Anyone "feed" their sponges?

[d2mini]

I've been adding some phytofeast to the tank a few times a week to provide food for the sponges. Anyone else do this? Is it needed? I also feed the tank Rod's Food for the fishies and corals.

 

[Madratter]

I feed DTs a couple of times a week. My tanks are 6 months old and so far I have lost just one sponge (a yellow ball). A second yellow ball is in less than great shape (it likes to grow some algae during the day that gets eaten at night). A third yellow ball and my other sponges are doing fine.

After 6 months, I still have some barnacles that are alive as well as some other filter feeders such as a Turkey Wing Mollusk, small feather dusters, etc.

My nitrates are zero so feeding with it is not hurting my parameters. I probably should have fed more because I did lose most of my tunicates 8(. I do still have some sea squirts in my one tank that are fine.

 

[tspfish]

My tank is 4 years old and I have lost all sponges except some yellow encrusting sponge that has come back. My biggest advantage that I have found to feed my corals and filter feeders is a refugium. I know that there is a ton of people out there that hate them but once they are mature and your algae is growing good they are a huge benefit to a tank. My cup coral and yellow encrusting sponge are doing awesome now. Oh and make sure you keep your peppermint shrimp healthy as they are very important also. Just my opinion but it works well for me