Anyone with long term large sponge success?

[aninjaatemyshoe]

Does anyone have or know of long term success with large sponges (barrel, not encrusting)? I know of only one specific species of such sponge that has thrived. It grew like a weed in my tank until it got exposed to air when I moved the tank. I know that the Caribbean sponges are very poor survivors and haven't had much success with them myself. Also, I hardly ever see pics of well established systems with large sponge colonies.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I have had great luck with the black barrel sponge from Chuck Stottlemyerer's system. However, I have a fish that has decided it is good eats... and 90% of it has been nibbled away!

 

[aninjaatemyshoe]

Yeah, that is the same sponge I've had success with. It's a really cool sponge.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I have put a few small pieces in my sump and refuge becuase whoever is eating it is doing it VERY quickly. The main colony (the size of a grapefruit) has been eaten away in a matter of a week... a few bites at a time. I think it happens at night.

 

[salty joe]

I have put a few small pieces in my sump and refuge becuase whoever is eating it is doing it VERY quickly. The main colony (the size of a grapefruit) has been eaten away in a matter of a week... a few bites at a time. I think it happens at night.


Any idea who the culprit is?

 

[BeanAnimal]

Peach Midas Blenny
Foxface Rabbitfish
Blackcap Basslet
Tomini Tang
Scopas Tang
Maroon Clown
Lemon Peel (with blue eye) Angel
Blue with Yellow Tail Damsel
1 Scarlet Hermit (small/medium)
2 Blue leg (tiny) hermits
Coral Banded Shrimp
Large Black Brittle Star
2 Sundial Snails
2 Nasasarius snails
20 Astrea Snails
10 Cerith Snails
Take your pick.... I have no idea!

 

[salty joe]

How long was the sponge in there before it started getting eaten? I'll pick the angel.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Since early spring....

 

[Kreeger1]

Hit me up I'll give ya another piece. I also have serdars blue sponge that is barreling for me I can try to frag
Erik
Im on 2 years with it

 

[OneThunder]

I've had a fist size orange ball sponge in my tank since June. I tucked it under a low hanging ledge. So far (keep my fingers crossed) nothing is eating it.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Erik,

I may be interested in a hunk of the blue. I have enough of the black that I think I should be OK. I also gave some to Bob Nell and he said it has doubled in size.

 

[Kreeger1]

let me know if your ever in the area. Did you get the black from me at a swap?
Erik

 

[BeanAnimal]

I got it from Chuck at the swap last year. When he was here he had some great photos of the stuff and I couldn't wait to try it.

It is amazing how different it grows in different flows.

 

[Kreeger1]

I no, I have some that just tubes up straight, then some in stronger flow that opens like a bowl

 

[BeanAnimal]

Exactly.... in the refuge it is turning into tall slender tubes. In the main display with the high flow it is (well was) like 3-4 big bowls. Amazing stuff. Is the blue as interesting?

 

[liveforphysics]

I have some yellow stuff that makes little pinky like risers, but they seem to only go about 2" tall before they spread off the sides rather than continuing to grow upwards.

I have 5 angel fish, including a pair of lemon peels and an asfur. Nobody seems to be interested in taking a bite. I'm glad, because I like sponges I would love a piece of black or blue barreling sponge if anyone is local to Seattle area

 

[aninjaatemyshoe]

Thanks Erik, I think I might take you up on that. Btw, how's the tank doing nowadays?

The black barrel sponge is quite a find. I'm not familiar with the blue barrel sponge though, anyone have a pic? I think if a person could find more ones like these, one could make a very impressive display using sponges instead of corals.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I do have some of the dense gray sponge, black encrusting sponge and yellow and green "mini" sponges. They are all over the tank and sump, but nothing like the black barrel

 

[jdhuyvetter]

I've had great luck with yellow ball sponge (2 years) that I collected myself in the keys. Put it in the shade. I've also got a tan piece that I got from a friend when I set up the tank. It has grown between 3 rocks and "glued" them together. Got a neon pink sponge I got on the beach after a storm. It's alive, but starting to show some tissue recession. I'm going to try to target feed it some microvert and phyto.

 

[SDguy]

Other than the sponges that grew out of my liverock (purple, pink, yellow), I did buy a large chunk of that blue stuff. It is alive, growing and spreading.