Sponge not looking good

[marktea]

Hey guys, this was my first ever piece of coral. He's been in my tank for over a month now and hasn't looked to good since day one. Up until today the "fuzz" on him was pretty pale but it's looking closer to grey now. Again for over a month now. Do you guys think he's just slowly dying into my water column? Is he possibly dying but not dead yet? Everyone else is the tank is looking great and healthy and even a little happy. Any one have some expirence and knowledge they can pass off to me?

 

[marktea]

Opps that's a hermit crab on him. They're not always on him but I'd say I see them on him about once every two three days. But them just seem to like bothering all my coral

 

[TbyZ]

Randy says sponges need silica - dosing

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/1/aafeature1

 

[Luu78]

Looks like detritus collecting on it. Too low flow?

 

[Paul B]

I would say, slowly dying. They filter large quantities of your water every day and need to get some nutrients from it. If your tank is new or very clean, they will starve.

 

[marktea]

Hmm have to read a few more articles on silica. I am skeptical because of diatoms lol so I'll get some other opinions. Thank you though that's something I wasn't aware of.
I wouldn't think so luu. I have 340gph of water moving in a 12/13.5 w sump

 

[Luu78]

Do this test, place it in a container slightly bigger than the sponge, then stir in phyto such as nannochroposis and check an hour later to see if water clears up. They're very efficient filter feeders, the water should clears up quickly

 

[marktea]

Thank you luu! That was exactly what I was looking for. Cheers

 

[Luu78]

Thank you luu! That was exactly what I was looking for. Cheers

Gladly to help!

 

[TbyZ]

Thank you luu! That was exactly what I was looking for. Cheers

Shouldn't you ensure the sponge doesn’t come into contact with air?

 

[Luu78]

Thats easy enough, just place the container inside the tank and put sponge in while under water. I have purple sponge and always have them out for a few seconds with no ill effects but I try to avoid exposing sponges to air in general.

 

[marktea]

Hey, Incase anyone is curious, the spong oddly enough cleared up completely for a two day span. Nothing but orange goodness. I performed a rather large water change and he produce a little more of that "fuzz" on him. Not completely sure what this means although I kind of have an idea using common sense.
If anyone was interested or maybe had a sponge of their own in the same position. I wouldn't mind some speculation though

 

[Paul B]

That is great news. I love it when I am wrong.

 

[marktea]

I figure some proof is due Paul haha

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

FWIW, large free standing sponges like that rarely survive long term in reef aquaria.

I had a yellow ball sponge thrive and grow quite a bit over the years, but most of the time, big sponges fail. Keeping them in a dark location is usually best, unless it is one fo the very few photosynthetic sponges.

 

[marktea]

Oh really? Interesting. I'll do my best to beat the odds then haha. Would a cave be too dark?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Oh really? Interesting. I'll do my best to beat the odds then haha. Would a cave be too dark?

No, definitely not too dark. Complete darkness is not too dark, assmuing it is not photosynthetic.

Algae growing on such sponged can be a problem.