Sponge Overflow Takeover!!!

[GriffinMarsh]

Just wanted to post this picture of the amount of sponges in my soon to be tanks overflow. Wonder if there is a way I can collect some of them for when I move the tank. Pretty cool that they all look like vase sponges to an extent. BTW if somebody knows a species(I know its hard with sponges) let me know.

 

[Bogue Chitto]

They are nice looking sponges, you can probably scrape them off with a razor blade or something similar. Good luck with them.

 

[Betta132]

I suspect you can get them loose by carefully scraping the bases away with a razor blade. You might also be able to glue them to a rock, or maybe just carefully pin the base until they establish, or maybe even just cram one into a small gap and let it grow. They'll probably prefer to be somewhere dark and reasonably high-flow, judging by where they're thriving right now.
Be sure to keep them submerged, though- some sponges die if exposed to air.

 

[GriffinMarsh]

I think thats what Im going to do. Im probably going to place them back in the overflow when I set it back up. Maybe give some to some friends who have wanted some.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

I would love to get some of those! Even bits and fragments. Whatever you can spare, I'd be thrilled to get some!

 

[sixpackgarage]

that is so epic. extra filtration for you!

 

[GriffinMarsh]

that is so epic. extra filtration for you!

Thanks! I think this is the first time Ive seen that many sponges occupying that much space in a tank. Ive seen a video of vase sponges moving enough water to cause a current, before I scrape them off for the move I want to see if these guys are moving that much water.

 

[Gagonzalez]

Just be careful with the air. If they get exposed and die, they are pretty poisonous.

 

[GriffinMarsh]

I have heard that before, yet still I have exposed plenty of sponges to air without life threatening results. Most collected sponges at one point in time in shipping tend to come in contact with air. If I can, I will keep the submerged just to make sure these aren't particularly sensitive. In the picture, the bottom left sponge has been exposed to air many times I would assume when the overflow box drains a little. I guess that brings up a question. If only part of the sponge comes into contact with air, will it recede as much as one that comes into full contact?

 

[Betta132]

It could be you have a tidal species of sponge, which would explain why being exposed hasn't hurt it.

 

[GriffinMarsh]

It could be you have a tidal species of sponge, which would explain why being exposed hasn't hurt it.

Maybe, Im not well versed in sponge identification so that could very well be the reason.

 

[BlueRoofTang]

My overflow was overflowing with aiptasia. I left them in there, because they helped to grab excess food before it got into the sump and filtration.

 

[GriffinMarsh]

I have heard the Aiptasia scrubbers are fantastic for natural filtration. And the plus side is when you get too many Ive heard of people training copperbands to eat them.