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WhiteReef View Drop Down
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Joined: September 03 2002
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    Posted: February 03 2011 at 5:44pm
I had a hard time keeping some sponges that I picked up from TBS.  Almost all of them died on me, so I was wondering if there is a good resource of information on keeping them long term.  I really want to get some more to replace the ones that did not make it as they add a great amount of variation and color to the tank.

Mark did have a sponge refugium and I wonder what he did and how successful he was, and if others are having success.  Also what are the best ways to attach them to rocks-work.  Along with that what predatory critters to watch out for so they are not using the sponges as their food source.

A few notes as to what I already think I understand.

1- (very important) do not expose them to air as it can clog and dry up parts of the sponge used to pass fluids/food through its system.
2- most if not all do not handle bright lighting
3- need to be fed periodically using phytoplankton ... not exactly certain as to the best foods to use or the particle size or how often.
3a- if the amount required to feed them properly is high, then it might be difficult to keep them well fed without polluting the tank.  If so what techniques would work.
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Richard

Former 47G Column Reef, Magna
20" x 18" x 31"H
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bur01014 View Drop Down
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Points: 1435 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bur01014 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 03 2011 at 7:18pm
Steve (Capn Morgan) has some great sponge pieces in his tank....I would pm for details on how to be successful....he told me a few things....
 
1. Lighting: Its not the light that hurts them, but the light causes algae to grow on them, thus reducing their filter feeding capabilities....if you get some algae going on them, blow them off...I do this periodically to my sponges...
 
2.  Target feed phyto (liquid only)...and aminos (fuel, etc.)....he suggested if you want them to actually grow, then you got to be doing this pretty much daily....like you mentioned, you need good nutrient export, skimmer, etc....to handle the excess nutrients...I find 3 times a week of target feeding these two things will keep sponges alive...just not growing Embarrassed  Target feeding also allows the sponges to get maximum exposure to food, without having to dump a bunch into the tank, thus increasing liklihood of excess nutrients
 
3.  Flow: You need a fairly strong flow that is "non-random"....consistent (I know, it sounds like everything we shouldn't do).....I have read this quite a bit....sponges get accustom to flow, which helps them continually filter micro particles from the water column....with random flow they are constantly having to adjust their filter feeding abilities....thus decreasing chances for their survival and growth....
 
4.  Movement: get them stable and don't move them....they do better not being moved around a whole lot.  Try to avoid sand being stirred up by them...if they are close to the sand get them up a little away from blowing sand....this just inhibits their abilities to filter feed even more....
 
You notice a pattern that most of these things mentioned all revolve around inhibiting the sponges ability to filter, eat, and ultimately survive.  Even after knowing all this, my sponges survive....but have yet to see them grow, so looking forward to other comments!  Good luck....take a look at Capn's tank thread...I think he has some good pics of some sponges he has going on the sides of his tank (low light areas)


Edited by bur01014 - February 03 2011 at 7:22pm
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Mark Peterson View Drop Down
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Points: 21436 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mark Peterson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 07 2011 at 8:38pm
I found that very low light and low to medium flow with detritus feeds were important. A tank without a skimmer or if there is a lot of coral food is a lot better.
It's easy to feed detritus. In fact everything likes it.
Simply stir a small area of the sand around with your hand, a stick or a syringe stuck down into the sand and squirted. Smile That puff of gray-brown stuff is clumps of bacteria surrounding waste particles. Sponge love it.
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:
www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244
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WhiteReef View Drop Down
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Points: 1014 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote WhiteReef Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 08 2011 at 10:06am
Thanks for the info.  I don't run a skimmer, but I need to be better with feeding my reef by stirring the sand bed (its been several months since I last did that).  I have been working on feeding phyto more often, and that has been making my gorgonians happy.  Also I was wondering about adding sponges into my refugium, but I pour my top off water in there.  Would that be an issue having sponges in there as the salinity changes very dramatically for a short while as the top off water mixes?
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Richard

Former 47G Column Reef, Magna
20" x 18" x 31"H
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