Red tree sponge
- Thread starter jaodissa
- Start date
bluetang66
Member
I don't know about the red tree but I have 2 pieces of blue atlantic that came as a hitchhiker on a rock that I do absolutely nothing for and it seems to be doing fine by itself.
the_bandit
Member
I think I know the sponge you are talking about. What I read was that they need very high flow and a low amount of light. I dont think they are for reefs purely because they have opposite needs of LPS and softies. More for a sump/refugium.
Again, I'm not 100% positive.
Again, I'm not 100% positive.
aquaknight
Active Member
Are they difficult to care for? Yes. Part of the problem comes from the fact that they should not be exposed to air at all. The issue is that along the process from getting your sponge from the wild to your tank, A MINIMUM of 4 people have handled the sponge. The chances of the sponge never being exposed to air is quite low. I wouldn't feel out on a limb at all by saying 45% of sponges sold at retail are doomed from exposed. Another 45% are doomed from being crushed. Sponges have millions of tiny passageways and tubes that are easily crushed closed, and that section of sponge will die.
The other 10% have ridiculous requirements. The are non-photosynthetic, meaning they don't have zooxanthellae algae to feed them, so they have to filter the water themselves for food. Our aquariums almost never produce enough microscopic organisms for a tree sponge of any size.
Putting them in high flow allows them to grab the most 'stuff' possible. In low/no light, helps prevent algae from going on the sponge. They can be put into light, just if you have algae problems, best to steer clear (if above wasn't enough)
Do they need a lot of room?
No at all, err at least from other corals. They don't 'sting' if that's what you're figuring to. If you mean tank size, yea, the bigger, the better, they range greatly in size. Though a nano perhaps can support a smaller tree.
Are they good for reef?
Not only a reef, but a "nutrient-rich" reef seems to be the best. Packed full of fish/corals/etc, and the tank is dosed with phytoplankton.
Whats your thoughts about someone new to the hobby having one?
Not really. In addition to the above, you need to mointor the sponge. If a section starts "to go" the remaining part(s) need to be removed, without you crushing the good section(s).
The Red tree Sponge looks really pretty and would add so much color
Definitely
The other 10% have ridiculous requirements. The are non-photosynthetic, meaning they don't have zooxanthellae algae to feed them, so they have to filter the water themselves for food. Our aquariums almost never produce enough microscopic organisms for a tree sponge of any size.
Putting them in high flow allows them to grab the most 'stuff' possible. In low/no light, helps prevent algae from going on the sponge. They can be put into light, just if you have algae problems, best to steer clear (if above wasn't enough)
Do they need a lot of room?
No at all, err at least from other corals. They don't 'sting' if that's what you're figuring to. If you mean tank size, yea, the bigger, the better, they range greatly in size. Though a nano perhaps can support a smaller tree.
Are they good for reef?
Not only a reef, but a "nutrient-rich" reef seems to be the best. Packed full of fish/corals/etc, and the tank is dosed with phytoplankton.
Whats your thoughts about someone new to the hobby having one?
Not really. In addition to the above, you need to mointor the sponge. If a section starts "to go" the remaining part(s) need to be removed, without you crushing the good section(s).
The Red tree Sponge looks really pretty and would add so much color
Definitely
the_bandit
Member
Haha!
What a showoff
What a showoff
flower
Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by The_Bandit
http:///forum/post/3151392
Haha!
What a showoff
UMMM...I don't really understand your post. Aquaknight is correct. You just need a cave for it to live in. I have a #2 koralia power head pointed right at my cave to ensure the sponge gets what it needs.
We all take risks when we purchase a sponge...the air exposure thing is a big deal.
I like that the tank is shown...it is not showing off...anyone that gives advice should post a picture of thier tank so you can see they know what they are talking about. Which looks great by the way.
So Mr.Giggles what does your tank look like?
http:///forum/post/3151392
Haha!
What a showoff
UMMM...I don't really understand your post. Aquaknight is correct. You just need a cave for it to live in. I have a #2 koralia power head pointed right at my cave to ensure the sponge gets what it needs.
We all take risks when we purchase a sponge...the air exposure thing is a big deal.
I like that the tank is shown...it is not showing off...anyone that gives advice should post a picture of thier tank so you can see they know what they are talking about. Which looks great by the way.
So Mr.Giggles what does your tank look like?
the_bandit
Member
Uhh....
Well that was a bit rude but Im not making fun of AquaKnights tank or his knowledge. I just thought it was humerous that he was explaining the difficulty of the sponge and then he showed us that he had one. Maybe it was something not everyone finds funny be I did.
First is my 55g reef. Tang is being donated this weekend. Second pic is of my 40g Mantis/reef tank.
Well that was a bit rude but Im not making fun of AquaKnights tank or his knowledge. I just thought it was humerous that he was explaining the difficulty of the sponge and then he showed us that he had one. Maybe it was something not everyone finds funny be I did.
First is my 55g reef. Tang is being donated this weekend. Second pic is of my 40g Mantis/reef tank.
aquaknight
Active Member
Originally Posted by The_Bandit
http:///forum/post/3152314
Uhh....
Well that was a bit rude but Im not making fun of AquaKnights tank or his knowledge. I just thought it was humerous that he was explaining the difficulty of the sponge and then he showed us that he had one. Maybe it was something not everyone finds funny be I did.
First is my 55g reef. Tang is being donated this weekend. Second pic is of my 40g Mantis/reef tank.
No worries, I got that it was only intended to be light-spirited.
I perhaps should have added a caveat; that I wasn't 100% successful. I managed to keep the sponge alive for about a year. I did have to trim the base a touch, as it was crushed from the collecter ripping it from the rocks, and I didn't add my maintenance for it. Every third day I would shake the sponge clean and very gently rub any bit of debris off with my fingers.
http:///forum/post/3152314
Uhh....
Well that was a bit rude but Im not making fun of AquaKnights tank or his knowledge. I just thought it was humerous that he was explaining the difficulty of the sponge and then he showed us that he had one. Maybe it was something not everyone finds funny be I did.
First is my 55g reef. Tang is being donated this weekend. Second pic is of my 40g Mantis/reef tank.
No worries, I got that it was only intended to be light-spirited.
I perhaps should have added a caveat; that I wasn't 100% successful. I managed to keep the sponge alive for about a year. I did have to trim the base a touch, as it was crushed from the collecter ripping it from the rocks, and I didn't add my maintenance for it. Every third day I would shake the sponge clean and very gently rub any bit of debris off with my fingers.