Are sponges beneficial?

[LadyTang2]

I read that sponges can beneficially filter water, how do they do this and is it really that beneficial in a 120gal reef tank?

I also read they can be toxic, are they all toxic? I am looking at yellow tree, blue vase, frilly, encrusting, and ball sponges from KP aquatics. Are some of these safer as they have less toxins and will they benefit my aquarium by filtering?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Many can be - they are a food source for some angels and filter feeders.
They can also be a nuisance

 

[Picasso Clown]

I have several pineapple sponges and I quite like them. I have heard things about them being filter feeders and helping the water quality but mine came in on the live rock so I really don’t have any comparison for that. The tank with the sponges seems to be clearer than the others but this one also happens to be my favorite as it houses some of my ‘difficult’ corals. I have had no problems with them ever and they are very easy to remove should I ever want to place a frag there but most of mine grow in low light areas upside down so they’re of no consequence. My cherub angel really enjoys nibbling on them on occasion, but I have so many of a substantial size that it doesn’t really make a difference. If you like them, I would add them but if they’re NPS then you have to have at least fairly dirty water for them to do well. I achieve this by feeding heavy a couple times a day and reefroids several times a week. Good luck!

 

[Paul B]

I feel sponges are very beneficial and I have had them for decades. My reef is all sponge and there isn't any place in my tank where there is no coral that is not covered in sponge. I must have 5lbs of the stuff .

This blue stuff between the copperband and hippo tank is some of it that you can see here, but it's everywhere


You can see a bunch of it here also. It's all that blue, flat "pimply" stuff.

 

[ScottR]

My thinking is that sponges (depending on type) are a sign that your tank is diverse. If you can keep multiple types over time, I’d say that you have you have food for multiple organisms which means you can keep a diverse amount of animals including corals. Just my opinion.

 

[Zenchi]

A nuisance for me. I had some sponge come in on seeded live rock and its thriving. So much so that it overtook my palys and goni. The only way to save the coral was to cut away the dead tissue covered in sponge.

 

[Paul B]

That is a problem as mine are also encrusting

 

[Semper.Reefing]

My aquarium is almost 3 months old. For the first 2 months my nutrient levels were just an up and down rollercoaster. I noticed sponge growth maybe 2 weeks ago and my nutrients have stabilized very well, and I’ve been feeding A TON. I was afraid to check my nutrients but they checked out well. I’m pretty dang sure it’s all thanks to the sponges