Red tree sponge

[anon9896]

So this is my red tree sponge after 4 days , looks alright. Anyone have killer advice for those ?

 

[Phycodurus]

the ‘pitting’ looks a little concerning tbh, but i’m new to sponges & their husbandry.

i don’t have bullet-proof advice but my red tree sponge has been doing great since june of this year. it has a nice stalk with four well-developed ‘branches.’ i have it in a low/moderate flow area (despite most everything i read stating they need strong flow).

i don’t use a skimmer; i feed my tank every other day (generally) with phytoplankton foods like Reef Nutrition’s Phyto Feast & Oyster Feast and also Marine Snow.

i aim for at least two 10% water changes every month (it’s a 180G tank). my nitrates have been running high (50-60 ppm+) but it’s holding good color & form (i have other sponges in the same tank). i’m working on bringing those nitrates down. (>__<)’

 

[anon9896]

it's been 10 days now , and it seems to me like the sponge is getting thicker in some areas (the long piece under the light). Let's hope it buds some branches. I have buddy'Ss laughing at my stick sponge ;Happy.

Phycodurus , I did wondered about those canal looking holes, I know not much about sponges too but I checked my pictures of when I bought it , and it was already that way ... probably through manipulation before I bought it.
I did read that if I didn't manipulate it properly , I would see air damage within a couple day's so I guess i'm fine on that part.
I feed randomly a nice amount of different sized food and some of those are 'suggested' to be fed at sponges.
I just started a phyto production, my goal would be to feed the aquarium on phyto every hour with a dosing pump... well see well see :)