Sponges

[juscool]

Dear Reefers,

I have a blue sponge that started turning white all of a sudden. And another huge sponge that is partially turning white with slimy coating.

What do I do?? Do I remove the sponge entirely to avoid cpontaminating thes rest? Or do I cet of the parts that are infected?

Are these sgns of imminent death of a sponge?

Thanks!

[Mr CRABS]

My sponge tured white after getting eaten by my starfish.But the jelly like substance is still left there white.Then i realised it was dead.

[Raiden]

Hi,

Once the sponge started to turn white, you should remove them from the tank to avoid 'spoiling' your water. You can 'frag' the healthy part out with a scissor or pen knife and wedge it into a crevice where there is strong current... it will then regrow from there on.

To keep sponge in the tank, you need to find a good spot in the tank where the current is strong and preferably with wave motion - the latter will ensure that it grow upward; my experience with blue sponge is that if put in a one-direction current, it tends to grow weird extensions.

IMO, blue sponge is not easy to keep... if you want to start with sponge, get the orangey-pink sponge - it is very hardy and can adapt to different current... do note that it tends to attract algae if the current is not strong.

Regards...

Raiden

[juscool]

Once the sponge started to turn white, you should remove them from the tank to avoid 'spoiling' your water. You can 'frag' the healthy part out with a scissor or pen knife and wedge it into a crevice where there is strong current... it will then regrow from there on.

Thanks, so you mean to say the blue will not grow back tpo the parts that have turned white? What a waste...it was a nicely foremd blue sponge...okay will put it under the knife..

[Mr CRABS]

Sponge grow quite fast la...just have to wait...Must have strong currents because the water carries the main source of food.The sponge filters these particles..REad up in a book before.

[arcanehacker]

one a sponge turns white, its dead.. It will spread all the way. Usually caused exposing to air, probably during transport.

You can try cut off the white portion totally.. might help but low chance... and make sure you don't expose it to air while doing so..

[juscool]

Hi,

Normally, I would take a whiff of it, if it smells bad, I owuld chuck the entire sponge.

I have changed like 80% of my water with seawater from the LFS. But still, I am noticing white spots forming on the rest of my soft corals and LR. I tried scrapping off the white spots..and placing it where the flow is strong. Is this the right way of curing them?

I'm not sure if the fast flow will spread the white spots to the rest of the healthy LR?

[arcanehacker]

errm.. juscool.. I don't think we are talking able the same white spots.. the sponge turning white doesn't spread to other LR or corals.. its the sponge itself turning white..

yours is probably some other stuff, maybe algae..