Is my sponge dieing?

[Hermie]

Years

I hear you, that's what we are all going for with the animals we keep

 

[jsvand5]

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.

I wish you luck but it will probably end like most stories with these sponges and tree sponges do unfortunately.

I wouldn’t worry about it fouling your water though.

 

[luckylepgw]

I wish you luck but it will probably end like most stories with these sponges and tree sponges do unfortunately.

I wouldn’t worry about it fouling your water though.

Thanks, and your probably right. But a fella has gotta try, at least twice... Maybe 3 times, we will see.

 

[shred5]

Years

I have had several sponges for years.

Most sponges have a bad reputation not because they are hard to keep but because most require proper shipping so air does not get in them. Some species die when air gets trapped in them.
If you can find someone who knows how to ship them they can be very possible to keep.

 

[jsvand5]

I have had several sponges for years.

Most sponges have a bad reputation not because they are hard to keep but because most require proper shipping so air does not get in them. Some species die when air gets trapped in them.
If you can find someone who knows how to ship them they can be very possible to keep.

Which species do you keep? Do you have any pics?

 

[shred5]

Halichondriidaeis sp., Cinachyra sp., Pseudoaxinella lunchearta. etc
There are pictures somewhere.
If you search my name there are probably pictures out there too and maybe some in my build thread. I think the shot of my photosynthetic sponges if you look closely you can see a yellow frilly and a yellow ball sponge which I have had for years.

 

[Kamden Uelton]

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.

Both are literally just Silicas

 

[shred5]

Both are literally just Silicas

Sponge Power is not Silicas, I believe some one looked at it and it was bacteria.
It has a shelf life too.. It is also for corals and tunicates.

Sponge excel is silica though.

 

[Hermie]

Both are literally just Silicas

Why would someone feed silicas to their corals? (Sponge Power)

 

[Kamden Uelton]

Why would someone feed silicas to their corals? (Sponge Power)

Isn't Silicas good for sponges? that's why it's called Sponge Power and not Coral Power

 

[Hermie]

Isn't Silicas good for sponges? that's why it's called Sponge Power and not Coral Power

You didn't answer the question...

From the KZ website:

Does silica do all that?

 

[Kamden Uelton]

You didn't answer the question...

From the KZ website:

Does silica do all that?

I didn't know it did anything for coral so I ignored your question, Now I know

 

[shred5]

This is a picture of another sponge I am keeping.
This pic is a little older but the sponge is nearing a year old.
I have seen no growth but it is now a little more on the red side now.
It is suffering just a tad right now because I let some algae get a little to close. it now has a small white spot on it where the algae brushed up against it..

 

[MombasaLionfish]

I got two sponges off of a decorator crab the blue sponges color faded probably dead the orange sponge still is colorful but has not grown they are both pea sized.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I wish you luck but it will probably end like most stories with these sponges and tree sponges do unfortunately.

I wouldn’t worry about it fouling your water though.

With proper care and a healthy tank there should be no issues with sponges. Even if they have to be fed, it just has to be consistent feedings. I have a red finger sponge that is just a hair over 3 years old. It has lived in 3 tanks, with the tank it is in now being a truly mixed reef. I tried to find a pic of when I got it, but no luck. It was 3 little fingers and about 2-2.5" tall. Below is a pic of it yesterday all fat and happy (excuse the blown out colors, just an old smartphone camera lol). It is simply wedged between 2 rocks in an area that gets decent flow from all sides. (mp40 behind rocks and gyres on each side of tank)

 

[luckylepgw]

Update...

So he appears to be doing a little better