Red Sponge and a Toadstool Leather

[natethenizzle]

Just recently added a Toadstool leather and an Orange Sponge ball to our 75 gallon tank. I have read several different websites trying to best determine the placement and water flow requirements of each. The leather is now currently shedding and has the waxy look and from what I can tell, and I do believe that the "feeding" holes on the sponge are getting bigger. Does this indicate poor placement of each piece? I am adding a current blower to the tank this evening also. Water tested out just dandy, and the leather is placed up top of rock with full light exposure (standard blue/white flourescents) and the sponge is placed on sand with partial shade from light. Did not pay much at all for both pieces, but that doesn't mean I want to sit back and watch them die off. Any tips on best placement/current amount ideas to help these two awesome additions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!!!

 

[tthemadd1]

Medium flow on both should be fine. The leather may just be adjusting to the different lighting.
How long have you had them?
How long did the LFS?
They may take a few days or weeks depending. Start them low and in medium flow.
Water parameters?

 

[natethenizzle]

Sorry for the delay in my reply. We test bi-weekly and everything has come back spot on other than our salt level is just a tick low from where we prefer. We added some salt and I moved the sponge to medium flow and a little bit of shade and the crabs stopped knocking it over and he is doing just fine. His holes have stopped getting bigger and he looks better than the first few days. The leather I have moved several times due to the crabs knocking him off the rock and I have finally found a resting place for him on the sand bed and he has stopped "shedding" and looks like he is coming around also. I am an honest coral beginner and we have been dosing the tank with "Coral-Vite" following the recommended instructions on the label. Thanks again for your advice.

 

[tthemadd1]

Sounds like its all coming together. Really though the additives are "usually" a waste of money. Everything your corals and sponges need is already within the salt mixes and the water column.