Orange sponge dying?
- Thread starter shista
- Start date
S
shrimpy brains
Guest
Aside from what just hitchhikes into the tank, I only had one that died after about 6 months(don't know why)
Anyway, I do know they need a long accllimation period and can NOT be exposed to air at all.
If you exposed it to air when moving to the tank, that is most likely the problem.
Anyway, I do know they need a long accllimation period and can NOT be exposed to air at all.
If you exposed it to air when moving to the tank, that is most likely the problem.
S
shrimpy brains
Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by shista http:///forum/thread/385098/orange-sponge-dying#post_3376112
i didn't expose it to air, i don't understand why it's dying... anything more than good water quality i need to provide?
Sorry, that's all I know about them. After losing the one I bought, I never tried again. Hope someone with more sponge knowledge comes along!
Originally Posted by shista http:///forum/thread/385098/orange-sponge-dying#post_3376112
i didn't expose it to air, i don't understand why it's dying... anything more than good water quality i need to provide?
Sorry, that's all I know about them. After losing the one I bought, I never tried again. Hope someone with more sponge knowledge comes along!
J
juice28
Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by shista http:///forum/thread/385098/orange-sponge-dying#post_3376042
i have had an orange sponge that i ordered off of this website about a couple weeks ago. It has started to turn black and i am wondering what i should do, i heard it is easy to take care of them and provided no extra feeding or anything. Anything i should do to keep it alive?
sorry to say but most sponges that you can buy/ order like the orange red ball or trees sponges, purple vase sponges etc will most likely die in your tank after a while. they are not impossible but do make for a challenge in the long run. ive tried a couple times but its just not worth it in my opinion. Some people et them to grow no problem, most of us who have had them have probably lost them eventually
1. they are not photosynthetic and they should not be in bright light, more indirect if in the light at all, which can be a challenge in your tank finding a dark spot that gets good water movement. You probably have af ew small sponges that have popped up in your tank under shady ares in your tank. Gorgonians are the same way(generally speaking)
2. all sponges have fairy specific nutrition needs which you need to mimic in your tank. even though they are filter feeders not all sponges filter out the same thing. If your tank is for example, lps and soft from the Australia, Philippine isl. region and you put a sponge that grows off the coast of Hawaii.. its probably not going to make it long. if you were to look at their natural habitat.. they only grow in very specific places unlike corals which will just grow and spread out as long they're not fighting with other corals for turf generally speaking.
Originally Posted by shista http:///forum/thread/385098/orange-sponge-dying#post_3376042
i have had an orange sponge that i ordered off of this website about a couple weeks ago. It has started to turn black and i am wondering what i should do, i heard it is easy to take care of them and provided no extra feeding or anything. Anything i should do to keep it alive?
sorry to say but most sponges that you can buy/ order like the orange red ball or trees sponges, purple vase sponges etc will most likely die in your tank after a while. they are not impossible but do make for a challenge in the long run. ive tried a couple times but its just not worth it in my opinion. Some people et them to grow no problem, most of us who have had them have probably lost them eventually
1. they are not photosynthetic and they should not be in bright light, more indirect if in the light at all, which can be a challenge in your tank finding a dark spot that gets good water movement. You probably have af ew small sponges that have popped up in your tank under shady ares in your tank. Gorgonians are the same way(generally speaking)
2. all sponges have fairy specific nutrition needs which you need to mimic in your tank. even though they are filter feeders not all sponges filter out the same thing. If your tank is for example, lps and soft from the Australia, Philippine isl. region and you put a sponge that grows off the coast of Hawaii.. its probably not going to make it long. if you were to look at their natural habitat.. they only grow in very specific places unlike corals which will just grow and spread out as long they're not fighting with other corals for turf generally speaking.
flower
Well-Known Member
Did you put the sponge in a shaded area? They can't handle algae, it clogs them up. That is what it sounds like has happened to you. Sponges are not "easy" but with proper care they do pretty good. I have an orange fan sponge I have had for years.
They can't ever touch the air, not for a second. They need high water flow (like right in front of a power head type of flow) and lots of microvert or some such food added to the water 2Xs a week. They must be in a well shaded area because of the algae.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by shista http:///forum/thread/385098/orange-sponge-dying#post_3376379
Thank you.. It is not in a shaded area because i cant get high flow in a shaded area.. could you tell me more about this microvert or 'some such food'?
They sell microvert and other coral foods in any SW fish store...the problem is what you feed the coral/sponge (they feed on the same thing) feeds the algae. If your sponge is covered in algae it can't absorb food, so all you are doing is polluting the tank.. I cover an area of my tank on top over my sponge. If you don't have a shaded area you have to create one and it may be too late if the sponge is covered in algae already. The algae clogs it up. Can you put a picture up so I see how "black" it is?
Originally Posted by shista http:///forum/thread/385098/orange-sponge-dying#post_3376379
Thank you.. It is not in a shaded area because i cant get high flow in a shaded area.. could you tell me more about this microvert or 'some such food'?
They sell microvert and other coral foods in any SW fish store...the problem is what you feed the coral/sponge (they feed on the same thing) feeds the algae. If your sponge is covered in algae it can't absorb food, so all you are doing is polluting the tank.. I cover an area of my tank on top over my sponge. If you don't have a shaded area you have to create one and it may be too late if the sponge is covered in algae already. The algae clogs it up. Can you put a picture up so I see how "black" it is?
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by shista http:///forum/thread/385098/orange-sponge-dying#post_3376825
Thank you so much. I do not have a picture, but it is about 50/50 black. i put it in a shadier spot, and am getting some microvert from my LFS tomorow. Anyone have any opinions on what kind of coral/sponge food is good? kent?
I use kents microvert. Can you swish the sponge around under water to try and dislodge some of the algae? Gently rub it and try and get as much of the algae off as you can. Sponge won't care about the dark, and the algae can't live without light...do you have a refugium can you transfer it to?
Originally Posted by shista http:///forum/thread/385098/orange-sponge-dying#post_3376825
Thank you so much. I do not have a picture, but it is about 50/50 black. i put it in a shadier spot, and am getting some microvert from my LFS tomorow. Anyone have any opinions on what kind of coral/sponge food is good? kent?
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by shista http:///forum/thread/385098/orange-sponge-dying#post_3376877
I dont have a refugium or a QT tank. I tryed rubbing it, but it almost still looks the same.. Today I am starting to notice little holes on it
Litttle holes as in the sponges natural holes, or something else? I put made a plastic canopy to cover the part of my tank where my sponge lives. It does not take much to starve algae of light.
Originally Posted by shista http:///forum/thread/385098/orange-sponge-dying#post_3376877
I dont have a refugium or a QT tank. I tryed rubbing it, but it almost still looks the same.. Today I am starting to notice little holes on it
Litttle holes as in the sponges natural holes, or something else? I put made a plastic canopy to cover the part of my tank where my sponge lives. It does not take much to starve algae of light.
