Sponges

Hey All,

I just picked up an orange sponge from my LFS tonight. Anyone have any experience keeping them? Just trying to figure out where to place it in my tank. Do they like lots of light or less light? What about flow? High, Medium, or Low.. Any information would be great.

 

I had one in my nano, it lasted maybe 3 months. i made the mistake of exposing it to air when putting into the tank. I wasnt aware that any air will kill them. Mine eventually turned all white then shriveled away to nothing.

Dont remember exactly what the air does to it but its not good.

And from what I remember I dont think they grow off light(I think) dont hold it against me if im wrong. But Im pretty sure they are just filter feeders and require lots of food in the water column.

An expert Im sure will chime in to correct me.

 

oh that's great.. after aclimation I did pick it up out of the bucket and placed it in my tank.. well here's to hoping.

I think they are filter feeders as well, just was not sure if they liked to be out in the intence light or back in the shadows a bit.. Thanks for the quick post K+

 

I think, too that they require desent flow to prevent from algae to grow on it. And yes good luck, hopefully it will pull through for you.

 

What kind of sponge is it?..
High flow filter feed and low light... But if it had air touch it at all it will die for sure.

 

Here is a picture-- Man I'm bumbed out about the air. Had no Idea that the quick transfer to the tank would cause harm.

 

Now that I am thinking about it. The guy at My LFS exposed it to air as well. I may have to call them tomorrow and ask that they refund me on this given the error in the transfer. LiveAquaria says that if it get's in contact with air to make sure that you rotate it is all directions to allow trapped air to escape. apparently it starves the coral.

 

That's a good looking sponge

 

Shame-- So has anyone had any luck with these things once exposed to air breifly? Anyone know of anything else I can do.

 

sponges are just like you picture a kitchen sponge - the air bubbles get trapped in one or many of the zillions of little pores. The sponge absorbs (and expels) food over almost 100% of its surface area. If you think of how porous it is, that is a lot of surface area.

If you handle it at all, these air bubbles rupture the thin cells.

That's why it starves them. They can't absorb enough food.

Live Aquaria isn't joking when they say they're difficult care level!