Sponge experts needed! Sponge dying?

[MrBubble47]

Hello everyone,

I'd like to know if there's something wrong going on with my Red sponge from the Carribean.
I bought it 3 weeks ago.
Today, it looks to me like it's losing some skin tissue.

I don't remember seeing all of those holes on the skin of the sponge either.

Is there someone who knows what's happening to it?

Thanks to anybody who replies!

 

[sixty_reefer]

Non photosynthetic sponges are notoriously hard to keep in the hobby maybe this could help you.

Silica In Reef Aquariums

Why would I recommend dosing silica? Largely because creatures in our tanks use it, the concentrations in our tanks (at least in mine) are below natural levels, and the sponges, mollusks, and diatoms may not be getting enough to thrive.

reefs.com

 

[MrBubble47]

Non photosynthetic sponges are notoriously hard to keep in the hobby maybe this could help you.

Silica In Reef Aquariums

Why would I recommend dosing silica? Largely because creatures in our tanks use it, the concentrations in our tanks (at least in mine) are below natural levels, and the sponges, mollusks, and diatoms may not be getting enough to thrive.

reefs.com

thank you!
Do you think I still have time to save it by dosing Silica?
Does the sponge change color when d

 

[sixty_reefer]

thank you!
Do you think I still have time to save it by dosing Silica?
Does the sponge change color when d

Probably not worth it to be honest, you may risk the other corals health by doing so. Specially if it’s your first time playing with silica if not done right you could end up with a bloom of dinoflagellates

 

[dennis romano]

Sponges are tough to keep in a reef tank. I have around ten in one of my tanks. Tree sponges are harder to keep than encrusting or ball sponges. How old is your tank? Sponges do best in a tank that is very mature. What are you feeding it? Sponges need extremely small food, fed several times a day. I stir the tank substrate to get the microfauna floating and sponges do best on it. They also prefer moderate water flow. The pores opening is not necessarily bad. Several types of sponge open pores to take in food. If you see the flesh turning white, that is bad. One thing about sponges is that even small pieces may live for a while.

 

[MrBubble47]

New update, the sponge seems to be doing good once again.

KH: 9.15°
Ca: 425
Mg: 1365
NO3: 10

 

[MrBubble47]

Sponges are tough to keep in a reef tank. I have around ten in one of my tanks. Tree sponges are harder to keep than encrusting or ball sponges. How old is your tank? Sponges do best in a tank that is very mature. What are you feeding it? Sponges need extremely small food, fed several times a day. I stir the tank substrate to get the microfauna floating and sponges do best on it. They also prefer moderate water flow. The pores opening is not necessarily bad. Several types of sponge open pores to take in food. If you see the flesh turning white, that is bad. One thing about sponges is that even small pieces may live for a while.

I started my tank at the beginning of 2021 but I've had several problems at the beginning so it actually started to be healthy only in April. So basically it is just 7 months old.

I put fish food twice a day plus coral food every once in a while.

Do you have a thread of your where you show your sponges? I'd really like to see them

 

[Miami Reef]

That’s a very vibrant and pretty sponge. Good luck!

 

[dennis romano]

I started my tank at the beginning of 2021 but I've had several problems at the beginning so it actually started to be healthy only in April. So basically it is just 7 months old.

I put fish food twice a day plus coral food every once in a while.

Do you have a thread of your where you show your sponges? I'd really like to see them

Very Nice! I do not have a thread but here is a picture of my gorgonian-NPS tank.

 

[Miami Reef]

Very Nice! I do not have a thread but here is a picture of my gorgonian-NPS tank.

How old is this tank? I like the maturity of it. Especially the sand - yum!

 

[dennis romano]

How old is this tank? I like the maturity of it. Especially the sand - yum!

Tank has been running for about twenty five years. The green mushrooms in the front left have been there since the beginning. There are also hairy mushrooms and a large blue octocoral not in the picture that are also over twenty years old.

 

[MrBubble47]

Very Nice! I do not have a thread but here is a picture of my gorgonian-NPS tank.

Oh my God! This is spectacular! I also think that the Pterapogon kauderni fits absolutely perfectly with the style of the tank! How often do you feed the nps corals and what lighting do you have in your set up?

 

[Miami Reef]

Tank has been running for about twenty five years. The green mushrooms in the front left have been there since the beginning. There are also hairy mushrooms and a large blue octocoral not in the picture that are also over twenty years old.

Can I ask your phosphate levels?

 

[dennis romano]

Oh my God! This is spectacular! I also think that the Pterapogon kauderni fits absolutely perfectly with the style of the tank! How often do you feed the nps corals and what lighting do you have in your set up?

I bought him several years ago after Superstorm Sandy wiped out most of the tank. The NPS get fed at least twice a day, getting mainly Phyto and oyster eggs. Once a day, I stir up the bottom to get the microfauna floating. The sponges do well on that. As for lighting, I use cheap Petco lighting. Obviously, the NPS don't need much and the softies are doing well.

 

[MrBubble47]

Update:

The sponge is doing good and has grown a new "limb" that attaches to the rockscape.

 

[Miami Reef]

Awesome!!!

 

[MrBubble47]

New update.

I moved the sponge backwords where it is a little darker. It is doing good but doesn't seem to grow at all.

KH: 8.4
Ca: 435
Mg: 1360
NO3: 2

I also bought myself a new sponge. Does anybody know the scientific name of it?

I bought a new product for sponges from Korallenzucht.de, it's called "Sponge Power".

 

[izzy1942]

Hello everyone,

I'd like to know if there's something wrong going on with my Red sponge from the Carribean.
I bought it 3 weeks ago.
Today, it looks to me like it's losing some skin tissue.

I don't remember seeing all of those holes on the skin of the sponge either.

Is there someone who knows what's happening to it?

Thanks to anybody who replies!

 

[reef lover33]

Can anyone tell me what is going on with my sponge