Yellow sponge invasion

[Rmckoy]

I have been removing one rock at a time to dry and scrub the yellow sponge invasion away .

I’ve noticed in this one particular rock there is a large part that’s black ...
not sure what it is or if scrubbing is such a good idea .

any help identifying and suggestions to remove some of the yellow sponges

 

[Rmckoy]

 

[JasonK84]

That little emperator would appreciate it if you quit trying to remove his food from that rock!

 

[Proteus Meep]

The black stuff may be chicken liver sponge

Here is a pic of some that someone removed

 

[Hermie]

to be honest I kind of like them and wouldn't remove them

 

[Rmckoy]

There are so many ...
some rocks are completely covered ...

There is a juv emperor , but he doesn’t seam to bother the sponges too much .

I’m more worried he will start eating corals .
Up until today most of the coral stock was sps
I added a open brain , donut , palys and Duncan’s today .....

 

[Rmckoy]

That little emperator would appreciate it if you quite trying to remove his food from that rock!

That little emperor has been amazing so far .
hasn’t touched any corals yet ......

He’s not eating any sponges either .
He loves purple seaweed

 

[hawk82]

Ive got a little yellow sponge that came on my live rock that Im trying to keep alive. I think they look cool and add diversity.

 

[TerraFerma]

The yellow ones are all good. The black ones aren't bad - but they will encroach upon corals.

 

[ectoaesthetics]

+1 with terraferma I have had no issues with the yellow sponges in the past. I have had some that looked very similar -although most of them were a bit more circular shaped than what yours look like, but very very similar in texture and growth.

If the black on is in the hole on the top left side of the top pic -it does look like it has the potential of being a chicken liver sponge. If it is I would in fact ditch it and I am a big proponent of having sponges IN the aquarium. There is a "sponge loop" that we recognize as critical in wild reefs that we seem to totally ignore in reef aquariums (probably unwisely). But there are some sponges that are a pain. I have a blue sponge that I introduced to my tank (intentionally) I probably would have have regretted it if my tank was large. But it is growing too quickly in a 4.5 gallon nano display. It will be coming out the next time I pull the rock from the tank.

 

[Double monti 61]

I love my sponge

 

[hawk82]

My little yellow one.

 

[Proteus Meep]

I love my sponge

I love your sponge too

 

[Wideglide]

I was just reading an article that sponges can leak toxins. It did not sound as if the yellow sponges I have and am looking into are good for the tank.

 

[Hermie]

I was just reading an article that sponges can leak toxins. It did not sound as if the yellow sponges I have and am looking into are good for the tank.

Can you send a link to that article? I'd like to assess their claims

 

[Double monti 61]

That sponge thankfully receded and I was able to remove it never had any problems just more space for coral I have one left on one of my other rocks and it seems to be doing well I also have two small blue sponges that live well under my platygyra.

 

[dvgyfresh]

That sponge thankfully receded and I was able to remove it never had any problems just more space for coral I have one left on one of my other rocks and it seems to be doing well I also have two small blue sponges that live well under my platygyra.

Next time if you sponge problems , I would buy a red linkia starfish , it ate most of my sponges an I have to buy macro occasionally to supplement

 

[Wideglide]

Can you send a link to that article? I'd like to assess their claims

This is one that I looked at. I will look to see if there are others.

Five Reasons Sponges Are BAD For A Coral Reef Aquarium | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

 

[DxMarinefish]

This is one that I looked at. I will look to see if there are others.

Five Reasons Sponges Are BAD For A Coral Reef Aquarium | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

That article is so biased, it’s a shock it was written by Jake Adam’s.
Almost every point he made about sponges can be made for sps, softies, lps, algae, & other filter feeders.
It’s a scare mongering article that I find irresponsible.

have a read at this please to get a balanced view about sponges.

Surviving in a Marine Desert The Sponge Loop Retains Resources Within Coral Reefs
Dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen are quickly processed by sponges and released back into the reef food web in hours as carbon and nitrogen rich detritus.