Is my sponge dieing?

[luckylepgw]

Wasn't sure exactly where to post this, figured I'd give it a shot here.
This is my first sponge so I'm clueless

He just don't look as happy as he used to.

 

[WV Reefer]

Wasn't sure exactly where to post this, figured I'd give it a shot here.
This is my first sponge so I'm clueless

He just don't look as happy as he used to.

It looks like it is slowly disintegrating. if it gets much worse I would pull it out so that it doesn’t foul the water.

 

[luckylepgw]

It looks like it is slowly disintegrating. if it gets much worse I would pull it out so that it doesn’t foul the water.

That little ear to the left looks like may be ok. Should i try fraging it off?

 

[Kamden Uelton]

Feed KZ Sponge Power or Brightwell Aquatics Sponge Excel

 

[Hermie]

Sponges in the wild, from what I've read, are very slow growing and they go through bouts of "regeneration" where parts die off and it will regrow in some form or fashion.
That's not to say that we know for sure what's happening with your sponge, only that it's possible that the sponge is still healthy and adapting to the tank/flow etc.
Is the sponge producing clear, thin, film-like ports through which it pumps water? That's the sign of a healthy sponge, but even healthy sponges may not always have their "holes" open. When is the last time it "opened up?"

 

[Hermie]

Feed KZ Sponge Power or Brightwell Aquatics Sponge Excel

actually both would compliment one another. from my understanding, one has "food" for the sponge (the Sponge Power) and the other is basically concentrated silica (Sponge Excel) which many sponges require for growth and repair. Sponge Excel is moreso needed if the tank has little silica or diatoms.

 

[luckylepgw]

Sponges in the wild, from what I've read, are very slow growing and they go through bouts of "regeneration" where parts die off and it will regrow in some form or fashion.
That's not to say that we know for sure what's happening with your sponge, only that it's possible that the sponge is still healthy and adapting to the tank/flow etc.
Is the sponge producing clear, thin, film-like ports through which it pumps water? That's the sign of a healthy sponge, but even healthy sponges may not always have their "holes" open. When is the last time it "opened up?"

Its been awhile since I've seen his ports open. I am actually just recovering from a massive system crash about a month and half ago ish. (Emergency tank swap/ dummy me didn't rinse sand) i have actually been expecting this sponge to be its final victim [emoji22]

 

[luckylepgw]

But my lfs owner told me as long as he isn't floating that it should be ok.

 

[shred5]

I grow a few different sponges and add Sponge power and Brightwell Aquatics Sponge Excel which is just silicate to the tank.
Some sponges use silicate some do not.

I think the main thing is some sponges feed on bacteria and other filter larger stuff than bacteria so I add bacteria to the tank regularly and do things to increase bacteria.
I also feed phyto to the tank.
I have a bright red/orange on that when it lightens up I add more bacteria and it seems to help allot with that one.

 

[luckylepgw]

I grow a few different sponges and add sponge power and silicate to the tank.
Some sponges use Brightwell Aquatics Sponge Excel which is just silicate.
some sponges use silicate and some do not.
I think the main thing is some sponges feed on bacteria and other filter larger stuff than bacteria so i add bacteria to the tank regularly and do things to increase bacteria.
I also feed phyto to the tank.
I have a bright red/orange on that when it lightens up I add more bacteria and it seems to help allot with that one.

This guy was an impulse buy, so i was poorly prepared.(still am) but it has been a bit of a lesson. Probably gonna pull this guy as i can't find a single vent on either side. Wait till tank is a bit more mature and got feed for before i get more

 

[shred5]

This guy was an impulse buy, so i was poorly prepared.(still am) but it has been a bit of a lesson. Probably gonna pull this guy as i can't find a single vent on either side. Wait till tank is a bit more mature and got feed for before i get more

Some sponges are very hard and some are very easy. I have some photosynthetic ones that are rather easy.
If they turn white they are dying. If he has color you still have a chance. Food is really important for the non photosynthetic kind..

 

[luckylepgw]

Some sponges are very hard and some are very easy. I have some photosynthetic ones that are rather easy.
If they turn white they are dying. If he has color you still have a chance. Food is really important for the non photosynthetic kind..

Yea, payday is tomorrow so I'll be able to restock phyto and things. He still has most his color so hopefully i haven't fully murdered him yet.
I lost all my copepods, fish, snails and coral (except my GSP, man those things are tough) But my anphipods, crabs, cleaner clams and a hitchhiking oyster survived. Thankfully it wasn't a total loss

 

[Hermie]

This guy was an impulse buy, so i was poorly prepared.(still am) but it has been a bit of a lesson. Probably gonna pull this guy as i can't find a single vent on either side. Wait till tank is a bit more mature and got feed for before i get more

I really wouldn't pull it yet, it will literally start bubbling up/swelling and floating when it dies since it consists of living tissue, it will be easy to spot.

I have an orange sponge like yours that will develop the osculum (the ports) for a week or so and then it stops and they disappear. I have another one (same species) that almost always has the osculum open. The osculum are like a layer of clear, thin "plastic" that forms on the surface of the sponge and then leads out to like a "tube" shape of that clear material. Anyway, I read that sponges can open up and "eat" and then spend a few weeks digesting before they reopen their ports. Of course, depending on the species, but it's not unheard of for the osculum to close/disappear for "up to two weeks."

 

[jsvand5]

I wouldn’t waste money trying to save this sponge. It was pretty much a goner from the time it was collected. These sponges are extremely difficult to keep alive longterm. I’d save your money and buy some photosynthetic sponges instead.

 

[Hermie]

I wouldn’t waste money trying to save this sponge. It was pretty much a goner from the time it was collected. These sponges are extremely difficult to keep alive longterm. I’d save your money and buy some photosynthetic sponges instead.

you'd have to define long term because I've had 3 of the same species (2 in 1 tank, 1 in another tank) alive since February of this year. They are doing just fine.

 

[luckylepgw]

I really wouldn't pull it yet, it will literally start bubbling up/swelling and floating when it dies since it consists of living tissue, it will be easy to spot

Awesome, i have hope now. I was just worried about fouling the water again and losing my first additions since the reef death. Stareing at crabs only for over a month sucked greatly.

 

[Hermie]

I actually have a brittle star that "lives" inside one of those sponges as a host. It's been in the sponge since I got it and the brittle star has grown in size, it's interesting.

 

[luckylepgw]

I wouldn’t waste money trying to save this sponge. It was pretty much a goner from the time it was collected. These sponges are extremely difficult to keep alive longterm. I’d save your money and buy some photosynthetic sponges instead.

I was definitely going to get some photosynthetic sponges. But i was planning on running a bit of a "dirty" tank and want my filter feeders also.

 

[Hermie]

here is the sponge in my "QT ignored" tank that's just a 10 gal tank w/ a HOB filter that I don't maintain. You can see the osculum on the sponge marked on the right and you can see a sliver of the brittle star's arm on the left:

here is one of the 2 sponges in my Display Tank, you can see the osculum are open and healthy sized. It gets algae on it occasionally but seems to get rid of the algae at the same rate. I stuck the sponge in a hole in my rock:

 

[jsvand5]

you'd have to define long term because I've had 3 of the same species (2 in 1 tank, 1 in another tank) alive since February of this year. They are doing just fine.

Years