Purple Sponge (photosynthetic)

[DmitryB]

Not too long ago I got a small Purple Sponge (photosynthetic). It attached to a rock, but it also completely bleached... It did get covered by cyano a lot for a few weeks (until I did an emergency Chemiclean treatment.) Not sure if that's what's happened to it. Anybody have any suggestions on how to help it or is it too late?? It is white...

Also, when I googled Purple Sponge Photosynthetic, just to see if there are any ideas to glean, it gave me this great piece of information.

 

[Michael Hughes]

I just got one of these a couple days ago from TG so I'm following along.

 

[Rob A]

It's dead from the chemiclean there is no way it is coming back. I belive it tells you not to use it with sponges in your tank on the package.

These sponges are super hardy and will grow fast under the right conditions. I have a couple of hunks in my lagoon that are about a foot wide with lots of plating that were the size of a thumbnail a year ago

 

[Subsea]

The information from google is correct, but it is somewhat lacking. I am sure if you worded the question differently, you might have gotten more information.

There are many types of Cyanobacteria. Coral have an internal Cyanobacteria that exist to convert dissolved nitrogen into ammonia when bulk water is nitrogen limited.

 

[Subsea]

It's dead from the chemiclean there is no way it is coming back. I belive it tells you not to use it with sponges in your tank on the package.

These sponges are super hardy and will grow fast under the right conditions. I have a couple of hunks in my lagoon that are about a foot wide with lots of plating that were the size of a thumbnail a year ago

@Paul B

Is this the purple sponge that killed your SPS?

 

[DmitryB]

It's dead from the chemiclean there is no way it is coming back. I belive it tells you not to use it with sponges in your tank on the package.

These sponges are super hardy and will grow fast under the right conditions. I have a couple of hunks in my lagoon that are about a foot wide with lots of plating that were the size of a thumbnail a year ago

Oh.... I guess I didn't read all the fine print... Now I know!

 

[Subsea]

Oh.... I guess I didn't read all the fine print... Now I know!

I don’t agree with chemiclean killing sponges. I have used chemiclean in 35 year mature tank with numerous sponges and other filter feeders with good results.

 

[Privateye]

I kept one for about 7 years. They're pretty darn hardy, and will happily choke-out zoanthids. I can't say I did any special care for it. I was using T5 lights and had it in the top portion of the tank.

 

[Mickle]

Chemiclean kills purple plating sponge because it uses cyanobacteria for photosynthesis. Chemiclean does not kill sponges that filter feed.
This is entirely different but Chemi-pure almost killed my purple plating sponge but it has just barely recovered by being placed in high light. When this sponge turns white it is almost certain death

 

[DmitryB]

Why is fine print so small?! RIP Sponge.

 

[tripdad]

I have a purple sponge that was completely unaffected by chemiclean treatment. There are many sponge types. They do require some silicates in the water to do well long term IMO. I also have pink encrusting, orange ball, yellow encrusting in the display, and white encrusting in sump.

 

[Grog]

No idea about the Chemiclean but purple encrusting sponge is pretty hardy. I placed mine at the entrance of the crevice where my triggerfish hides at night. The only thing that will grow there as he irritates the heck ouf of corals by rooting around in that area, and I can't have macros with the tangs.

 

[tripdad]

Be careful, you can get in trouble/confusion making blanket statements or assumptions.
"Scientists have identified and described between 2,700 and over 5,000 species of cyanobacteria, though the actual total number in nature is estimated to reach around 8,000 or more."

 

[spsick]

That sponge is a total nuisance, toss it out and be happy. It grows like crazy and happily grows right over thriving corals of all types. Even if you scrub it off the rocks it leaves tiny remnants and grows back.

Absolute worst thing I added to my tank intentionally.

 

[Rob A]

I don’t agree with chemiclean killing sponges. I have used chemiclean in 35 year mature tank with numerous sponges and other filter feeders with good results.

It knocked out my purple sponge within a day. I knew what was going to happen and it did exactly what I expected. ChemiClean is just common erythromycin don't let them tell you anything else. If you can get a hold of a customs bol for importing it says it.

I'm sure results vary based on concentration and contact time. When I use chemiclean I never change the water for a month. I don't know when it would be safe to put a sponge back in.

 

[Rob A]

I kept one for about 7 years. They're pretty darn hardy, and will happily choke-out zoanthids. I can't say I did any special care for it. I was using T5 lights and had it in the top portion of the tank.

They do like T5 lighting when I switched from led to t5 it really took off.

 

[Rob A]

Here is a pic of a purple sponge that grew from the size of a thumb to over 8 inches in about 18 months.

 

[DmitryB]

That sponge is a total nuisance, toss it out and be happy. It grows like crazy and happily grows right over thriving corals of all types. Even if you scrub it off the rocks it leaves tiny remnants and grows back.

Absolute worst thing I added to my tank intentionally.

Keep it isolated like Zoas?

 

[Rob A]

Keep it isolated like Zoas?

Stick it on a back back wall or corner near the top. I usually just set the rock it is on next to where I want it to attach and leave it. Just remember it is going to shade anything under it as it plates out. You could also rubber band it to a small rock and glue the rock where you want it. They also split and drop babies all over

 

[DmitryB]

Keep it isolated like Zoas?

Stick it on a back back wall or corner near the top. I usually just set the rock it is on next to where I want it to attach and leave it. Just remember it is going to shade anything under it as it plates out. You could also rubber band it to a small rock and glue the rock where you want it. They also split and drop babies all over

So they can just spread all over the tank from one spot??