Sponges

[Untamed12]

Has anyone kept their orange/red tree sponges & ball sponges alive for long periods of time? (2 years +)

1) What food do you use?
2) How much do you add at what frequency?
3) How many sponges are you keeping?

Richard has sent me an enormous number of sponges. While I have a plan, I'm looking for someone who has already had some longer term success.

Also....any advice on mounting sponges? (Which glue?) They need to be secured to the rock work somehow because my current is so high they get blown all over the place. Will these sponges grow onto the rockwork like SPS does?

 

[HowardW]

I have kept various TBS sponges longer term and they require medium/strong flow and a near steady supply of a filter type food. They also prefer to be out of the bright light, especially the orange and red ones from my experiences.

They probably get a whole variety of foods in the ocean along with everything else, so I feed a variety of foods including but not limited to DT's reef blend phyto, reef chile, baby brine, marine snow, golden pearls, microvert, various meaty powdered foods, etc, etc. I think the secret in general to keeping the myriad life on TBS rocks alive long term is going easy on the intense type lighting and plenty of food for all the filter feeders, or pretty much nearly the exact opposite of what many SPS keepers do, JMO.

 

[HowardW]

Forgot to add......I also think a gentle stirring of a small top part of the substrate on a matured 'dirty' tank also benefits many of the filter feeders and the gorgs and sponges really open up and come alive when I do this.

 

[Untamed12]

Thanks. That is really good information. My tank is certainly lit for SPS, so I think I'll try to shelter the sponges as much as possible...maybe put them along the outer perimiter where the light is less intense.

Do you have a link to your aquarium? How much of these foods are you adding?

The reason I'm asking this is that I've got nearly 500 gallons of water, and it appears that I've probably got more than a dozen large (2 foot tall!) sponges. I'm trying to figure out how much plankton etc. I need to be providing. There's some practical concerns as well...like how much using a gallon of DT's per day might cost....for example.

Also..any advice on the mounting question?

 

[liverock]

sponges

sponges

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9780624#post9780624 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Untamed12
Thanks. That is really good information. My tank is certainly lit for SPS, so I think I'll try to shelter the sponges as much as possible...maybe put them along the outer perimiter where the light is less intense.

Do you have a link to your aquarium? How much of these foods are you adding?

The reason I'm asking this is that I've got nearly 500 gallons of water, and it appears that I've probably got more than a dozen large (2 foot tall!) sponges. I'm trying to figure out how much plankton etc. I need to be providing. There's some practical concerns as well...like how much using a gallon of DT's per day might cost....for example.

Also..any advice on the mounting question?

You will notice, many of the sponges have some substrate base.....which can be wedged, epoxy, to another rock....but sponges without substrate cannot be 'glued' as it will kill that area of the sponge...

those sponges will last about a year with no feeding....so if you do feed, you should be successful....long term.....they will handle a lot of light.....but experiment.....

Richard TBS

 

[HowardW]

Well unfortunately in my opinion I'd say that keeping any of the (Ptilocaulis sp.) red/orange/yellow tree sponges alive and thriving long term in any home aquarium is extremely difficult and especially so in a non matured tank due mainly that we cannot replicate the near constant food supply they receive in the ocean and still maintain the high water quality they need. If most of them are still growing and appear healthy after 18-24 months I'd say you're doing fantastic. Most I've seen and heard from others they start to go downhill or show signs of extreme stress and areas of degeneration after about 8-12 months, they are just one of the species that are hard to keep in any home tank long term I think.

As far as the DT's, I'd go easy on that to start because it's very concentrated and overfeeding will cause water quality issues IMO. I usually use about a capful or 2 per 50g. 3 times weekly and then turn off the skimmer for 3-4 hrs. but it all depends on each persons specific tank load and what they keep. I try and feed at least 4-5 different types of foods each week and at least every other day along with stirring a small area of the substrate 2-3 times a week.

You have to try the best you can to keep a balance of enough food and still keep the water quality from degrading and having chronic microalgae/cyano outbreaks.

For mounting sponges, you can try epoxy on the base or gently wedging the base in the rockwork.

 

[HowardW]

Ooops, I see Richard posted while I was typing.

 

[DiazE]

liverock

So far I have had no stink from the tank, skimmer is broken in and I empty the cup every morning and late evening. I'am using Seachem Ammonia Alert and the ammomia has stayed in the safe zone since day 1 and still is. I made a small 5gal water change today. Salinity has been constant 1.025-26.

I believe I am ready for part 2. When you do send it, PLEASE throw in some extras, an Anemone would be nice. The Tube coral has made a come back. I have lots of Cup corals as well as Tube worms of all colors and types; no Christmas Tree worms.

 

[liverock]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9780937#post9780937 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HowardW
Ooops, I see Richard posted while I was typing.

Yea but you got it right......a year is usually what they last for me with no feeding other than normal fish feeding.....but if you dose as Brad is intending, I think he will have success....I see sponge growth all the time, without any special foods, they are pretty tough!

Richard TBS

 

[DiazE]

liverock


Richard - Whats your reply?

Can you ship part 2?

 

[Untamed12]

According to one article I just read, sponges don't feed on phytoplankton at all....they primarily feed on bacteria....

I'm working on culturing my own phyto and zooplankton...but I'm now concerned that even that can't keep the sponges alive.

I hate to say it....but if I end up losing them, they will keep the tank looking nice for the first year until the SPS grow in...

 

[HowardW]

<<< According to one article I just read, sponges don't feed on phytoplankton at all....they primarily feed on bacteria.... >>>


That may very well be the case, or maybe a combination of various bacteria as well as other things we are not able to replicate in our tanks? I know there is a lot of debate/discussion among experts on what foods actually benefit various corals and other critters we keep, and which may be captured but may offer little or no nutritional value, captured and later rejected, or the animal may have to expend more energy capturing and digesting then the nutritional value of the food itself. This is why I try to offer my tank as many different types of food as is practical.

In any case, if your tree sponges are alive and thriving after 18-24 months that would be pretty impressive IMO.

 

[liverock]

email

email

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9782030#post9782030 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DiazE
liverock


Richard - Whats your reply?

Can you ship part 2?

Check your email!