sponges. Too many? What eats them?

[Susan Edwards]

So sounds like I should leave most. Maybe thin out where they are threatening corals or are a danger to them (goni). The mushroom rock is probably pretty safe. Thanks for all the good info

 

[i cant think]

I can probably pull off the "dripping" hanging bits. I can't remove the rock. Or rather, that 1 rock I can but it is too close to the "spheres" that are too fragile if bumped (they break) so I won't remove rocks for this reason. With this tank being 25" deep and me a short person (read short arms) any "deep reaching" is iffy lol's

Man, 25” deep is a dream tank for me. It’s that perfect depth but it’s also a nightmare to reach all the way down.

good point. Maybe I deal only with the ones that threaten my favorite corals, like my goni (there is one growing below it). I have vermatid snails unfortunately. I am ordering some cleaner clams and will get some feather dusters.

Try get a few more large feather dusters than just one if possible as they can really overpower other filter feeders along with clams.

 

[Rmckoy]

I know sponges are good but I think I have too many. They are taking over rocks. What eats them or kills them? How do I get rid of them, or do I want to get rid of them. They are literally dripping from the rocks! And choking the gps (if that is possible)

I have posted a very similar thread awhile ago .
while sponges are said to be a good sign
There was mention of the potential risk of them releasing some sort of toxin if irradiated in the tank ?

 

[Koty]

I have tons of them as I started adding KZ Spongepower a few months ago. From what I read and see the more (sponges) the merrier (are your corals) they are the foundation of coral reefs in nature. they filter the water and add a lot of beneficial DOC to it.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I can probably pull off the "dripping" hanging bits. I can't remove the rock. Or rather, that 1 rock I can but it is too close to the "spheres" that are too fragile if bumped (they break) so I won't remove rocks for this reason. With this tank being 25" deep and me a short person (read short arms) any "deep reaching" is iffy lol's

For longer arms, this is where you find out who your real friends are lol
Putting all jokes to the side, syringe gives you extra 2-3” of reach and a ladder helps you get closer to areas

 

[vetteguy53081]

I did a chemiclean treatment in May and it didn't affect them at all. Neither did the reef flux.

It won’t

 

[bnord]

I did a chemiclean treatment in May and it didn't affect them at all. Neither did the reef flux.

others have said the same
mine were shredded/dissolved within 18 hours
aren't tanks wonderful?

 

[Susan Edwards]

others have said the same
mine were shredded/dissolved within 18 hours
aren't tanks wonderful?

did you have added air stones in your display. I always run at least 2, one on each side of tank. And I run them a few days after as well. Perhaps lack of oxygen if you did not? I've used chemiclean on multiple tanks over the year. Never an issue

 

[Susan Edwards]

For longer arms, this is where you find out who your real friends are lol
Putting all jokes to the side, syringe gives you extra 2-3” of reach and a ladder helps you get closer to areas

lol's. I have a tall step stool and have to stand on the highest step and lean way over to put or pick up things on the sand bed. If it is at the back of the tank, I have long tong-tweezer-like things. Even from the sides, can't reach the middle back lol's. Something I did not take into consideration in planning my dream build haha

 

[Susan Edwards]

I have tons of them as I started adding KZ Spongepower a few months ago. From what I read and see the more (sponges) the merrier (are your corals) they are the foundation of coral reefs in nature. they filter the water and add a lot of beneficial DOC to it.

what does it mean when they are "dripping/drooping" hanging like icicles? Just growing?

 

[bnord]

did you have added air stones in your display. I always run at least 2, one on each side of tank. And I run them a few days after as well. Perhaps lack of oxygen if you did not? I've used chemiclean on multiple tanks over the year. Never an issue

Good thought and yes had (have) one running in the return, and always have turbulent flow at the surface
bur indeed it could have played a role

 

[Koty]

what does it mean when they are "dripping/drooping" hanging like icicles? Just growing?

Guess the are. How are your corals doing (along the line "if it works don't fix it")?
BTW what carbon do you dose?

 

[Susan Edwards]

Guess the are. How are your corals doing (along the line "if it works don't fix it")?
BTW what carbon do you dose?

The sponges don't seem to bother anything yet. The rhodactis rock seems happy. The gsp rock just covers/hides them.

I use nopox

 

[WheatToast]

Orange biscuit starfish (reef safe with caution but likes cooler temperatures), linckia (I highly caution against getting one though due to their sensitivity, needing a tank of no less than a year old, and being an expert level starfish), chocolate chip sea star (not reef safe), and some others.

What about this starfish?

 

[AydenLincoln]

What about this starfish?

HAHA!!

 

[Koty]

Consider changing the carbon source. I learned from RHF that sponges take acetic acid directly. I use TM NP-bacto-balance. Based on smell NOPOX has acetic acid and methanol (maybe I am wrong).

 

[Timfish]

SPonges can be beneficial but they can also be a problem. They are essential recyclers of DOC (carbon dosing) but with too much DOC they can potentially cause a feedback loop with algae shifting an ecosystem to an algae dominate system. It sounds like these are possibly grwoing well as a result of the disruption caused by the upgrade and are just one of the cycles that can occur as a result. Since they do appear to be interfering with your corals at least eastheticly, for now I'd just use manual removal. Using a steel straw with a siphon and carefully controlling the flow by pinching the hose you should be able to remove the sponge with minimal damage to corals.

 

[Squidward]

Wow wish I had that problem!

 

[Dkmoo]

I use nopox

Nopox is basically vodka+vinegar dosing. From another thread that im on there are evidence that it may be a contributing factor to vermatid explosion. Considering that its basically carbon and raises DOC, it makes sense that filter feeders will proliferate. Maybe in your tank the sponges has won the battle of numbers where as in the other thread's tanks vermatids won

 

[Susan Edwards]

Nopox is basically vodka+vinegar dosing. From another thread that im on there are evidence that it may be a contributing factor to vermatid explosion. Considering that its basically carbon and raises DOC, it makes sense that filter feeders will proliferate. Maybe in your tank the sponges has won the battle of numbers where as in the other thread's tanks vermatids won

interesting. I do have some vermatids.