What does it take to keep tube sponges?

[Cnidae]

Hi Ron,
I was curious if you know of anyone that has had success with larger sponges. Reef tanks just don’t resemble a reef to me with out allot of sponge growth. What would it take to keep a large sponge growing? I’ve attached a pic of a beauty.

Thanks,
Damien

[rshimek]

Damien,

What it takes to keep a large sponge growing is a reef. We really can't keep them in reef tanks.

These animals need consistent laminar water flow past them. Point source water flow generators such as pumps and power heads generate turbulant flow and these animals do not do well in that flow regime. Additionally, the water needs to have a lot of microparticulate material in for them sponges to feed upon.

Presently in the hobby we can neither provide the laminar flow, nor can we provide the necessary food. So... we can collect the sponges and put them in our tanks and watch them slowly die, or we can leave them be....