Sponge problem

[swlover]

Hey guys, I need some help. I have a beautiful red tree sponge, I have noticed the last couple days some white stuff on him and color fading. water, temp & salt levels fine, did my weekly water change yesterday, replaced filters, PS is working great, nothing else in tank is affected. I did get new bulbs a couple of days ago and thats when I started to notice the white stuff. It's kind of slimy. I have had him for atleast 4 months and he has always been in a shady part of my tank, he has lots of new growth, flow is low but no dead spots, I am at a loss. I think it has something to do with the new bulbs. I went with higher watt, Is it doomed? What treatments if any. The first pic is what it used to look like in the old tank, second pic is where it is in the tank, last pic I moved it out to show the white stuff and the fading. It looks like it is loosing color fast. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[swlover]

Help anyone??

 

[alyssia]

I'm sorry, but that's what my yellow tree sponge looked like before it died.

 

[swlover]

Wonder what the problem is? Something eating it?

 

[alyssia]

IDK, I did see the hermits eating the clear film off. They never touched the sponge before it got the film though. Aren't sponges supposed to be hard to keep alive?

 

[swlover]

I don't know but I have yellow sponge every where in my tank. It's little but it sprouts up every where....I guess all sponge is not created equal! Mine never did anchor, it just kinda sat there. It just seems odd that it did so well all those months and then all of a sudden, within days, it's dieing. Things that make you go HUMM. Wonder if I should take it out, I don't want whatever it has to pollute my tank, what did you do?

 

[alyssia]

I left it until it started falling apart. I should of removed it sooner. I have those bright yellow sponges growing everywhere in my tank also! I thought it was neat until they started growing on my corals.

 

[captainemo]

That's what happened to mine. I tried trimming the dying parts off but it continued to die. It ended up in the disposal.

 

[swlover]

I think I know what happened to the sponge...someone can come and correct me if I'm wrong, but I had the problem with my P skimmer of it leaking micro bubbles. I'm thinking that had something to do with it, because I fixed the problem, no more bubbles and the sponge looks like it is getting better. Two branches are back to bright red and the white stuff went away. Although it may loose a couple of branches, the trunk looks like it is turning bright red too. I'm crossing my fingers...now if someone could tell me if I should remove the branches that are bad or should I leave it alone and let nature take it's corse? Everything in the tank looks better too and no more stringy algae.

 

[blazehok68]

the sponge probably came into contact with the air. sponges need to be fully submerged at all times! wether you let it hit the air, or the person who handled it before you did lt it hit the air, it happened. it has something to do with air getting trapped in their cells or something of that nature.

 

[swlover]

Well I get these from an expert in his field, I doubt that he did it and I know I didn't...he left me specific instructions not to let air come in contact with it and I didn't. Thats why I think it has something either to do with the PS or something eating it. I have had it for 4 months and this just started happening the last week or so. But you could be right, maybe he had someone else handle it before shipping. I guess I'll never figure it out. If it dosen't make it, I'll get another and make sure he handles it himself. I really like the bright red contrast in the tank...thanks for your insight.