pineapple sponges

[slyforestfire]

have a piece of red grape kelp in my tank. little fuzzy white nodes with a distinctive crown began appearing on it, from my research im fairly certain theyre pineapple sponges. heres my issue, the kelp also has quite a bit of green hair algae on it which seems to be overpowering both the kelp and the sponges. so i was wondering, is it possible to remove the sponges and relocate them without harm? curious cause i want to eradicate the hair algae

 

[slyforestfire]

thought about a peroxide dip like ive read so much about lately but worry that would be too harsh for the kelp and sponges. other option i came up with was a mower blenny to eat up the hair algae before it spreads off the frag rock.

 

[Jawbone flats]

those little sponges are hardy and will come and go on their own, I probably wouldnt try and intentionally try and rescue one... usually they will form behind your rocks in dark places or litter your sump. but if your stuck on saving them just pop em off and drop them in the sump. they will be fine. the lawnmower blenny is a good idea and a great addition to any reef... but why is the hair algae there to begin with is a better question

 

[slyforestfire]

dont have a sump setup yet. eventually when it is the kelp and everything on its frag rock will get housed there. the algae is there because i had a massive cyano outbreak from using tap water. over the course of several weeks i did large water changes with ro water. now my coralline is spreading like wild fire and the little bit of hair algae popped up too.

 

[Squishie89]

My pineapple sponges seem to love living in my overflow. You could try putting them in there.

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[stacy_vennes]

My pineappls are in my sump +1 on the blenny i have one in my 125 and he works wonders

 

[steamer51]

If you move the sponges put them in a container underwater, move them and put the container underwater before you release them to the new place. All sponges constantly suck water through their system to filter feed and if they suck air when you take them out of the water they usually die. There will be spores left to grow some new ones eventually but the one you are trying to save will be dead. Good luck saving them, I try to save all creatures when I move things around.

 

[Squishie89]

If you move the sponges put them in a container underwater, move them and put the container underwater before you release them to the new place. All sponges constantly suck water through their system to filter feed and if they suck air when you take them out of the water they usually die. There will be spores left to grow some new ones eventually but the one you are trying to save will be dead. Good luck saving them, I try to save all creatures when I move things around.

I have about 10-15 growing on my "ball" of chaeto (had to trim off red bubble algae and it is no longer much of a ball) and I have taken it out tons of times with no obvious ill effects to the sponges, I even had it out for about 10 minutes while pruning. I cannot guarantee the same sponges are on it or are not currently dying. I think they benefit that I feed the refugium phyto feast though.

 

[steamer51]

I have about 10-15 growing on my "ball" of chaeto (had to trim off red bubble algae and it is no longer much of a ball) and I have taken it out tons of times with no obvious ill effects to the sponges, I even had it out for about 10 minutes while pruning. I cannot guarantee the same sponges are on it or are not currently dying. I think they benefit that I feed the refugium phyto feast though.

Glad to hear you have had good luck with your sponges. I have also removed rock with sponges that I didn't know were there and they have survived with no problem but as a rule of thumb I like to do everything possible. I think some sponges are hardier than others and pineapples are probably high on that list.

 

[slyforestfire]

thanks everyone for sharing your experience. im going to attempt to transplant the sponges and clean up the algae tonight. ill keep everyone updated on how it goes