I wanted to add a little more biology to my tank so what I wanted to do is add some really cultured sponge and biomax from my freshwater tank. I know not all bacteria is the same but I figured it would help. Was I totally wrong??? I am afraid that all bacteria will die and actually cause more ammo and nitrite??? please help
Emergency
- Thread starter Chago09
- Start date
frederickk
New member
Usually sponge are very delicate and doesn't survive long whenever you transfer them.
Do you see a difference right as of colour our shape?
Do you see a difference right as of colour our shape?
Wait, I think you got us all confused. Did you mean like a sponge plant that lives on your rocks as a way of decoration? O did you mean a sponge that you put in your filter for biological filtration???
If it is what you put in yor filter, I would take it out--problably just more ammonia from dieoff
If it is what you put in yor filter, I would take it out--problably just more ammonia from dieoff
He put freshwater bacteria via a pump sponge into his saltwater tank to 'help' it out...
I hope you have a good skimmer. Get the sponge out. The bacteria are now dying, and depending on how many, could create a fairly large dead biomass in your saltwater tank. Your saltwater bacteria will not die as a result of this: they will consume the remains of your freshwater bugs, but may not be numerous enough to do it all. You may have provoked a small cycle, much as if you had tossed a dead fish into your saltwater tank to let it rot.
Take the following steps:
1. run carbon---this will help remove resulting ammonia.
2. test for ammonia/nitrate/nitrite; you know---the strips.
3. dose very cautiously with Amquel if you can't get the ammonia down with carbon. Ammonia is a killer.
4. tune your skimmer to run wet and keep dumping.
5. do a 20% water change.
As a rule things from freshwater that go into saltwater die within hours: with fish, it's kidney failure: memory eludes me as to what it is with a bug or bacterium, but it's something like what happens to shrimp that are put into a different salinity water: osmotic shock---their insides and outsides aren't at the same pressure, and they can't regulate it because shrimp can't sweat through their shells.
Don't mix the two environments: it's not even a good idea to trade dry nets from one to the other. And I hope like everything you've never used copper in that freshwater tank you borrowed the sponges from! THat would be a major, tank-contaminating, permanent disaster for the saltwater tank.
I hope you have a good skimmer. Get the sponge out. The bacteria are now dying, and depending on how many, could create a fairly large dead biomass in your saltwater tank. Your saltwater bacteria will not die as a result of this: they will consume the remains of your freshwater bugs, but may not be numerous enough to do it all. You may have provoked a small cycle, much as if you had tossed a dead fish into your saltwater tank to let it rot.
Take the following steps:
1. run carbon---this will help remove resulting ammonia.
2. test for ammonia/nitrate/nitrite; you know---the strips.
3. dose very cautiously with Amquel if you can't get the ammonia down with carbon. Ammonia is a killer.
4. tune your skimmer to run wet and keep dumping.
5. do a 20% water change.
As a rule things from freshwater that go into saltwater die within hours: with fish, it's kidney failure: memory eludes me as to what it is with a bug or bacterium, but it's something like what happens to shrimp that are put into a different salinity water: osmotic shock---their insides and outsides aren't at the same pressure, and they can't regulate it because shrimp can't sweat through their shells.
Don't mix the two environments: it's not even a good idea to trade dry nets from one to the other. And I hope like everything you've never used copper in that freshwater tank you borrowed the sponges from! THat would be a major, tank-contaminating, permanent disaster for the saltwater tank.
Shagsbeard
New member
Just to make sure... your tests for fresh water and salt water are different too. A saltwater test for ammonia needs a different calibration.
I tend to doubt there will be a huge problem Chago. Some of the FW bacteria will die and some will live. The overall amount of material released by the dying bacteria will probably not be all that much in a 65 gallon tank and the tank's own bacteria population should help consume those products. I'd remove the sponge however and rely on getting the bacteria from some good quality LR.
Paul B
Premium Member
I really really hate to do this but I have to agree with Water keeper. It will not be a problem.
I also thought he had some freshwater living sponge, whatever that is, and put it in a reef. I was very interested to see this sponge.
Now I am not excited anymore and i will slip into a coma
I also thought he had some freshwater living sponge, whatever that is, and put it in a reef. I was very interested to see this sponge.
Now I am not excited anymore and i will slip into a coma
