lets talk sponges

[VIC]

I have had an orange branch sponge (looks like a desert cactus) for about 6 months. Yesterday, I noticed that the tips have begun to look like cotton. Any suggestions? I feed with DT's about 2x a week. Is that enough? All the other sponges look good. Any help would be appreciated!
Vic

[skipm]

I think that I remember reading somewhere that sponges should be placed in an area with a decent current, is this sponge in an area with little or no water movement? Just a thought, Skip

[tubs]

Vic,

I think twice a week is slowly starving anything and in a few months you may see what you're seeing. Just think of the mass of the sponge and what it would take to even maintain it. One way to better feed algal filter feeders is a drip method giving the sponge and all filter feeders as well as plankton a better and more consistent diet. The sponge or other filter feeders may be full for the time you've fed it but for the other 5 days....well.

It has been shown at least for rotifers that a continous drip method versus a periodic dump (with both methods having equal quantities) increased the population much more significantly (can't remember figures.)

What you can do is fill a milk jug and rig an airline tubing to it with an airline valve. Fill it with water from you tank and add any phytoplankton that you use whether it is DT's or Tahitian Blend, mix it up and slowly drip feed to last for the day. Keep this routing cycling.

This is a much more natural way for all the filter feeders most especially for special care animals such as sponges and dendronepthyas and such.

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John Susbilla
Visit my "Flashy" new site: John's Reef Flat
Alternate site Here
tubs@firstworld.net

[This message has been edited by tubs (edited 05-19-2001).]

[Starmstr]

I guess I'm one of the few who has spurts of un controllable sponge growth. In fact I have one sponge that over took a colony of mushrooms. 3 things, which have lead to the success of my various sponges, are heavy feedings using 2-3 different types of phyto, an undersized skimmer and no predators. When they get to big I just rip a hand full out and toss it in the sump without worrying about air intrainment and even then they continue to grow.

[jmick01]

I have also had a sponge overtake a colony of mushrooms . It also tried to take out some green star polyps. I killed them with 10 min. of air time. Mean little sponges.

JMM

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Remember Fish are alive when we get them, lets keep it that way!!!