Out of control sponge.

I am Maul · Jan 28, 2016

Does anyone have any suggestions for fish or inverts that will eat sponge? I currently have a 65 gallon display that is being taken over by sponge. They are white, round (kind of look like little cotton balls). There is a branching sponge that is easy to control, I can just break pieces off when it grows bigger than I want it. These little sponge balls though I can't remove. If I try to pry it off the rock, it just collapses and releases what I think are spores. They are all over the rocks, and overflow, and even on the wave makers.
Is there anything that will eat these? I really don't want to try and remove all my corals so that I can boil the rock and sand.

Eric81 · Jan 28, 2016

Hmm, that is a rare problem, but can definitely see it being annoying. Best bet would probably be a deep water angel. They would have the best chance of eating the sponges , but leaving your corals alone. Good Luck!

I am Maul · Jan 28, 2016

This is what I'm dealing with. I like the branching stuff, but the other

Sabellafella · Jan 29, 2016

I am Maul said:
This is what I'm dealing with. I like the branching stuff, but the other

Yea i got them too some the size of a baseball, they have craters in them, if you try poping them out of water they almost liquify. Ive had them disappear and re appear. Good question though following along hopefully theirs a solution

I am Maul · Jan 29, 2016

Mine are all fairly small, the biggest maybe the size of a marble. I was OK when there were 3 or 4 in the tank, but now there are dozens, some creeping up on corals.

Salty1962 · Jan 29, 2016

If you can handle it, an angel fish would clear it .up quickly. A Regal I had years back cleaned my 90G tank out is 3 mths.

I am Maul · Jan 29, 2016

I'd love a Regal Angelfish, but I only have a 65 gallon. I hate buying fish that I will have to re-home once they outgrow my tank, especially when they come with a $100 price tag (or higher).

Hannahll · Jan 29, 2016

Get a nifty starfish! I've heard they like eating sponges AND they are fun to watch

I am Maul · Jan 29, 2016

Any suggestions on specific starfish? I have soft corals that I don't want being eaten.

Hannahll · Jan 29, 2016

I am Maul said:
Any suggestions on specific starfish? I have soft corals that I don't want being eaten.

I've heard Red Bali are reef safe.. and relatively cheap. I'm not sure how good of a job he would do, but maybe it's worth a shot?

reefwiser · Jan 29, 2016

Sponges are growing because there is waste in the water. Lower their food supply and they will die off. They feed on the organics in the water.Sponges are great filter feeders and the ocean could not function without them.

Keith_0011 · Jan 29, 2016

I am Maul said:
I really don't want to try and remove all my corals so that I can boil the rock and sand.

Please read up and take all safety precautions if you do choose to boil the live rock. I have heard many horror stories about doing it indoors.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blo...-poisoning-almost-killed-myself-wife-and-dogs

This is not my story, but a good write up of first hand experience.

joshkirkland83 · Jan 29, 2016

reefwiser said:
Sponges are growing because there is waste in the water. Lower their food supply and they will die off. They feed on the organics in the water.Sponges are great filter feeders and the ocean could not function without them.

+1. I have them also. If they are that bad, you have high nitrates and/or phosphates.

Saltine · Jan 29, 2016

joshkirkland83 said:
+1. I have them also. If they are that bad, you have high nitrates and/or phosphates.

+2, When I originally setup my Sump these things THRIVED, as the tank matured and nutrients became under control, they disappeared. I would look at reducing feeding, vacuuming the sand bed if you have one, vacuuming the bottom of your sump if you have one, possibly run GFO, and start doing slightly larger water changes.

Salt

Reefer1978 · Jan 29, 2016

I tried a few angels - no luck. They ignored my sponges.

I am Maul · Jan 29, 2016

Is over feeding the reason for the spaghetti worms as well? My wife has a bad habit of feeding so that she can see all the fish come out when people are over (she thinks I don't know).

WetWhistle · Jan 29, 2016

So why do you want to get rid of them? They are beneficial filter feeders that help polish your water eating up particulate matter and phosphates. They will not cause any harm.

I am Maul · Jan 29, 2016

I don't mind a few of the sponge, but they are EVERYWHERE!!! There isn't a rock in my tank that doesn't have at least a dozen of the little round sponges on it. If I could get it back to just a few, I would be fine with it. The spaghetti worms I'd like to get rid of all together, just because they are nasty looking.

WetWhistle · Jan 29, 2016

If you really want to get rid of them a wire brush scrubbing on them will work. Just get as much of the tissue out as possible with a net. I would leave at least some or you could run into a nutrient problem shortly after removal. I had a friend that had an big algae outbreak happen shortly after removal as they were so efficient at processing his water.

They are not always tied to high organics they just need a little, as long as they have particulate matter to eat they will do well. I have an army of sponges with very little organics in my tank. Just be careful how many you remove at once.