Sponges - are they tough to take care of?

[acshaw80]

I found a blue sponge (thats how the store ID'd it) and am interested in picking it up, but have read that sponges aren't really a good thing to keep in your aquarium for various reasons including being toxic.

Any thoughts on keeping sponges in a reef? How do you care for them?

 

[dennis romano]

Sponges are very challenging. I have a tank with over a dozen. First of all, they have to be fed several times a day with microscopic food. They should be in a shaded area with moderate flow. Light is bad because it will allow algae to grow on the sponge which will smother it. If you tank is relatively new, they won't do well. They like a tank that is at least several years old.