Sponge problem

ckrhone · 10/12/2006, 02:10 PM

I have a lovely dark orange piece of sponge under an outcrop of rock in my reef wall. However, it appears to have a couple of whiter patches on the vents?

I think I have a problem with my sponge and would like some help as to how I can get this sponge to recover?

All water parameters are within natural range.

ckrhone · 10/13/2006, 06:16 AM

Has anyone got any ideas??

Marinemom · 10/13/2006, 06:47 AM

Sponges do not like to be exposed to air at any time. Was the sponge out of the water for any amoount of time?

Marinemom

mthedude · 10/13/2006, 08:50 AM

my tank is full of sponges that came on/in my rock. I've tried killing them and they always come back so I can't immagine trying to save a sponge, but just let it be, don't expose it to air and continue doing what you're doing, it'll either thrive or die, there usually isn't any in-between w/sponges.

mthedude · 10/13/2006, 08:57 AM

my tank is full of sponges that came on/in my rock. I've tried killing them and they always come back so I can't immagine trying to save a sponge, but just let it be, don't expose it to air and continue doing what you're doing, it'll either thrive or die, there usually isn't any in-between w/sponges.

Sk8r · 10/13/2006, 09:33 AM

I like sponges: I have a blue one that makes my purple rock look as if its covered in veins...very anatomical looking. I've got yellow and white ball sponge, and an orange one I only wish would grow more.

I feed phyto: that's what they eat, and they grow like crazy. You must not expose them to air during water change or transfer of rock: this kills areas. These will slough off, in my experience, or if a large patch, just pinch the bad area off and let it regrow.

I can't say enough good about them for water filtration. I think one's fondness for them is probably dependent on the species you end up with: some are encrusting and large and pesky. The best ones are fairly cryptic, well-organized, and bring bright color to hidden nooks.

You can kind of see the veiny one here and there about the rocks. There's a yellow one deep in the rock to the right, which may or may not be visible. There's one that looks like a potato back in the cave, and the red stuff comes and goes where there's shadow.

10/12/2006, 02:10 PM	#1
ckrhone Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Grimsby, United Kingdom Posts: 166	Sponge problem I have a lovely dark orange piece of sponge under an outcrop of rock in my reef wall. However, it appears to have a couple of whiter patches on the vents? I think I have a problem with my sponge and would like some help as to how I can get this sponge to recover? All water parameters are within natural range.

10/13/2006, 08:50 AM	#4
mthedude Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 549	my tank is full of sponges that came on/in my rock. I've tried killing them and they always come back so I can't immagine trying to save a sponge, but just let it be, don't expose it to air and continue doing what you're doing, it'll either thrive or die, there usually isn't any in-between w/sponges. __________________ You........Cake or Death? I'll have the cake please.... ....well we're outta cake! Current Tank Info: 55g Reef Tank, scooter blenny, tail spot blenny, cleaner shrimp, button polyps, fuzzy mushrooms, hammer coral, multi color zoos, 10 gal fuge, Octopus NW150

10/13/2006, 08:57 AM	#5
mthedude Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 549	my tank is full of sponges that came on/in my rock. I've tried killing them and they always come back so I can't immagine trying to save a sponge, but just let it be, don't expose it to air and continue doing what you're doing, it'll either thrive or die, there usually isn't any in-between w/sponges. __________________ You........Cake or Death? I'll have the cake please.... ....well we're outta cake! Current Tank Info: 55g Reef Tank, scooter blenny, tail spot blenny, cleaner shrimp, button polyps, fuzzy mushrooms, hammer coral, multi color zoos, 10 gal fuge, Octopus NW150

10/13/2006, 09:33 AM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I like sponges: I have a blue one that makes my purple rock look as if its covered in veins...very anatomical looking. I've got yellow and white ball sponge, and an orange one I only wish would grow more. I feed phyto: that's what they eat, and they grow like crazy. You must not expose them to air during water change or transfer of rock: this kills areas. These will slough off, in my experience, or if a large patch, just pinch the bad area off and let it regrow. I can't say enough good about them for water filtration. I think one's fondness for them is probably dependent on the species you end up with: some are encrusting and large and pesky. The best ones are fairly cryptic, well-organized, and bring bright color to hidden nooks. You can kind of see the veiny one here and there about the rocks. There's a yellow one deep in the rock to the right, which may or may not be visible. There's one that looks like a potato back in the cave, and the red stuff comes and goes where there's shadow. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

10/13/2006, 06:16 AM	#2
ckrhone Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Grimsby, United Kingdom Posts: 166	Has anyone got any ideas??

10/13/2006, 06:47 AM	#3
Marinemom Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 534	Sponges do not like to be exposed to air at any time. Was the sponge out of the water for any amoount of time? Marinemom