Sponge Habitat

[Subsea]

Yes, but what else do you have to do. lol

@Randy Holmes-Farley

I hired 300 tiny blues leg hermits, 100 Cerith snails, added some nice red tree sponges with a couple of yellow ball sponges that needed grooming. The big addition for cleaning up brown dinoflagellates was a Florida fighting conch.

In the last picture, note the three blue leg hermits on top of red bump. While not a glamorous example of thriving, this Chilli Coral was rescued 1 week ago after being forgotten for 5 years in cryptic refugium buried with MULM.

 

[vlangel]

The tank looks great Patrick! Especially the sponges!

 

[Subsea]

The tank looks great Patrick! Especially the sponges!

Dawn,
Thank you for kind & encouraging words. I have embraced the concept I copied from you of lower 70’s in both display tanks: I choose to float a little lower between 72-75 degrees using evaporative cooling of tanks combined with 22 SEER ductless heat pump. I like that it is easier to maintain and everything is thriving as I seek balance with maintaining sponges in systems with corals.

I am using the tiny blue leg hermits to replace my grooming sponges with a tooth brush.

Occasionally, I see Hippo Tang nip on orange tree sponge, which looks spectacular. I am having trouble maintaining red tree sponge, which came to me with some degradation. I hope I can save it. It is taller than orange tree and was difficult to display in 18” tall 75G, so I moved it to 120G display which was stripped of 90% of GSP live rock to develop a Caribbean lagoon biotheme which was already represented by diver collected Florida live rock.

Note the last picture with sickly red tree sponge which I recovered from a neglected tank. I will experiment with a mild hydrogen peroxide soak for 2 minutes.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

@Randy Holmes-Farley

I hired 300 tiny blues leg hermits, 100 Cerith snails, added some nice red tree sponges with a couple of yellow ball sponges that needed grooming. The big addition for cleaning up brown dinoflagellates was a Florida fighting conch.

In the last picture, note the three blue leg hermits on top of red bump. While not a glamorous example of thriving, this Chilli Coral was rescued 1 week ago after being forgotten for 5 years in cryptic refugium buried with MULM.

Nice. :)

 

[Subsea]

Nice. :)

Randy,
I am seeing slight improvement on red tree sponge rescued from deteriorating while laying on side. In the past, I was not able to reverse the process and for that reason I have considered using a mild hydrogen peroxide soak for 2 minutes on the small red tree with either bacterial slime or fungus that is in patches on sponge surface. Not an expert, just observations.

 

[vlangel]

I also have never been able to recover a red tree sponge that began to degrade. In fact I really have only been able to keep red tree sponges about 2 years tops. Now yellow ball sponges, that is a different story. I believe they are actually multiplying in my little tank!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Randy,
I am seeing slight improvement on red tree sponge rescued from deteriorating while laying on side. In the past, I was not able to reverse the process and for that reason I have considered using a mild hydrogen peroxide soak for 2 minutes on the small red tree with either bacterial slime or fungus that is in patches on sponge surface. Not an expert, just observations.

Interesting. Thanks for posting it.

 

[Subsea]

I also have never been able to recover a red tree sponge that began to degrade. In fact I really have only been able to keep red tree sponges about 2 years tops. Now yellow ball sponges, that is a different story. I believe they are actually multiplying in my little tank!

I am envious of the ornamental seaweed in your display and your quality photos. Please post on this thread as well.

Where are yellow ball sponges emerging? I have had red tree sponge appear on diver collected live rock along with gorgonions. The hitchhiker list on gulf live rock is extensive.

I am seeing encouraging results with Blue Leg Hermit crabs grazing off the deteriorating surface growth on this large red tree sponge from LFS (I assume this sponge is Caribbean).

 

[vlangel]

I haven't posted much anywhere because my tank is rarely in photo worthy condition to take pics. It's healthy but so dirty that I am ashamed to post pics. LOL

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I haven't posted much anywhere because my tank is rarely in photo worthy condition to take pics. It's healthy but so dirty that I am ashamed to post pics. LOL

It’s also probably not blue enough to fit the
modern preference. lol

 

[vlangel]

It’s also probably not blue enough to fit the
modern preference. lol

That is true, Randy. I just can't seem to break away from my old school roots!

 

[strich]

So long as you can see through the window into the tank its clean enough! Show us!

 

[vlangel]

So long as you can see through the window into the tank its clean enough! Show us!

Barely, I do use the magnet cleaner once a week and it almost looks presentable. I use to maintain aquariums for a pet store and my boss was particular and trained me right. As a result, I never like my tank to be seen by others not looking it's best. Although I know humbling is good for the soul!

 

[Subsea]

Work in Progress

 

[strich]

Such a cool sea cucumber! The GSP wall next to the red and yellows looks great too.

 

[Subsea]

The Green wall is less than 15% of of what I removed. Between this 75G and the 120G next to it, I filled up 150G Rubbermaid tub and a few smaller tanks.

 

[Subsea]

Today is my 77th birthday and I got some stuff to build up a Caribbean lagoon on 120G display.

 

[strich]

Really cool shots and happy birthday mate!
I love the natural look of your tanks in general.

Whats in the big tub or is that more a holding space with no real design to it?

 

[Subsea]

Really cool shots and happy birthday mate!
I love the natural look of your tanks in general.

Whats in the big tub or is that more a holding space with no real design to it?

150G Rubbermaid tub is a holding bin for the GSP removed from 75G & 120G. This will be “designer live rock” that I sell thru LFS. This is where my business model as a supplier of specialty live rock which is a combination of diver collected live rock from Florida Bryozone limestone and Texas “holy rock” which is Edwards Plateau limestone. Initially, I attempted this business model in 20’ by 40’ greenhouse with 10KG of tanks. Between electrical cost to maintain temperatures and labor required, I shut down operations after first winter. So now, 5 years later, I operate on a much smaller scale at less than 1000G.

NOW, I am looking for a part time mariculture apprentice to grow into a niche business: I have two websites to decide on name for company: Aquaculture Ranch or CCR (Castille Coral Ranch).

CANDIDATE need have transportation and be between the age of 16 & 77.

 

[vlangel]

Happy Birthday Patrick!