Yellow sponge good or bad

[Squeaky McMurdo]

Most of mine are nickel size, but the one pictured is about 2 inches across.

 

[KleineVampir]

Does anybody recommend buying a sponge to purposely grow? I'm too afraid to order one because it can die if it gets exposed to air. I'm sure I could do it but it still makes me nervous! And it's not like they're super cheap. Also not sure if 40 gallons is really enough water for one.

 

[shred5]

Most sponges are good and actually add to the biodiversity of the tank.. When I first got into the hobby the live rock came loaded with sponges.

Are their a few bad sponges yes but the majority are not. They filter water.

The real problem is most sponges disappear over time.

I seek out rocks with sponges...

 

[shred5]

Does anybody recommend buying a sponge to purposely grow? I'm too afraid to order one because it can die if it gets exposed to air. I'm sure I could do it but it still makes me nervous! And it's not like they're super cheap. Also not sure if 40 gallons is really enough water for one.

Certainly depends on the kind. Some sponges can be exposed to air no problem..

For those that cant if they are shipped right allot can survive.

Problem with some is they feed on stuff like bacteria and slowly starve. Some also require silicates to grow.

Seek out the photosynthetic sponges they are about the easiest to grow. They can grow fast giving the proper conditions too..


Here are some old pics of some of my sponges I am growing:

 

[Waterislife]

Probably one of the best things you can have in your tank and it will tend to migrate under the rocks not interfering with any Coral it may be mixed in it first based on previous Rock placement but it will migrate around to the underside eventually

 

[KleineVampir]

Certainly depends on the kind. Some sponges can be exposed to air no problem..

For those that cant if they are shipped right allot can survive.

Problem with some is they feed on stuff like bacteria and slowly starve. Some also require silicates to grow.

Seek out the photosynthetic sponges they are about the easiest to grow. They can grow fast giving the proper conditions too..


Here are some old pics of some of my sponges I am growing:

What would you recommend for a beginner sponge that is photosynthetic? I'm still in the process of trying different things and seeing what I like. I just put red grape macroalgae in my tank and so far it looks surprisingly good! Also trying different things that could help with my nutrients and the few fish I keep.

 

[shred5]

What would you recommend for a beginner sponge that is photosynthetic? I'm still in the process of trying different things and seeing what I like. I just put red grape macroalgae in my tank and so far it looks surprisingly good! Also trying different things that could help with my nutrients and the few fish I keep.

They are all pretty much the same..
They come in basically 3 colors that I have seen and that is red, purple and blue..
Some think the blue and purple are the same.

 

[Pelagikos]

Sponges are good, yes. But that particular one is bad. I can't recall the exact name but its encrusting and invasive. give it enough time, it'll start taking over your rock. Ive seen it grow over coral tissue and kill it. if you can scrape it off, you;ll be better off.

 

[Pelagikos]

I tend to believe you period this thing is taking over my tank! Did you ever happen to find out what it was called?

 

[nrupaw]

I tend to believe you period this thing is taking over my tank! Did you ever happen to find out what it was called?

nah. everyone just calls it a yellow sponge. I tried to fight it for a couple years by scraping it off, but after it grew and smothered my 6 year old Oregon Tort colony, i gave up and did a hard reset on the tank. helped get rid of the yellow sponge. Now im very careful about checking frags that might bring it it.

 

[j.speaks]

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The little yellow sponges I had were never a problem and never grew much.

 

[Ironfish]

nah. everyone just calls it a yellow sponge. I tried to fight it for a couple years by scraping it off, but after it grew and smothered my 6 year old Oregon Tort colony, i gave up and did a hard reset on the tank. helped get rid of the yellow sponge. Now im very careful about checking frags that might bring it it.

Hi!
Just dealing with some similar issues here.
My tank always had some yellow sponges, especially on the dark side of the rocks. But lately they've been growing fast and kind of growing over some of the bases of some acros.
A Walt Disney colony just bleached and it all started where the yellow sponge was touching it.

Not sure other reefers experiences and how to remove it.

Thanks!

 

[Ironfish]

Hi!
Just dealing with some similar issues here.
My tank always had some yellow sponges, especially on the dark side of the rocks. But lately they've been growing fast and kind of growing over some of the bases of some acros.
A Walt Disney colony just bleached and it all started where the yellow sponge was touching it.

Not sure other reefers experiences and how to remove it.

Thanks!

I'd love to hear ideas on how to remove it bc it keeps on invading.

Thanks!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'd love to hear ideas on how to remove it bc it keeps on invading.

Thanks!

Can you post a picture?

 

[Ironfish]

Can you post a picture?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’ve not seen that sponge before, at least not growing like that. I’m not sure how to limit its growth except possible by limiting silicate additions to the tank, and manual removal.

 

[Subsea]

I maintain some ornamental sponges: yellow ball sponge & orange elephant ear. I continue to hear about invasive encrusting sponges. @Paul B dealt with a purple encrusting sponge and it was an ordeal, however, I don’t remember details.

@Ironfish
Try toothbrush dipped in peroxide and brush it away.

Is your encrusting sponge photosynthetic? It looks like Bryozoan.

For sponges to be photosynthetic they need Cyanobacteria in their biomass. So, if you want to experiment with ChemiClean, it would be “outside the box”.