Hermannsae
New member
I brushed the algae with a soft toothbrush off and I shaded the area where the spider sponge is located. I am hoping that the algae will die because of lack of light. We shall see...
BTW, no nitrates or phosphates detactible
Spider Sponge (Trikentrion flabelliforme)/every advice counts
- Thread starter OlgaF
- Start date
I brushed the algae with a soft toothbrush off and I shaded the area where the spider sponge is located. I am hoping that the algae will die because of lack of light. We shall see...
BTW, no nitrates or phosphates detactible
Calappidae
Harlequin Shrimp
Of course they're not, they're being soaked up by the algae before you can even get a reading..
Hermannsae
New member
You are correct.
However, I am using a GFO reactor as well as 2 refugia with macro algae
However, I am using a GFO reactor as well as 2 refugia with macro algae
Mudbeaver
New member
I brushed the algae with a soft toothbrush off and I shaded the area where the spider sponge is located. I am hoping that the algae will die because of lack of light. We shall see...
BTW, no nitrates or phosphates detactible
Very nice your Trikentrion flabelliforme , its an NPS she doesn't need any light at all, her polyp need meat food, and its a sponge that do best in a rich nutrient system, but if you kept it for a year now your ok
If the polyp stops opening direct flow from any small powerhead will stimulate the polyps. I have an NPS zone in my tank and it works wonders on my NPS collection.
A turkey baster with brine or mysis works great. yours would relish the mysis its polyps are big enough . I recommend phytoplancton for your sponge she seem thin to me, your polyp can be fed once every days , my sun coral is fine with that but your sponge needs to faten up. 1 cubic cm pump 24 L or 4 gallons of water a day , so it needs a lot of particule to feed itself.
These 3 would help not only your sponge and other polyps but most zooz and filter feeders.
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Newsmyrna80
Active member
I got a spider sponge 3 weeks ago and it never opened. It been in a QT with a small power head and I feed it twice a day. I've tried phyto, cyclopeeze, mysis, and dried pods. The sponge has even started to recede. Funny thing is the piece of LR I have in the QT has a sponge encrusted on it. The lighting is not bright in tank. Any idea what I can try to get it to open?
Mudbeaver
New member
Did you epose it to air by any chance, by accident , or in the transport bag was their enough water to cover it up completely. It take only one secon for air to block access to water from entering the sponge tissue and she starves to death. The powerhead MUST be directly on it to stimulate the polyps, i would have to see it to have a better idea, for now thats all i got.
Their's another technique you can use
I've used it for my sun coral . You put it in a container with a high concentration of food, in your case spirulina mysis would be good and let it stand all day. Yes all day no heat no flow don't worry about that, you can agitate occasionally with a turkey baster nothing more; this is a shock treatment if you will. It can take one day , 2-3 but it will open.
Now in your case make sure you don't EXPOSE your sponge to air, put your container under water and lay your piece in it and bring it out as is and do the treatment. Every evening you replace the piece in the tank for water change and flow. every morning you start the treatment again. after 3 days give it a week to recoop. then start again if it didn't work but i never heard not working before the 3rd day. All day no problem .
after tha t mine opened every day lol .
Newsmyrna80
Active member
I know I didn't expose it to air but I'm trying to remember if the LFS person did. I will definitely try your suggestion on feeding. At this point it can't hurt right? Thanks!!
Newsmyrna80
Active member
I did as you suggested and the polyps are already beginning to extend. If I can get this guy eating will it help the sponge or are they completely separate entities?
Mudbeaver
New member
They're completely seperate entities. For your sponge you should dose what i've posted earlier, fauna marine , I use a small phytoplacton bottle i have and put some in a cup with a bit of RO water to mix all the different powders, you can add acropower and others if you want.
Then i pour it down the small bottle and fill the rest with RO water.
My bottle is a 160 ml. Every day i dose 20 ml of it in the tank for my sponges and seafan and gorgs, its also is for all corals and filter feeders.
But my tank is a Softies one you may want to do half that for yours if its a sps one. do it gradually not to get too much of an algae bloom. change things slowly thats the best way.
I'm glad she responded to the treatment.
Mudbeaver
New member
You have yours into the light and close to the surface, this sponge is an NPS, its suppose to be in a cave, in the dark. Algaes will kill it. You should move it in a shaded corner , or it will have trouble surviving there.
I have sold the sponges since I was making the tank sps dominant.
LittleBurger
Member
I have tried sheltering it from the light. But the flow is weak. So it rarely opens and the orange sponge starts to turn translucent. The sponge was at this location for at least 2mths.
Then I relocated it to under the shade but with alternating wave from my 2mp40. Immediately after while, the polyps starts to open. It is opening ever since without closing.
My spider sponge circled in red. U can see the proximity of the mp40.
Then I relocated it to under the shade but with alternating wave from my 2mp40. Immediately after while, the polyps starts to open. It is opening ever since without closing.
My spider sponge circled in red. U can see the proximity of the mp40.
Mudbeaver
New member
I have tried sheltering it from the light. But the flow is weak. So it rarely opens and the orange sponge starts to turn translucent. The sponge was at this location for at least 2mths.
Then I relocated it to under the shade but with alternating wave from my 2mp40. Immediately after while, the polyps starts to open. It is opening ever since without closing.
My spider sponge circled in red. U can see the proximity of the mp40.
Yes movement seems to trigger the polyp to open up to feed.
Newsmyrna80
Active member
Right now I have it in a QT. I did move it in the tank so it gets more flow to it. I read somewhere that sponges don't like flow....guess that was wrong.
Newsmyrna80
Active member
Update: the sponge is coming back beautifully and the polyps open all day everyday. They seem to like the light as well. I've been feeding freeze dried zoo, reconstituted of course. There is a small power head blowing right on him as well.
I really thought this thing was a goner...thanks Mudbeaver!
I really thought this thing was a goner...thanks Mudbeaver!
Is this an australian import? If so, don't worry about exposing it to air. In West Australia they are found in areas of huge tidal surges, and are often exposed to air for a few hours during low tide. The flow when the tide returns is phenomenal and the water turbid. I would look at their habitat for ideas on flow etc in captivity.
HTH and good luck!
HTH and good luck!
Newsmyrna80
Active member
I still have it in the QT and it appears that it likes to be beat up with flow. I have it in the way of a maxi jet 1200 and it loves it. The sponge is still receding though. I'm feeding it like crazy....zooplankton, freeze dried pods, phyto, cyclopeeze. Is it possible for the sponge to come back? What if I cut off the dying tips of the sponge?
Mudbeaver
New member
Yes you can, here's another way more drastic based on university studies.
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