Sponge Explosion

L8ndeb · 09/20/2012, 10:17 PM

Hello All,

I recently added a few frags of Zoas that were purchased from a fellow reefer here on RC.
I have since discovered that the frags must have had microscopic pieces of white sponge attached to them. I have frankly, a white sponge explosion taking place in my tank and sump.
They over ran the zoas that I added. I took out the frags, cleaned them best I could, did a freshwater dip, and so far, all is good with the frags. My big problem is that sponges are starting to show up on my live rock. In some cases, pieces bigger than a half-dollar.
My question is, what can I do to eradicate or at least control this type of sponge? TIA

Reef264 · 09/21/2012, 12:31 AM

I've encountered this before.I never really did anything about it.Mine were Pinapple Sponges, could be the case here, or Scypha Sponges.Some sponges can be good to have, they clean your water, but can have a tendency to multiply out of control, so to speak.Mine went away on there own for whatever reason, I probably had over 300 Pineapple Sponges.As far as killing them goes...Tough one, Angelfish eat them, but you probably don't want an angel in your reef, as that could create another problem.Maybe someone will chime in and tell you how to kill them.

Hope this helps,
-Ray

BigCountry74 · 09/26/2012, 09:05 AM

I have scypha sponges in my overflow, sump and if you pick up rock in the DT they are underneith that. A few down in the sump are rather large lol

They will cause no harm.

Speaking of which though, out of curiosity, is there a specific fish that will hunt/eat these things out of the DT?

rrasco · 09/26/2012, 10:17 AM

If you have excess sponges, you have excess nutrients. I used to have tons of pineapple sponges in my sump and some sporadically throughout the DT. Once I started running GFO and GAC, within a few weeks they were all gone.

BigCountry74 · 09/26/2012, 10:32 AM

I guess I could turn my Magnum 350 into a GFO filter. It's pretty much collecting dust atm. That media is so expensive though....not sure if I want to invest the money into it.

L8ndeb · 09/26/2012, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrasco

If you have excess sponges, you have excess nutrients. I used to have tons of pineapple sponges in my sump and some sporadically throughout the DT. Once I started running GFO and GAC, within a few weeks they were all gone.

I'm running GAC in an old Eheim canister filter 24/7. My Nitrates are under 10 measured with a Salifert test kit. Besides, I am under the impression that sponges are filter feeders, much like some corals. I do feed Cyclopese, and Marine Snow with my mysis shrimp and Formula One (the fish like this better than mysis...go figure). The Marine Snow and Cyclopese might be an issue. However, with that in mind, I do not know if excess nutrients would be the cause. But, I could be wrong.

rrasco · 09/26/2012, 01:29 PM

They are filter feeders, but I believe in the same sense that bristle worms are. Maybe the nitrates are under 10 because the sponges are consuming them all? Remove the trates before they become sponge food and the sponges should soon follow suit.

rrasco · 09/26/2012, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigCountry74

I guess I could turn my Magnum 350 into a GFO filter. It's pretty much collecting dust atm. That media is so expensive though....not sure if I want to invest the money into it.

It would be expensive to fill a canister with GFO. I would look into a BRS reactor (I run a dual BRS), they are fairly inexpensive and work well. You'd be surprised how little GFO you need to run. I've only changed mine out once and I still have at least half of what I bought (1/2 gallon I think?). I only run 3/4 cup at a time, and 1/3 of GAC, so it lasts a little longer than you think. I didn't buy the high capacity GFO either, just the cheap stuff.

Quote:

Originally Posted by L8ndeb

I'm running GAC in an old Eheim canister filter 24/7. My Nitrates are under 10 measured with a Salifert test kit. Besides, I am under the impression that sponges are filter feeders, much like some corals. I do feed Cyclopese, and Marine Snow with my mysis shrimp and Formula One (the fish like this better than mysis...go figure). The Marine Snow and Cyclopese might be an issue. However, with that in mind, I do not know if excess nutrients would be the cause. But, I could be wrong.

They are filter feeders, but I believe in the same sense that bristle worms are. Maybe the nitrates are under 10 because the sponges are consuming them all? Remove the trates before they become sponge food and the sponges should soon follow suit.

How are you running the GAC in a canister? Is it jammed pack with GAC or can it run passively?

L8ndeb · 09/26/2012, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrasco

They are filter feeders, but I believe in the same sense that bristle worms are. Maybe the nitrates are under 10 because the sponges are consuming them all? Remove the trates before they become sponge food and the sponges should soon follow suit.

How are you running the GAC in a canister? Is it jammed pack with GAC or can it run passively?

I think my nitrates are under 10 due to my DSB. I run BRS Bulk Premium ROX 0.8 Aquarium Carbon packed between two sponges (ironic!) that I clean (the sponges) usually once a week.

I also have read the the opinion on Nitrates are changing some. Whereas in the past, we all strived to keep a clean, sterile, as near to zero nitates as possible, some are suggesting that some nitrates (around 5ppm) may be necessary for normal growth in the tank. I'll see if I can dig up those reads.

BigCountry74 · 09/27/2012, 10:56 AM

Picked up some Seachem Phosguard. Magnum 350 would not fit thru the sump underneith. And I did not want to plumb it into the DT.

So I put the Phosguard in a good sump flow spot. Will see if this helps. The Phosguard was not too $ locally.

This is my first time running anything chemically outside of GAC.

rrasco · 09/27/2012, 12:03 PM

Just remember it will be more effective if you can get flow through it, but running it passively in a sump as you are also works, just not as good, so they say.

jasonrstewart79 · 09/27/2012, 12:50 PM

I always have explosions of tunicates and fanworms lol its crazy in my overflow box and in the Rubbermaid 100g downstairs sump it looks hairy inside there's so many dusters

BigCountry74 · 09/27/2012, 02:22 PM

Yeah I know. Underneith is just FULL atm. Sump, ATO, scrubber, etc. I literally have no room....lol

I got a powerhead blowing on the container. We will see how it does. It did look sexy all queued up and ready to go thru the Magnum 350 though, I literally just could not find room to plumb it in.

All you guys with behind the wall, your making me jealous atm lol

Maybe I can spend some more time underneith on logistics if I do not like the results of it free flowing.

09/20/2012, 10:17 PM	#1
L8ndeb Registered Reef Keeper Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 1,443	Sponge Explosion Hello All, I recently added a few frags of Zoas that were purchased from a fellow reefer here on RC. I have since discovered that the frags must have had microscopic pieces of white sponge attached to them. I have frankly, a white sponge explosion taking place in my tank and sump. They over ran the zoas that I added. I took out the frags, cleaned them best I could, did a freshwater dip, and so far, all is good with the frags. My big problem is that sponges are starting to show up on my live rock. In some cases, pieces bigger than a half-dollar. My question is, what can I do to eradicate or at least control this type of sponge? TIA __________________ Leyton at Reno Current Tank Info: Custom 200 gal reef cube with a 20 gal sump, 2 AI SOL LED Fixtures, Super Reef Octopus skimmer, custom made calcium reactor, Apex Lite controller with various modules.

09/21/2012, 12:31 AM	#2
Reef264 Where's The Reef? Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Southaven, Ms Posts: 2,098	I've encountered this before.I never really did anything about it.Mine were Pinapple Sponges, could be the case here, or Scypha Sponges.Some sponges can be good to have, they clean your water, but can have a tendency to multiply out of control, so to speak.Mine went away on there own for whatever reason, I probably had over 300 Pineapple Sponges.As far as killing them goes...Tough one, Angelfish eat them, but you probably don't want an angel in your reef, as that could create another problem.Maybe someone will chime in and tell you how to kill them. Hope this helps, -Ray __________________ I'd rather Die on my feet, than Live on my Knees. Current Tank Info: 150g SPS Reef, 2x250w 14k Pheonix Metal Halides w/T-5 Actinics, 2 Tunze 6095's, Tunze 7096 controller, Ozone, Precision Marine Skimmer, Reef Octopus Bio-Churn Bio Pellet Reactor, GFO & Carbon Reactor, Ozone Reactor, ATO, Reef Keeper.

09/26/2012, 09:05 AM	#3
BigCountry74 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,761	I have scypha sponges in my overflow, sump and if you pick up rock in the DT they are underneith that. A few down in the sump are rather large lol They will cause no harm. Speaking of which though, out of curiosity, is there a specific fish that will hunt/eat these things out of the DT? __________________ 135g mixed reef (retired) http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2132815 Current 40g reef http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2483250 Current Tank Info: 40g bare bottom reef

09/26/2012, 10:17 AM	#4
rrasco Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,159	If you have excess sponges, you have excess nutrients. I used to have tons of pineapple sponges in my sump and some sporadically throughout the DT. Once I started running GFO and GAC, within a few weeks they were all gone. __________________ -You had me at PWM

09/26/2012, 10:32 AM	#5
BigCountry74 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,761	I guess I could turn my Magnum 350 into a GFO filter. It's pretty much collecting dust atm. That media is so expensive though....not sure if I want to invest the money into it. __________________ 135g mixed reef (retired) http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2132815 Current 40g reef http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2483250 Current Tank Info: 40g bare bottom reef

09/26/2012, 01:29 PM	#7
rrasco Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,159	They are filter feeders, but I believe in the same sense that bristle worms are. Maybe the nitrates are under 10 because the sponges are consuming them all? Remove the trates before they become sponge food and the sponges should soon follow suit. __________________ -You had me at PWM

09/27/2012, 10:56 AM	#10
BigCountry74 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,761	Picked up some Seachem Phosguard. Magnum 350 would not fit thru the sump underneith. And I did not want to plumb it into the DT. So I put the Phosguard in a good sump flow spot. Will see if this helps. The Phosguard was not too $ locally. This is my first time running anything chemically outside of GAC. __________________ 135g mixed reef (retired) http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2132815 Current 40g reef http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2483250 Current Tank Info: 40g bare bottom reef

09/27/2012, 12:03 PM	#11
rrasco Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,159	Just remember it will be more effective if you can get flow through it, but running it passively in a sump as you are also works, just not as good, so they say. __________________ -You had me at PWM

09/27/2012, 12:50 PM	#12
jasonrstewart79 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 271	I always have explosions of tunicates and fanworms lol its crazy in my overflow box and in the Rubbermaid 100g downstairs sump it looks hairy inside there's so many dusters __________________ -20 years of saltwater fish/reef experience... *$%# I'm old.. lol Current Tank Info: Custom DAS 110g Reef Tank Project - 20g Sea Reef fuge, 100g basement sump, CPR Bak-pak2 "modded" skimmer, Red Sea Ozonator, Magdrive280, mangroves, DSB with plenum, 400w Custom Sea Life MH with 64watt U-Actinic PCs, dosing kalk, total 200 gallons

09/27/2012, 02:22 PM	#13
BigCountry74 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,761	Yeah I know. Underneith is just FULL atm. Sump, ATO, scrubber, etc. I literally have no room....lol I got a powerhead blowing on the container. We will see how it does. It did look sexy all queued up and ready to go thru the Magnum 350 though, I literally just could not find room to plumb it in. All you guys with behind the wall, your making me jealous atm lol Maybe I can spend some more time underneith on logistics if I do not like the results of it free flowing. __________________ 135g mixed reef (retired) http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2132815 Current 40g reef http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2483250 Current Tank Info: 40g bare bottom reef Last edited by BigCountry74; 09/27/2012 at 02:47 PM.