I have a red sponge that appears to be fraying(?). I read that most sponges like low light conditions so that they do not grow algea, which will block their pores from properly filtering. I have placed mine in a "cave" that I built. It receives ample indirect light (I would say half of my bulbs intensity...they are 216 watt T5 at full output). What I mean by fraying, is that it has white stringy material along it's edges and looks as though the sponge is covered in sand (it is not actually sand). I have tried to clean it with no improvements. Do these organisms require special care? I currently offer it microplex 2-3 times per week and it has anchored on the rock I placed it on. My tank is 75 gallons, 0 nitrates, 0 nitrites, 490ppm calcium, < .5 phos., 8-10 oxygen (test says this is ideal). I have a bubble tip, a gobby, 3 clowns, 4 damsels, 2 cleaner shrimp, a few blue-leg hermits, 1 scarlet hermit, and a few snails that are all doing well. temp ranges from 79-81. Specific gravity is 1.025-1.026. Thanks! :thumbs:
Sponge care?
- Thread starter delpni
- Start date
Sponges aren't photosynthetic, so they can't use light. They can be exposed to it though, it's just not of any benefit to them.
Was the sponge exposed to air? That can be the kiss of death for ornamental sponges. Ironically, the hitch-hiker types seem to fare just fine after accidental or deliberate exposure to air... just one more of those aquarium Murphy-isms.
Jenn
Was the sponge exposed to air? That can be the kiss of death for ornamental sponges. Ironically, the hitch-hiker types seem to fare just fine after accidental or deliberate exposure to air... just one more of those aquarium Murphy-isms.
Jenn
Thank you all for the replies. I am going to get a picture tomorrow; can't get one this evening. In the tank (it's 48" long X 18" deep), I have 3 1050gph Koralia powerheads (2 are on at the moment...I had an anemone accident the other day and am in the process of netting the powerheads). I did move the sponge out of his cave this evening and hope that helps; it really looks to be in bad shape to me. Hopefully my pics will help once I post them!
Here are a few pictures of the sponge I am having a problem with. If you look closely, it looks as though the only thing left in places is white "strings." When I first brought it home, the entire sponge was bright red with a little algae growth on the far right side. When I use a medicin dropper to blow the sand off of the upper part of the sponge, it looks like the entire thing is going to disintegrate. :confused2: I know a lot of you have given feedback, I just thought having some pictures would better explain what is happening and maybe yield other opinions. I am feeding it microplex 2-3 times per week and have checked all of my water chemistry (everything looks great, including oxygen). As I already mentioned too, I have 3 powerheads (1050gph); 2 are running at the moment. I have relocated the sponge to a place where it is getting a substantial amount of water flow; I try to "dust" the dirt off of it at least 3-4 times a week. Thanks again everyone!
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