How to take care of tree sponge?

[jimrawr]

So I went and made an impulse purchase today at the LFS. I figured its a softie it cant be that difficult to take care of since I have a mostly SPS tank, but thats totally wrong from what I see now..

Now when I came home with it and did some research, I guess they dont typically live too long and they are really difficult to maintain. Can anyone tell me what I should do to try to preserve its life? I got it into my tank and placed without exposing it to any air.

Give me some hope, did I just spend $40 on a coral that will last a few weeks??

 

[zoomfish1]

Give us a pic. I have several sponges and placed them on the bottom. I don't feed direct. I'm not sure what a tree sponge looks like.

 

[jimrawr]

 

[zoomfish1]

Nothing comes up.

 

[jimrawr]

 

[dendro982]

Did the same, also $40, still alive, but not good.
Advice on keeping is here , seems to be spiny tree sponge or, another guess, orange spiky sponge (Acanthella acuta).

Temperature 76F didn't helped. Water, filtered through 50-100mk filter sock didn't helped too. Hangs a couple of months between life and death - ends are white, center of branches - orange. But it's after tank crash, may be your will be better. LFS guy said that, at his knowledge, this is most hardy from all availble sponges. In my experience, orange tree sponge (finger shaped, not spiky, $18-20) lasts more in the usual tank.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Re: How to take care of tree sponge?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9207238#post9207238 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jimrawr
Give me some hope, did I just spend $40 on a coral that will last a few weeks??

Nope. Sponges aren't corals.