question on sponges...in search of info

ahullsb · #1 05/29/2007, 01:25 PM

I couldn't resist buying a few sponges that were very brightly colored. Blue, Purple and fluorescent green to be exact. But I have heard that some sponges can kill of an entire tank if they die. Are these the types they are referring to? And does this happen very quickly, or is it because people neglect to pull them out right away? And do they prefer high or low light? I have them growing in both. Any info or links would be greatly appreciated!

Drix · #2 05/29/2007, 02:57 PM

Pretty much anything will kill off a tank if they die because of decomposition. However, some sponges are poisonous and are adept at tank killing. I'd do some searches to see if your specific sponges are poisonous or not.

Sponges prefer low light due to their lack of defence mechanisims, they have no way at all of preventing algea from growing on them which is detremental to their health.

All in all keep an eye on them for a few weeks and make sure they're doing ok, if one dies pull it immediatly. It will start leeching fairly quickly.

benjonesn · #3 05/29/2007, 04:01 PM

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sponges.htm
Tyree also has a book on sponges.

demonsp · #4 05/29/2007, 04:04 PM

Try here.

http://melevsreef.com/id/

ahullsb · #5 05/29/2007, 04:27 PM

I didn't see any that resemble mine on there but thanks for the reading anyway. Here is a pic I have of the blue sponge. I will get some of the purple and green ones tonight.

Criminal#58369 · #6 05/29/2007, 05:14 PM

I have a sponge growing that came on my lr, it is towards the back of the left side of the tank, seems to like the lower light, looks like its growing pretty well IMO.

ahullsb · #7 05/29/2007, 09:25 PM

Anyone else have any suggestion?

Sk8r · #8 05/29/2007, 09:53 PM

That's a gorgeous sponge. I don't recognize it, but it's sure good-looking and healthy.

ahullsb · #9 05/30/2007, 01:48 AM

Thank you. I'll take pictures of the purple and green ones that are just as bright. I just hope they don't cause any problems. Thats about the actual size.

tetra-tag · #10 05/30/2007, 02:05 AM

The blue sponge you have pictured above could be an example of Haliclona . (The only way to be certain of an identity would be expert examination of the 'spicules,' silicate or calcium 'twigs' which give the animal stiffness.) The Fenner/Calfo Invertbrates book indicates that this genus of sponges is partly photosynthetic, in a symbiotic relationship with cyanobacteria (Blue Green Algae) which provides 'sugars and sustenance' to the colony. It does however get most of it's nutrition via filter feeding. They recommend "high light and high water flow to compliment deep sandbed or refugium methodologies." Live phytoplankton is better than bottled, due to the tendency of the latter to clump and form particle sizes too big for filter feeders to ingest effectively. Cultured rotifers are also recommended by the same authors.
That one's real spiff, take care of it.