Hot take, does sponges limit corals growth by choking them on the base?

[Shinobireef92]

So I noticed that my zoa garden is not growing as much, when I actually dust the rock off, I saw sponges limiting the zoa growths and actually the zoas are not growing where there’s sponges. What reef expert thinks? Asking for a friend.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Sponges can smother out soft and Stoney corals

So

Yes

 

[TnFishwater98]

So I noticed that my zoa garden is not growing as much, when I actually dust the rock off, I saw sponges limiting the zoa growths and actually the zoas are not growing where there’s sponges. What reef expert thinks? Asking for a friend.

I think sponges have taken on a bad rep. Anything wants to take over and Live/Grow. That’s the natural of most living things. Invasive is another completely other topic. Where are these sponges in this pic? The blue growth?

 

[TnFishwater98]

Just like Zoe’s or GSP if you want diversity in your tank you should allow room

 

[Reefing_addiction]

I think sponges have taken on a bad rep. Anything wants to take over and Live/Grow. That’s the natural of most living things. Invasive is another completely other topic. Where are these sponges in this pic? The blue growth?

I don’t think sponges get a bad rap. Some are good and some are invasive. I’ve seen sponges that will smother corals.

They are great at filtering your water though. Pineapple sponges come and go.

Just like Zoe’s or GSP if you want diversity in your tank you should allow room

Always but the point of Zoa gardens is so they fill in and the rock becomes covered in zoas. The hope being the gaps fill in and the space that was there is no longer there

So I noticed that my zoa garden is not growing as much, when I actually dust the rock off, I saw sponges limiting the zoa growths and actually the zoas are not growing where there’s sponges. What reef expert thinks? Asking for a friend.

It’s honestly hard to tell if it it is sponge or just zoas that have melted some and are dying back. Can you provide a picture in white light?

Are Zoa the only other thing on the rock?

Zoas when growing are connected together and this tissue can form a mat of sorts. As long as the tissue doesn’t completely go away it is possible that given enough time they can grow back.


But to answer you main question again. Yes some sponges can inhibit and or smother out all types of corals

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Yes sponge. U can take a toothbrush and scrub the sponge. It should remove it or damage it enough to die off and recede back some.
Hths
D

 

[vetteguy53081]

Do not scrub or cut/damage it within tank as many have potential to release toxins.
Exposing it to air is one way to stop its progress but you have to remove it to accomplish this.
If not feasible, you can use a syringe and inject air or vinegar into the sponge which will stop it’s growth

 

[brandon429]

For sure the sponge may or may not take over. I had an acan frag with that on it and threw the whole frag out, no amount of removal kept it away and I wanted it dead and gone before it took over the rocks

hopefully yours responds to surgical removal. Mine wouldn’t, tossed and got it in time too I wouldn’t undo that option. That frag was years old I hated to lose it

 

[Timfish]

Better pictures would help. Cryptic sponges are essential recyclers in reef ecosystems. SPonges that grow in the same light corals grow in can outcompete corals and may or may not be an issue. Keep in mind what sponges release is usually dependant on what they are feeding off of. Personally I'd leave them but if they really bother you using stainless steel straws to siphon them out may help. Here's some stuff you might find informative.

https://pure.uva.nl/ws/files/2676835/174339_Coral_mucus_fuels_the_sponge_loop.pdf

Sponge exhalent seawater contains a unique chemical profile of dissolved organic matter - PubMed

Sponges are efficient filter feeders, removing significant portions of particulate and dissolved organic matter (POM, DOM) from the water column. While the assimilation and respiration of POM and DOM by sponges and their abundant microbial symbiont communities have received much attention, there...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

(PDF) Differential recycling of coral and algal dissolved organic matter via the sponge loop

PDF | Summary Corals and macroalgae release large quantities of dissolved organic matter (DOM), one of the largest sources of organic matter produced on... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate

www.researchgate.net

 

[ChiFlyGuy]

I'm having the same issue. Blue sponge just choking them out. This colony used to be flourishing. Im going to try the h202 dip which i read has successfully taken the sponge out.

 

[ponceludon]

I'm having the same issue. Blue sponge just choking them out. This colony used to be flourishing. Im going to try the h202 dip which i read has successfully taken the sponge out.

How did the dip work out? I have the same issue.

 

[littlefoxx]

So I noticed that my zoa garden is not growing as much, when I actually dust the rock off, I saw sponges limiting the zoa growths and actually the zoas are not growing where there’s sponges. What reef expert thinks? Asking for a friend.

Yeah I had a sponge strange my zoa garden and none lived. I thought they were new growth of zoas until I noticed mine were not growing and took a picture for the LFS. I pull it off with tongs now