Sponge in Refugium

[Mioduz]

I have a new (to me) 150 gal tank setup. I am starting to get a diatom bloom which i understand is normal. So In looking for ways to mitigate the diatom bloom and make a healthier overall tank, i read that sponges can deplete silicates which a lot of algae including Diatoms rely on.

In my old 75 gal that i am in the process of taking down there is a large peice of rock that is covered in a pinkish, yellow, and green sponge. Its a pretty big rock so ill likely have to break it up. Will putting this rock in my sump help? i currently only have a strip of LED stuck to the bottom of the tank to provide lighting. Wasnt sure if that would be enough. I imagine flow would be plenty for the sponge.

 

[Deefish714]

Not the pro but when I was having silicate problems it was coming from, the water source. Maybe test your top off/wc water. Also Maybe trying adding cheato or Carbon and gfo reactor if you haven't yet. I'm sure someone with more experience will chime in and help. But that would be my first moves if it was my tank. I can see no issues from putting the rock in the sump to me it would also seem very beneficial. The LED lights not sure what the sponges will require someone else will have to chime in on that. Not sure if a 6500k would be enough(that's what I use for cheato works very well)

 

[Mioduz]

Not the pro but when I was having silicate problems it was coming from, the water source. Maybe test your top off/wc water. Also Maybe trying adding cheato or Carbon and gfo reactor if you haven't yet. I'm sure someone with more experience will chime in and help. But that would be my first moves if it was my tank. I can see no issues from putting the rock in the sump to me it would also seem very beneficial. The LED lights not sure what the sponges will require someone else will have to chime in on that. Not sure if a 6500k would be enough(that's what I use for cheato works very well)

It was my understanding that its fairly common to have diatom algae in the first 6 months of the tank as the tank goes through cycles and builds up levels of beneficial bacteria. I guess i was just looking to possibly helping the short term problem while it cycles and hopefully make a healthier tank in the long run. Everything i recall reading about sponges is they can help alot of aspects in water quality. just wasnt sure if they need alot of light that my sump doesnt have.