orange tree sponge
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florida joe
Well-Known Member
was if ever exposed to air while you had it
aquaknight
Active Member
It's dying. Even if you never exposed it to air, it's virtually impossible to tell if it's ever been, from the collector, to the wholesaler, to the retailer. The chances of exposing a sponge are hugely high. About exposing it, I believe from my previous sponge experience, it's more about being exposed for a prolonged period, more then just a split second or two. Tree sponges, like most sponges are filter feeders. Their structure is a massive network of webbing. When air gets in, air has trouble usually escaping, and that's why the sponge dies. Additionally, many times the collector simply "rips" the sponge right off the rocks, which crushes the internal meshwork in the sponge.
If the bubbles from the skimmer collected on the sponge, and there isn't enough flow in the tank to blow them off, or you didn't rub them off, it may of caused it. However depending on the size of your sponge, the size of your tank, it probably is just dying from lack of nutrients like 99.9% of tree sponges do. Most aquarium just can't supply the right kind of food for them.
To help maintain a sponge, they should be "brushed" regularly. With your fingers, gently rub the sponge to dislodge any debris caught there. Also shake the sponge, underwater of course.
If the bubbles from the skimmer collected on the sponge, and there isn't enough flow in the tank to blow them off, or you didn't rub them off, it may of caused it. However depending on the size of your sponge, the size of your tank, it probably is just dying from lack of nutrients like 99.9% of tree sponges do. Most aquarium just can't supply the right kind of food for them.
To help maintain a sponge, they should be "brushed" regularly. With your fingers, gently rub the sponge to dislodge any debris caught there. Also shake the sponge, underwater of course.
flower
Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by manners
http:///forum/post/3240814
is it going to die for sure or is there a chance that it could make a recovery. is it okay for a dying sponge to be in my tank or should it be removed ?
A dying sponge will just shrink up until there is nothing left, so no need to remove it. A power head pointed toward it will feed it, it is most likely needing more food.
I never heard of rubbing a sponge to dislodge debris, I just always made sure of heavy water flow to them. Mine trembles in the water current.
I learn something new everyday.
http:///forum/post/3240814
is it going to die for sure or is there a chance that it could make a recovery. is it okay for a dying sponge to be in my tank or should it be removed ?
A dying sponge will just shrink up until there is nothing left, so no need to remove it. A power head pointed toward it will feed it, it is most likely needing more food.
I never heard of rubbing a sponge to dislodge debris, I just always made sure of heavy water flow to them. Mine trembles in the water current.
reefkprz
Active Member
its dying from starvation. air exposed sponges generally die in patches, or from the inside out, starving sponges die from the outside in. yours is starving to death IMO. sponges like that tree sponge you are showing require a large amount of small micron filter food. my guess is there is not enough food available in your system to support that type of sponge.
reefkprz
Active Member
live phyto plankton (not the stuff out on the warm shelf), oyster eggs, stuff like that. you want tiny foods. your LFS is unlikley to carry the correct stuff, unless your LFS is better than most. for most tanks that want to house decorative sponges IMO a phyto/zoo drip is the way to go. its hard to feed often enough without overdoing it, with casual feeding. often what happens with hand feeding phytos is you dump a bunch in at one the intended recipient actually gets very little but your tank has a lot of pollution to deal with at once. and on and on. generally leading towards algakl problems. and the sponge still starves. IMO most decorative sponges are best in gorgonian/sponge setups, that are designed to cater to the exacting needs of these critters.