Does anything eat sponges?

kchristensen8064

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 19, 2013
Messages
1,027
Reaction score
1,048
Location
Fort Collins, CO
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
I have this white sponge growing on one of my rocks and it's spreading. Is there anything that will eat these sponges so that I can keep it under control?
sa3y2apa.jpg
 

Ron Popeil

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 8, 2011
Messages
185
Reaction score
89
Location
Tigard, OR
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
an angelfish would probably love that. are you dosing phytoplankton or similar type of foods?
 
OP
OP
kchristensen8064

kchristensen8064

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 19, 2013
Messages
1,027
Reaction score
1,048
Location
Fort Collins, CO
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
No, I just feed Rod's original. I've read about the angels eating them but am weary of them because they nip corals on occasion. I am not too terribly concerned about the sponges but I was hoping that there might be an invert of some sort that might like munching on them just to keep it from spreading to much.
 

ritter6788

Coral Fraud Private Eye
View Badges
Joined
Jun 4, 2011
Messages
24,468
Reaction score
2,538
Location
Marshall, TX
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Rod's Food is loaded with stuff that feeds sponges. I use it but sparingly. If I feed it everyday I get all sorts of strange stuff growing.
 

User Name

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 25, 2012
Messages
34
Reaction score
0
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'll offer some options. You could kill it by covering the sponge in some reefing glue. Remove the live rock with the sponge and place it in the sump, thereby still having the benefits of the sponge without it spreading in the display tank. Take out the live rock with sponge and perhaps do an exchange with your lfs. You could also perhaps approach the same way as killing aiptasia, by using kalk, vinegar, or something else on it daily until it dies.
 
OP
OP
kchristensen8064

kchristensen8064

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 19, 2013
Messages
1,027
Reaction score
1,048
Location
Fort Collins, CO
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Well taking the rock out isn't a option. If it gets too much bigger I may try the vinegar. Do you think blasting it with boiling ro/di through a syringe might work? I don't mind the biggest part of the sponges just because they're under the rock it's just the parts that are growing up toward the top of the rock.
 

User Name

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 25, 2012
Messages
34
Reaction score
0
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Sorry, I have no personal experience with boiling ro/di. Hopefully someone will chime in with the use of that method on aiptasia. Might be a good idea to research. I have used white vinegar with syringe, and had good results.
 
Last edited:

Kabaliwi03

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 28, 2013
Messages
12
Reaction score
0
Location
Atlanta, Ga
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Were you ever able to get rid of the sponge? I have the same problem. But I also have another type growing too. Would like to know how you were able to remove it.
 

JMSKI333

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 4, 2010
Messages
1,734
Reaction score
50
Location
Buffalo, NY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
To answer your subject question, Moorish Idol's eat sponges. After reading further down your post, it looks like your tank is too small for that species but I figured I'd post it anyways for future readers.
 

Velodog2

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 7, 2013
Messages
759
Reaction score
16
Location
Central Maryland
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Since when are sponges bad in a tank? Natural filtration. Some grow them intentionally in cryptic zones. Just let it be.
 

Eienna

5000 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 9, 2013
Messages
5,758
Reaction score
521
Location
Eddyville, KY, USA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Some sponges can be invasive or (I think) release toxins, but personally I'd leave it alone unless it's actually causing issues.
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

WHAT AMOUNT OF LIVE ROCK AND SAND SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED FOR OPTIMAL BIODIVERSITY/FILTRATION?

  • 100% live rock + bagged sand

    Votes: 37 27.8%
  • 100% dry rock + 100% live sand

    Votes: 45 33.8%
  • 50/50 live/dry rock, 50/50 live/bagged sand

    Votes: 29 21.8%
  • 75% live rock, 25% live sand

    Votes: 12 9.0%
  • 25% live rock, 75% live sand

    Votes: 10 7.5%
Back
Top