My Spongies

[d2mini]

Should I be placing my sponges any differently?
They are all pretty much on the sand.
A couple like the big purple on in the middle and one of the small red ones on the right are attached to what I originally thought was a rock, but I think is actually some sort of clam or something because it will move a little and stick to other rock.

http://d2creative.smugmug.com/Other/135gReef/L1001175/795506018_LuGLi-O.jpg

[reefak]

I didn't realize mine was attached to a clam (?) either. I went to move it one day and it closed in my hand, startled me to say the least. I put it on a rock that it apparently didn't like and one day I got to see in move about four inches over, very cool. I feel very unworthy to have all the stuff I got from Richard seeing as I don't even know what a lot of it is.

[liverock]

Should I be placing my sponges any differently?
They are all pretty much on the sand.
A couple like the big purple on in the middle and one of the small red ones on the right are attached to what I originally thought was a rock, but I think is actually some sort of clam or something because it will move a little and stick to other rock.

http://d2creative.smugmug.com/Other/135gReef/L1001175/795506018_LuGLi-O.jpg


Sponges..

on angel wing clams..like yours.....like to be on a hard area..rock...they will extend a foot and grab on....

the other sponges without a host clam...anywhere you want to put them...but I have to say...your tank looks awesome!

Sea ya
Richard TBS:spin1::spin1::spin1:

[d2mini]

Man, Richard... it's too bad you can't figure out a way to label everything you send out.
Every time I think I know all the cool stuff i have, you reveal something more!

[MOB1224]

That tank looks great. I cant wait 4 my package 2 get here. I will hopefully get it this Friday:celeb2::celeb1::inlove::spin1::beer:

[liverock]

That tank looks great. I cant wait 4 my package 2 get here. I will hopefully get it this Friday:celeb2::celeb1::inlove::spin1::beer:

The storm has the airlines all messed up.....no shipping today or tomorrow it looks like...

Richard TBS:spin1::spin1::spin1:

[liverock]

Man, Richard... it's too bad you can't figure out a way to label everything you send out.
Every time I think I know all the cool stuff i have, you reveal something more!

Some pics here.....but if you will take some more killer pics of everything you have...I will add them to the list!

http://www.tampabaysaltwater.com/thepackage/organisms.html

Richard TBS:spin1::spin1::spin1:

[d2mini]

Here's one!
That's my orange star in the background. :)

http://d2creative.smugmug.com/Other/135gReef/DSC0092/796905845_ikN75-O.jpg

[Mustang Boy]

Here's one!
That's my orange star in the background. :)

http://d2creative.smugmug.com/Other/135gReef/DSC0092/796905845_ikN75-O.jpg

wow that pic is great. it has a sponge, clam, coral, and snail all in one shot and all together lol.

[WhiteReef]

Are the sponges photosynthetic?

[d2mini]

Sponges are filter feeders. They feed off tiny particles floating through the water.

[WhiteReef]

I know that sponges are filter feeders, but there are some that also are photosynthetic. Just wanted to make sure of that so I can find the most appropriate location in my tank for them.

[d2mini]

Sorry, they don't require a lot of light. That's why most of mine are around the edges of the tank or in shaded areas. They do need some flow though. The purple gorgonian likes lots of flow.

[Yogre]

True they don't require a lot of light. Matter of fact lots of light will do some of them in. I have an orange tree sponge that was simply falling apart under 250W MH lights. I moved it to my dimly lit refugium and it's hanging on now. Not thriving, but not wasting away either.

[WhiteReef]

Thanks for all the great info on the sponges. Also sorry if I hijacked the thread, but hopefully others will find this information useful too.

[Mick213]

Wow I like you'r Sponge tank looks neat.

[d2mini]

I lost a few sponges, all the ones attached to clams (all the short red ones and that purple one in the center of the first pic).

You see that yellow one on the left of the first pic... the tree/finger sponge? It's covered in a reddish brown film. Hasn't deteriorated, I don't think, in fact part of it is attaching to the nearby rock. But it looks ugly as sin. Ever see that before?

http://d2creative.smugmug.com/Other/135gReef/DSC2089/849058287_orY3L-O.jpg


My favorite sponge is still going though! :)
http://d2creative.smugmug.com/Other/135gReef/DSC2102/848960333_jxeaK-O.jpg

[liverock]

That is the way the yellow finger sponge looks when I collect them.......then after holding them a week or two, they turn bright yellow like it was when you first got it....I think it is normal, especially when it is getting such good light...

Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com

[d2mini]

That's too funny! Good to know ugly is normal. :lol: Thanks!

[Yogre]

d2mini,

I've lost every red sponge I've had over the last year and a half; I've had both the red tree sponges and a couple of the stubbies like you had. I'm about to conclude they're intolerant of much light at all. I'm contemplating ordering a couple more from Richard to test this theory. I have a couple of really BIG rocks from my Part 2 that provide plenty of shade I could put them in.

The yellow sponges do seem to pick up that crud on them. It almost looks like cyano to me. I've found if it gets a little thick I can blow it off with a turkey baster.

Finally, if you ever have a problem with hair algae, do NOT dose with AlgaeFix marine in a tank with TBS sponges. It ghosts 'em. Literally. Within days they will form white fuzzy stuff on the outside and will just melt away. I learned this the hard way. (Same way I learn most of what I learn. :lol:)

P.S. Your tank, and photography look great, as always. :thumbsup:

[d2mini]

Thanks Yogre!
That orange sponge in the pic above is right out in the open. It's red/orange but definitely more orange than the other true red ones that died.
And behind it, between it and the purple gorgonian you can just barely see a lighter orange sponge sticking up. He's partially shaded and doing well.
It's all a mystery to me!

And ya, i too thought the stuff on the yellow sponge was some sort of cyano/slime algae, especially since it appeared just as the patch you see next to it on the sand in one of the earlier pics above was clearing.