsville, IL Posts: 429	FWIW. Don't expose sponges to air. If it develops a air pocket inside of its "body" it will die. Or so I've read, I've never attempted to keep a sponge. __________________ Brian SEASL & SLASH member For the Best of both Worlds!!!! Current Tank Info: 75G reef, 95 lbs LR, 29g tank as my DIY fuge/sump w/ Quiteone Model 3000 (780gph) return pump, ASM G-2 Skimmer, 1 - 170gph Penguin 660 PH , Seio 2600, 2500gph MJ Mod, Typhoon III RO/DI, 2x250W MH (10K XM's) & 2-36" 96W VHO Actinic

01/17/2007, 02:31 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	*To Reef Central* Also, a lot of the sponges for sale can be hard to keep. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/17/2007, 02:36 PM	#5
Crusty Old Shellback MASVC OG Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Home of the FREE, Thanks to the BRAVE! Posts: 5,089	Sponges are filterfeeders and are a great addition to a estabilished tank. The will help filter out some of the bad stuff from the water. Disadvantage is that if they die, they will polute the tank and cause an amonia spike. But you can generally tell when they die as they turn white. I've tried several species of sponges in my tank and also have a lot of hitchicker sponges in there as well. They come in all different colors. Some are photosenthetic and will need light. Most, however, like subdued light or darkness. As for not exposing them to air, that's pretty much a wifestale. I do 50% waterchanges on my tanks and my sponges are exposed to the air for about 1/2 hour or more. The biggest thing with exposing them to air is to NOT TOUCH them. As this will squeeze out the water and allow air in them which will kill them. But just exposing them to air generally does not do it. About the only sponge that I have had a problem with when exposed to air is the blue spong. It seems tempremental at best though. As for my others, I have yellow, pink, red, brown, white, purple, and a few others in the tank. Most are very small but add a little splash of color here and there. They are all hitchickers and I do not feed them or feed the tank and filter feeder food. I just feed my fish pellets and an occasional frozen cube of various varites. However, my tank is well estabilished, it's going on about 8 years old now. __________________ Have you THANKED a Veteran lately for the freedoms you take for granted each day? Best quote ever! "This is a hobby for God sakes and so many people get so uptite. A "hobby" so it should be fun and not a cause to worry or go broke." Paul B Current Tank Info: Tankless for a while. RIP my 8+ yr old pair of Naso tangs, 4 + yr old Moorish Idol

01/17/2007, 03:04 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	There are many species of sponges, including some intertidal sponges. Some will die on exposure to air, some won't. Best not to take the chance, in my opinion. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/17/2007, 06:43 PM	#7
sunfish11 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Weyauwega, WI Posts: 2,365	See these articles... http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-07/rs/index.php http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/rs/index.php

01/18/2007, 09:10 AM	#8
awestruck Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,572	I have an orange tree sponge and it's doing very well. It rests on a small rock under a ledge--important because this type likes darker, shady spots. __________________ I received the best gift ever today: My son told me that he loves me. Current Tank Info: 65g. w/20g. sump; Reef Octopus Skimmer; (2) x 150w. MH and (2) x 65w. pc. sump-mixed reef