sponge question

[Frizz]

I just brought home a large red ball sponge. Any suggestions about placement would be much appreciate. I have put it under the rocks, in the shade in an area of very high water flow. Is this right or should I give it some light? The tank is lit with t-5s & is fairly shallow so there is not a lot of places that are low light without being totally shady.
Thanks folks,
Frizz

 

[Monkeyfish]

Lots of flow and no light are the way to go. However, sponges usually don't survive long term unless they're placed in a well established tank. When they die they release whatever they've absorbed which can sometimes be harmful to the other tank inhabitants. If the sponge starts eroding I'd remove it quickly.

 

[fijireef]

Just curious..what are its tankmates? Is this type of sponge preyed upon by sea stars?

 

[Frizz]

I don't know if this is one of "those" sponges or not.
For tankmates I have peppermint shrimp, a royall gramma, neon goby 2 clown gobies & a pair of percs. For other inverts we have zoos, LPS, shrooms & rose anemones as well as hermit crabs, assorted little brittle stars, sponge that we did not buy & lord knows what else. The tank has been set up for 13 years.

 

[fijireef]

Let us know how it goes..I looked at a pic of one and it looks pretty cool..

 

[frederickk]

Mine has spread all over to a knew piece of live rock. It does get low light but good flow.

I don't know if it is normal for them to spread??

 

[Frizz]

Sounds to me like if it is spreading that is a good sign.
Frizz

 

[Opcn]

Spreading is a great sign, something that will help them is doesing phyto, live is always best, but I'll bet that the sponges could handle dead/preserved aswell.