Sponge ID - Good or Bad

[jp415]

I have a some patches of sponges and was wondering if these were harmful or beneficial to the tank.

What causes this to grow and what should I do to prevent it or get rid of it.

 

[A Young Reefer]

There is no bad sponges in my experience. it only becomes bad when it overgrows and starts to smother corals. exposing them to air, scraping, brushing or even placing glue on them is how I would remove them.

 

[jp415]

Thanks.

If I scrape or brush them off could this be under water or does this have to be in air cause my rocks are glued together.

 

[A Young Reefer]

Thanks.

If I scrape or brush them off could this be under water or does this have to be in air cause my rocks are glued together.

if you choose to do it underwater try your best to not let any fragments of it land somewhere else, failing to do so could cause them to start growing in multiple other places.

 

[jp415]

Are there any livestock that could keep the sponge growth at a moderate level?

 

[Timfish]

Beneficial, most sponges feed off DOC* so will only grow to the extent they have food. A couple species are photosynthetic and as pointed out by A Youg Reefer can overgrow corals. If they bother you and you want to remove them steel straws and a siphon can be used.


*DOC or Dissolved Organic Carbon is released by both corals and algae. Excess DOC can promote pathogenic shifts in coral microbiomes so sponges are essential for removing it.

 

[aurora.k]

Are there any livestock that could keep the sponge growth at a moderate level?

Search on here to find lots of info, but many angelfish and I read the other day that some puffers will as well

 

[jp415]

Beneficial, most sponges feed off DOC* so will only grow to the extent they have food. A couple species are photosynthetic and as pointed out by A Youg Reefer can overgrow corals. If they bother you and you want to remove them steel straws and a siphon can be used.


*DOC or Dissolved Organic Carbon is released by both corals and algae. Excess DOC can promote pathogenic shifts in coral microbiomes so sponges are essential for removing it.

Thanks. I will be definitely trying this method.