urchins and sponge

[turbotsi]

Sorry I was unsure where to put this if it needs to be moved please do so..
anywho I was interested in some info on both urchins and sponges
I have a non reef (as of now just fish and a couple pieces of LR)
and I wanted to know what do these guys need
Urchins...
are there spines sharp enough to hurt us, is there any problem if poked by one (venomous or what have u).. are they food for either lionfish or SFE's...
what do they need to feed..
do they need good lighting etc (I just have a standard flourescent light
Sponges:
how hard to keep, anythign special I need to know.
do they need special light?
what do they need for food purposes..
do they need LR to live and grow..
anythign else u can add on these guys would be appreciated thx again
Dave

 

[viper_930]

Some species of urchins are sharp, some are not. They eat coralline algea. No special lighting needed for urchins.
Sponges should be kept out of light so they don't get covered in algea. They are filter feeders, and eat tiny particles and I think phytoplankton also.

 

[d12monkey]

Most sea urchins will not have sharp spines, except the long spined sea urchin. They usually go around eating algaes including coraline algae. Dietary needs for the sea urchins could compromise of algae leaves in the form of sea weed mainly.
As for the sponges it is very important not to expose them to air. Because air bubbles will get trapped in them and they will starve to death. but other than that some sponges require high amount of lighting others don't. And the dietary needs for them would be plankton, both live or dead.
I have both sea urchins and sponges in my tank and except one sponge which is in the process of healing itself, they all seem to be doing extremely well.
Hope it helps.
I'm no expert here but I believe you'll come to find that this is pretty standard information. Furthur information can be aquired by doing research on the specific species of animals you want to obtain.

 

[turbotsi]

I saw this stuff in a little plastic container I think it was seaweed sheets... is this something u could feed to say a pencil urchin??
I only have like 2 pieces of LR and little coraline
as for the sponges I think I will say no
Dave

 

[joker_ca]

my urchin eats my seaweed sheets when i put it in my tank to feed my angel also you should add some more LR the urchins love to scrap coraline algea off it