Checkout this awesome sponge.

[Western_reefer]

I ordered this awesome tube sponge. Can't wait till I get it!:dance:

 

[Romulox234]

Oh wow thats awsome how do you feed this things? just shoot the food right into the tube or does it just filter feed?

 

[Western_reefer]

Oh wow thats awsome how do you feed this things? just shoot the food right into the tube or does it just filter feed?

Just add phyto/filter feeder food to the water column and the sponge will filter out the food. DO NOT shoot the food into the tube. lol

 

[Romulox234]

lol im guessing that would damage the sponge then?

 

[aninjaatemyshoe]

I think barrel sponges take food from their sides and expel wastes and water through their tube. So, feeding through their tube would be the wrong way in.

 

[Western_reefer]

lol im guessing that would damage the sponge then?

Yeah, you probably will damage the sponge that way.

 

[slapshot]

Sweet! Let us know how it goes. I read somewhere that barrel sponges are somewhat photosythetic. In the wild they are right in the bright light.

 

[Western_reefer]

Sweet! Let us know how it goes. I read somewhere that barrel sponges are somewhat photosythetic. In the wild they are right in the bright light.

Will do. Yeah, I do have lights over the tank, so it will be getting light.

 

[Western_reefer]

It was shipped out today! Can't wait till it comes!! :dance:

 

[Western_reefer]

I got it today! WOOT! It looks AWESOME!!

 

[scuba guy ron]

where's a pic

 

[Western_reefer]

where's a pic

Here ya go.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1784410

 

[murraycamp]

Will do. Yeah, I do have lights over the tank, so it will be getting light.

This looks like a Caribbean Callyspongia vaginalis to me - but I'm no expert.

I have been doing some background research in connection with a new azooxanthellate system I am planning, and came across a great article on sponge dietary requirements.

I specifically researched C. vaginalis and found that it was the subject of a 2006 paper that found that heterotrophic bacteria and cyanobacteria (prochlorophytes and others) constituted about 98% of the energy budget for that sponge. Trussell, Patterson (2006) Depth-specific differences in growth of the reef sponge Callyspongia vaginalis: role of bottom-up effects, Mar Ecol Prog Ser 323:149-158.

One of the authors sent me a copy, so if anyone wants to look at it, let me know. The author also advised it does not host photosynthetic symbionts.

The system I am planning will include a Zeovit reactor, so I am hoping that it will produce enough bacterioplankton, of the correct size and type, to sustain the sponge. At a minimum, I would think that basic carbon dosing methodologies to increase bacterial biomass would help.

hth

 

[5h3rW1N]

there awesome!! make sure you dont get it expose to air while acclaimating it.

 

[slapshot]

This looks like a Caribbean Callyspongia vaginalis to me - but I'm no expert.

I have been doing some background research in connection with a new azooxanthellate system I am planning, and came across a great article on sponge dietary requirements.

I specifically researched C. vaginalis and found that it was the subject of a 2006 paper that found that heterotrophic bacteria and cyanobacteria (prochlorophytes and others) constituted about 98% of the energy budget for that sponge. Trussell, Patterson (2006) Depth-specific differences in growth of the reef sponge Callyspongia vaginalis: role of bottom-up effects, Mar Ecol Prog Ser 323:149-158.

One of the authors sent me a copy, so if anyone wants to look at it, let me know. The author also advised it does not host photosynthetic symbionts.

The system I am planning will include a Zeovit reactor, so I am hoping that it will produce enough bacterioplankton, of the correct size and type, to sustain the sponge. At a minimum, I would think that basic carbon dosing methodologies to increase bacterial biomass would help.

hth

That is very interesting! I had the same sponge and mine died after 4 weeks. Pretty sure it was exposed to air as parts of it were white when I got it and that is where the disintegration started. Could you link or send me the artical? Thanks!

 

[murraycamp]

That is very interesting! I had the same sponge and mine died after 4 weeks. Pretty sure it was exposed to air as parts of it were white when I got it and that is where the disintegration started. Could you link or send me the artical? Thanks!

PM sent.

 

[ViEt-TiN]

dont mean to hi-jack your thread but I just recently bought a sponge similar to yours amd when I opened the bag to put in the tank I noticed the water smelled pretty bad. How do you tell if the sponge is dead?

 

[stunreefer]

It will start to deteriorate and fall apart - bad smell isn't a good sign.

 

[ViEt-TiN]

I called the lfs I got it from and they said they will refund me. Where are you guys getting your sponges? The lfs says they dont expose them to air but im thinking somewhere down the line the sponges are.

 

[5h3rW1N]

dont mean to hi-jack your thread but I just recently bought a sponge similar to yours amd when I opened the bag to put in the tank I noticed the water smelled pretty bad. How do you tell if the sponge is dead?

it will smell like a dead fish or a rotten egg.. the colors will fade and like what stunreefer said It will start to deteriorate and fall apart