Sponge Habitat

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

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

How are these sponges doing? I'm thinking of ordering the sampler pack (yellow ball, finger, and ear sponges) from Gulf Coast Ecosystems. I'm hoping the phytoplankton that I dose, along with no particulate filtration will provide enough nutrition.

 

[Subsea]

How are these sponges doing? I'm thinking of ordering the sampler pack (yellow ball, finger, and ear sponges) from Gulf Coast Ecosystems. I'm hoping the phytoplankton that I dose, along with no particulate filtration will provide enough nutrition.

Too funny. Today I received 6 orange elephant ear and 4 yellow ball and the yellow ball were the best that I have seen. I got assorted ornamental/utility macronalgae as well. I even got some “dead man’s finger” (Condium) which is a colder water macro. I also got a lovely deep water NPS gorgonion that had polyps extended in the shipping bag.

Order from GCE, you will be happy that you did.

I think the key is that the sponges are your particulate filter. Sponges are opportunistic with more than one feeding strategy.

 

[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!

Pictures please! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[vlangel]

Pictures please! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

OK will do Patrick, as soon as my back feels better. I woke up with lumbar pain and then I foolishly rode my motorcycle to the ranch. Now I can barely move, even after 2 Advils and a Tylenol. Hopefully tomorrow will be better and I can take pics.

 

[Subsea]

I have time to take pictures while it is too hot to work outdoors.

Several things have attributed to stellar water clarity with a Florida Fighting Conch as the big winner with his domination of dinoflagellate in sandbed. Within one month he eliminated a 6 month persistent epidemic. I also consider the sponges as a large consumer of POC.

@Randy Holmes-Farley
I received Orange Elephant Ear Sponges a week before you receive yours. They were very immature as opposed to the Yellow Ball Sponge which were outstanding along with gorgeous Red Tree Sponge.

 

[vlangel]

I have time to take pictures while it is too hot to work outdoors.

Several things have attributed to stellar water clarity with a Florida Fighting Conch as the big winner with his domination of dinoflagellate in sandbed. Within one month he eliminated a 6 month persistent epidemic. I also consider the sponges as a large consumer of POC.

@Randy Holmes-Farley
I received Orange Elephant Ear Sponges a week before you receive yours. They were very immature as opposed to the Yellow Ball Sponge which were outstanding along with gorgeous Red Tree Sponge.

Awesome pics Patrick!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Nice.

 

[Subsea]

How are these sponges doing? I'm thinking of ordering the sampler pack (yellow ball, finger, and ear sponges) from Gulf Coast Ecosystems. I'm hoping the phytoplankton that I dose, along with no particulate filtration will provide enough nutrition.

I can’t brag on how good sponges are doing. However, I can’t brag on my TLC .
In a recent increase of energy on my part, I have taken more ownership of tender loving care.

My big focus now is eliminating red Planaria from desirables and to that point, I have treated with potassium chloride and am quarantine inspection mixing sponges with recovered live rock from 150G rock tank.

Coincidently, yesterday, while at LFS, I picked up two used 6G acrylic tower tanks which will allow quarantine isolation for the next month. The live rock that I brought in is crawling with zooplankton even during lights on with no fish predators. In addition to mature rock, I will supplement the micro fauna / bacteria with Tropic Marine “Reef Actif”.

 

[Subsea]

How are these sponges doing? I'm thinking of ordering the sampler pack (yellow ball, finger, and ear sponges) from Gulf Coast Ecosystems. I'm hoping the phytoplankton that I dose, along with no particulate filtration will provide enough nutrition.

Randy,
I can not brag on my success with red tree sponge.

However, I am very happy with the hardiness of yellow ball sponge & orange elephant ear sponge.
Also, I don’t think that phytoplankton is an important food source for sponges; I think Particulate Organic Carbon is much more important.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Also, I don’t think that phytoplankton is an important food source for sponges; I think Particulate Organic Carbon is much more important.

Phyto may not be important, but it would qualify as
POC.

What form of POC were you distinguishing from phyto?

 

[Subsea]

Phyto may not be important, but it would qualify as
POC.

What form of POC were you distinguishing from phyto?

Bacteria, viruses, larvae etc

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Bacteria, viruses, larvae etc

Ok, I can certainly believe they have preferences other than phyto. :)