Can I have to many sponges?

Bulldog39 · 01/18/2018, 06:43 PM

I have been noticing that I have sponges growing everywhere. I know they are harmless but can I have to many? I just saw that not they are growing on other things like a piece of seaweed or algae in the tank. Looks fumny but should I start removing them?

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jlmawp · 01/18/2018, 07:28 PM

I personally would love to have more sponges, especially visible ones, since most of mine prefer crevasses or dark places. I can understand not liking their aesthetic, though. It won't hurt anything to remove them, but the popular opinion on here would be to let them go, since they are mostly just free water cleaners. As your tank matures and nutrients start to get more in check, they will reduce in population, more-than-likely.

heathlindner25 · 01/18/2018, 08:05 PM

No way,let them grow.

Subsea · 01/18/2018, 09:38 PM

Nice rock.

Yes, of course they can overrun a tank. With pretty ones like that, put a rock next to the sponges. When sponges attach to rock, remove and sell or trade as nutrient export?

ReefkeeperZ · 01/18/2018, 09:55 PM

if sponges are over running your tank you have tons of filter food for them to feed on, it's not likely. can certain sponges over grow corals? absolutely, and do certain corals and sponges have symbiotic relationships yes again. q-tips are usually a phase nutrient heavy beginning tanks go through at some point. other sponges and their proliferation depend on food availability and dial in to sustainable levels in the majority of tanks.

socalireefdood · 01/19/2018, 01:43 AM

no you can not!

mcgyvr · 01/19/2018, 07:13 AM

There is always the possibility of too much of anything..
And the decision is yours when too much is too much..
Is the sponge growing/killing your prized coral?
Is it visually something you don't like?
etc...
etc...

But in general sponges are beneficial...

Rover88 · 01/19/2018, 08:50 AM

If you have 'too many sponges' they will deplete the food supply and regulate themselves out.

naimasreef · 01/19/2018, 09:08 AM

angelfish heaven!

would love to have those in my tank for sure!!!!

Bulldog39 · 01/19/2018, 09:49 AM

Thanks

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JZinCO · 01/19/2018, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rover88

If you have 'too many sponges' they will deplete the food supply and regulate themselves out.

So this I have limited experience with. I think some reefers might remove sponges instead of play wait and see, but I have some sponges that wax and wane in size but the area occupied over time is more or less homeostatic.
For example I have a 10" diameter rock with 1/3 covered by a 1" thick sponge. I let it be and accept that it is a show piece just as much as a coral colony would have been in that spot.

Of course, there are always spots that are unacceptable. And the hobbyist makes the choice of who gets to live there. I plucked a pineapple sponge off the head of a zoa two days ago.
If I don't forget, I'll post a picture of my favorite spongey rock this weekend.

ReeferNoob4ever · 01/19/2018, 05:30 PM

Nope.

JZinCO · 01/19/2018, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JZinCO

So this I have limited experience with. I think some reefers might remove sponges instead of play wait and see, but I have some sponges that wax and wane in size but the area occupied over time is more or less homeostatic.
For example I have a 10" diameter rock with 1/3 covered by a 1" thick sponge. I let it be and accept that it is a show piece just as much as a coral colony would have been in that spot.

Of course, there are always spots that are unacceptable. And the hobbyist makes the choice of who gets to live there. I plucked a pineapple sponge off the head of a zoa two days ago.
If I don't forget, I'll post a picture of my favorite spongey rock this weekend.

Hope these pictures do my point justice. I personally love the added texture of sponges so I only remove them if they're literally growing over coral

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Subsea · 01/19/2018, 08:22 PM

Gorgeous to look at, but not sure what it is.

Twenty years ago, I went to Monaco Bay Aquarium and saw a round display with alternating blue and red background lights with jellyfish in it. The lights shined thru the translucent flesh. It was quite beautiful.

Bulldog39 · 01/19/2018, 09:07 PM

I was worried they grow to fast but yeah I like them. I'm so addicted to this now can't stop looking at my tank

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Timfish · 01/21/2018, 07:49 AM

Cryptic sponges are critical to a reef system as they are recycling the DOC released by corals and algae. The sponges you can see, it's up to you to decide if they meet your easthetics. A note on cryptic sponges is they are far more effecient at removing organic carbon than bacteria so carbon dosing may not work the way you expect it.

01/18/2018, 06:43 PM	#1
Bulldog39 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Georgia Posts: 234	Can I have to many sponges? I have been noticing that I have sponges growing everywhere. I know they are harmless but can I have to many? I just saw that not they are growing on other things like a piece of seaweed or algae in the tank. Looks fumny but should I start removing them? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

01/18/2018, 09:38 PM	#4
Subsea Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 1,882	Nice rock. Yes, of course they can overrun a tank. With pretty ones like that, put a rock next to the sponges. When sponges attach to rock, remove and sell or trade as nutrient export? __________________ Laissez les bons temps rouler, Patrick Castille Current Tank Info: 10,000G. Greenhouse Macro Growout

01/18/2018, 09:55 PM	#5
ReefkeeperZ Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 392	if sponges are over running your tank you have tons of filter food for them to feed on, it's not likely. can certain sponges over grow corals? absolutely, and do certain corals and sponges have symbiotic relationships yes again. q-tips are usually a phase nutrient heavy beginning tanks go through at some point. other sponges and their proliferation depend on food availability and dial in to sustainable levels in the majority of tanks. __________________ insert witty catchphrase here

01/19/2018, 07:13 AM	#7
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	There is always the possibility of too much of anything.. And the decision is yours when too much is too much.. Is the sponge growing/killing your prized coral? Is it visually something you don't like? etc... etc... But in general sponges are beneficial... __________________ Who me?

01/19/2018, 05:30 PM	#12
ReeferNoob4ever Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: NM Posts: 523	Nope. __________________ Get a life! Current Tank Info: 20gL mixed reef, 10g mixed reef w/nem & clown, 5g NPS & harlequin

01/18/2018, 07:28 PM	#2
jlmawp Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 595	I personally would love to have more sponges, especially visible ones, since most of mine prefer crevasses or dark places. I can understand not liking their aesthetic, though. It won't hurt anything to remove them, but the popular opinion on here would be to let them go, since they are mostly just free water cleaners. As your tank matures and nutrients start to get more in check, they will reduce in population, more-than-likely.

01/18/2018, 08:05 PM	#3
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	No way,let them grow.

01/19/2018, 01:43 AM	#6
socalireefdood Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 51	no you can not!

01/19/2018, 08:50 AM	#8
Rover88 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 590	If you have 'too many sponges' they will deplete the food supply and regulate themselves out.

01/19/2018, 09:08 AM	#9
naimasreef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Posts: 124	angelfish heaven! would love to have those in my tank for sure!!!!

01/19/2018, 09:49 AM	#10
Bulldog39 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Georgia Posts: 234	Thanks Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

01/19/2018, 08:22 PM	#14
Subsea Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 1,882	Gorgeous to look at, but not sure what it is. Twenty years ago, I went to Monaco Bay Aquarium and saw a round display with alternating blue and red background lights with jellyfish in it. The lights shined thru the translucent flesh. It was quite beautiful. __________________ Laissez les bons temps rouler, Patrick Castille Current Tank Info: 10,000G. Greenhouse Macro Growout

01/19/2018, 09:07 PM	#15
Bulldog39 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Georgia Posts: 234	I was worried they grow to fast but yeah I like them. I'm so addicted to this now can't stop looking at my tank Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

01/21/2018, 07:49 AM	#16
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,985	Cryptic sponges are critical to a reef system as they are recycling the DOC released by corals and algae. The sponges you can see, it's up to you to decide if they meet your easthetics. A note on cryptic sponges is they are far more effecient at removing organic carbon than bacteria so carbon dosing may not work the way you expect it. __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek