Sponge Habitat

[Subsea]

I was going to clean up tanks for pretty pictures, however, a friend & I are going fishing on Saint Patrick’s Day.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
A Cajun Aggie in Austin,
Patrick

PS: TOO MANY TANKS.

 

[Beuchat Verified Sponsor]

Beuchat

Boutique propulsée par PrestaShop

www.beuchat-diving.com

@Beuchat

Angel,
Are you connected with this company?

Hi Patrick, not at all. Just a nick because the brand name of my diving suit is Beuchat

 

[Beuchat Verified Sponsor]

Reef Aquarium Discussion

Discuss all saltwater and reef aquarium related topics here. Have a question or general aquaria thought? Share it here.

www.reef2reef.com

In this thread, Coral Holibiont, I discuss Angels “white paper” thread

THE CHEMICAL INTERACTION BETWEEN SPECIES AS AN HYPOTHESIS FOR A MATURE TANK

Algae, unavoidable companions. Algae are undoubtedly one of the inhabitants of a reef tank that cause the biggest headaches to hobbyists. In a world idealized by aesthetics, we might wish that these living beings were out of our system...

www.reef2reef.com

@Beuchat
Are you still out there Angel.
Patrick

Hi Patrick, very busy lately. But happy to read you again!

 

[Subsea]

Hi Patrick, not at all. Just a nick because the brand name of my diving suit is Beuchat

I considered that you & Jaques Cousteau had partnered to endorse all things sea worthy.

 

[Subsea]

Hi Patrick, very busy lately. But happy to read you again!

Also busy which is a good thing. I have only read the first chapter of your book and I am getting mileage by quoting it. I really like your insight on the complexity of reef ecosystem as a super organism, similar to ant colony.

In 1972, while attending my first Magna Conference, PHD Marine Biologist, Martin Moe said about reef ecosystem:

“It’s not Rocket Science; it’s more complicated.

 

[randomfishdude]

Also busy which is a good thing. I have only read the first chapter of your book and I am getting mileage by quoting it. I really like your insight on the complexity of reef ecosystem as a super organism, similar to ant colony.

In 1972, while attending my first Magna Conference, PHD Marine Biologist Martin Moe said about reef ecosystem: “It’s not Rocket Science; it’s more complicated.

Didn't you say the same thing in my thread?
Also not to call you old but 1972 is older than both my truck and my parents. I have older than normal parents. My dad being born in 61 and my mom being in 69. I honestly wish I could have experienced thoes times without the internet and whatnot.

 

[Subsea]

Didn't you say the same thing in my thread?
Also not to call you old but 1972 is older than both my truck and my parents. I have older than normal parents. My dad being born in 61 and my mom being in 69. I honestly wish I could have experienced thoes times without the internet and whatnot.

I was born in 1948 and graduated from high school in 1966. Was in the USAF Nov 1966 - Nov 1970. Served four 90 day tours in Cambodia and as a young crew chief on a modified AC 47 gunship, we flew the Syria/Israeli border during 6 Day War June 1967.

Janus Joplin said about the 1960’s; “If you remember, you were not there”.

 

[Subsea]

Didn't you say the same thing in my thread?

Yes, I quoted Martin Moe. Let me quote @Randy Holmes-Farley in a discussion on biochemistry in which he said; “Pat, we sent a man to the moon 50 years ago, yet we can’t cure Cancer”.

 

[randomfishdude]

I was born in 1948 and graduated from high school in 1966. Was in the USAF Nov 1966 - Nov 1970. Served four 90 day tours in Cambodia and as a young crew chief on a modified AC 47 gunship, we flew the Syria/Israeli border during 6 Day War June 1967.

Janus Joplin said about the 1960’s; “If you remember, you were not there”.

What did you fly?

 

[Subsea]

What did you fly?

I was a mechanic and flying crew chief on a cargo aircraft AC47 (Puff the Magic Dragon) which was modified with General Electric gattling guns. I only flew on combat missions to get the flying time for extra pay. The pilots fired the guns. I repaired aircraft on the ground. Our base was in Cambodia and we supported 82nd Airborne Rangers who dealt with the Khmer Rouge.

 

[mikst]

I forgot if we are talking about tomatoes as a fish or as a vegetable.

I stopped using heaters in all of my marine tanks except those outdoors and those heaters are set at 65 degrees falling. I operate below 75 and prefer 72.

I have so much to learn on here. So far I like what you write. I come from freshwater side and everybody freaks if you don't run a 78* heater. Most of our tanks in our house are unheated.

 

[Subsea]

I have so much to learn on here. So far I like what you write. I come from freshwater side and everybody freaks if you don't run a 78* heater. Most of our tanks in our house are unheated.

@mikst
Welcome to the addiction and thank you for kind words. With respect to learning; the more I learn the more I realize how little I know.

With respect to temperature in reef tanks, I prefer to slow down metabolism of everything. From my experiences, I find that bacteria flourish at higher temperatures increasing BOD (biological oxygen demand) of the water and at the same time elevated water temperature holds less oxygen which is critical for most all biochemistry in our reef tanks. During nighttime with lights out, both corals & algae consume oxygen and release carbon dioxide to the water as bacteria continue to reproduce and consume more oxygen. During lights out, oxygen depletion is a major consideration that should be addressed. I promote good gas/air exchange at water surface and I tumble water leaving display tank to the sump.

Most reefers fret on pH fluctuation at night. Healthy IndoPacific reefsfluctuate pH between 7.8 and 8.2. I use these pH fluctuations to assist with passive buffering and trace mineral additions using aroggonite solubility at lower pH in depths of sandbed.

 

[Nano_Man]

There’s a lot of sponges on my travels

 

[Subsea]

I will link academic research that shows diversity of feeding strategies increases survival of species. The research does not suggest, it documents a high level of feeding on DOM/DOC and during seasonal fluctuations when these levels are not high, switching feeding strategies to phytoplankton.

However, each species should be viewed separately to detail what each species feeds on. Because I am a simple person, I focus on the ecosystems that supports ornamental sponges and then,

I emulate Nature and provide diversity of micro fauna & fana.

Angel Cegarra captures this sentiment in his book
Reefkeeping Fundamentals which was published March 23, 2023. Chapter 1 Introduction on “Biology and Nutrients page 14 on the third paragraph reads:

“The organisms that inhabit coral reefs have evolved together for millions of years, so that their feeding habits are completely intertwined. Reefs are habitats with extraordinary stable environmental conditions throughout geologic time. This stability has favored the evolution of hundreds of thousands of species over millions of years, producing an unimaginable explosion of biodiversity.”

With recent conversations on elevated pathogen predators/ consumers, I decided to bump this post as it illustrates an area of reef aquarium husbandry, The Sponge habitat that is too often overlooked.

 

[Subsea]

There’s a lot of sponges on my travels

With recent conversations on elevated pathogen predators/ consumers, I decided to bump this post as it illustrates an area of reef aquarium husbandry, The Sponge habitat that is too often overlooked.

 

[strich]

I think what would help is enticing some people to try sponges out - What ones look good as ornamental pieces? What exactly needs to be done to keep them? Can some of the understanding that they're extremely hard to keep be dispelled?

 

[Subsea]

I think what would help is enticing some people to try sponges out - What ones look good as ornamental pieces? What exactly needs to be done to keep them? Can some of the understanding that they're extremely hard to keep be dispelled?

<head> <title>Macroalgae For Marine Reef Aquariums: Red Finger Sponge

www.live-plants.com

<head> <title>Macroalgae For Marine Reef Aquariums: Yellow Ball Sponge

<head> <title>Macroalgae For Marine Reef Aquariums: Elephant Ear Sponge

The common theme on ornamental sponges from Gulf of Mexico is to have a mature biodiverse system. To that end, I emulate a Caribbean lagoon bio type by purchasing diver collected live rock & live sand from Florida collectors. Tampa Bay Saltwater & Gulf Live Rock are two vendors I am very familiar with. In 1999 those vendors barged 1000 tons of limestone to their offshore leases.

Note: silicates are an important trace mineral for sponge husbandry.

Gulf Live Rock.com

gulfliverock.com

 

[Subsea]

I think what would help is enticing some people to try sponges out - What ones look good as ornamental pieces? What exactly needs to be done to keep them? Can some of the understanding that they're extremely hard to keep be dispelled?

To that end, I am in process of setting up a designer curated live rock system to introduce ornamental seaweeds & softies as an entry level alternative. And as an advanced alternative to include ornamental sponges & NPS gorgonions & sea weeks.

System is located in spare bedroom and is 50% complete.

 

[mikst]

Very nice!

 

[Subsea]

I just had a conversation with Russ Kronwetter, diver/owner of GulfCoast EcoSystems about a new NPS coral I have never tried and will soon receive.

<head> <title>Macroalgae For Marine Reef Aquariums: Purple Sea Fan Gorgonian

His website description is on point, however, I asked him for any specifics that would help with husbandry.

“The depth varies on the non photosynthetic species, the colorful sea whips can grow in shallow water to depths of about 4-40ft. They prefer high flow areas under bridges and along jetties to offshore artificial reefs and hard bottom. They are often exposed in direct sunlight. The brighter colors are more abundant during the winter when the water is clearer. The fan gorgonians are always found deeper and seem to grow almost anywhere, some under ledges, some exposed to sunlight. They shed regularly to remove any sediment and microalgae growth.”



With respect to cultivating designer live rock, my initial focus was to provide hardy & economical livestock for entry level as well as advanced hobiest.

Because of my focus on the sponge loop and the microbial loop, I have chosen to increase diversity for maintaining more complex food webs and will provide some more delicate livestock on some designer rock. I have partnered with Aquadome in Austin to display some of the differrent options and to get suggestions for differrent combinations of ornamental macros & sponges as well as softies and NPS for more advanced hobbiest.