labas39
Active member
An argument for a cryptic sponge filtration system?
Sponges feed on coral mucus: Recycling waste on the reef
Sponges feed on coral mucus: Recycling waste on the reef
That's exactly what I was hoping for. As I understand it, these small sponge varieties are found mostly on base rock. Much more robust, though a nice colorful sponge would make a nice accent to bigger tank.My tank is loaded with sponges, more different types that I can count. That's only what I can see, creepy things grow in the dark spots of my tank. I started with some rock from TBS which came filled with its own freak show. Mine grow and multiply and I add nothing to the tank for them. I just figured they are like anything else in the tank, they self regulate how many/much there needs to be.
You could probably just add more live rock. A very subtle change and no potential destabilization.You could probably dose a food source to speed it along.Tampa bay saltwater.
I have many small sponges that do filter. But the butterfly fish i had ate most of them. The sumps loaded with them.
I guess theres some that have a sump spot with xenias to filter some also.
I was considering maybe doing a xenia location in my sump but fear they could get to the DT
My kids referred to the Gorilla crabs as Bad Guy Crabs and we hunted them for about a month in an isolated tanks, they weren't an issue. The Isopods I haven't seen yet, but will definitely keep my eye out for them. As Far as the Barnacles, Sponges and Turnicates, they have multiplied in my tank. It's only 9 months old, but I have a hard time telling the TBS from the base rock I used. I guess it's just two different experiences with the same product.be very careful with TBS rock...yes, they come with a ton of very interesting hitchhikers most good but some very bad...mine came with a ton of hairy gorilla crabs that took me at least a year to locate and eradicate but worse of all they came with cirolanid isopods...also, practically everything that came in on the TBS rock died not very long after - the colorful sponges, the tunicates, the barnacles...going forward if i were to start a new tank, i probably wouldn't go live rock route and instead go with just live sand or dump bottles of Dr. Tim's instead...the kind of stuff that came in on the live rock was fascinating at first but the bad outweighed the good tenfold
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nowadays i do see yellow sponges and red sponges in my tank which is very nice
Yes definitely is just my own experience. In speaking with the owner, I believe his name is Richard? He said the Isopods were seasonal. It was just really heartbreaking setting up your first tank, my wife and I getting out first clownfish pair then seeing them getting eaten alive by the Isopods. Losing fish for easier to swallow after that but that first incident will always be the hardest for me.My kids referred to the Gorilla crabs as Bad Guy Crabs and we hunted them for about a month in an isolated tanks, they weren't an issue. The Isopods I haven't seen yet, but will definitely keep my eye out for them. As Far as the Barnacles, Sponges and Turnicates, they have multiplied in my tank. It's only 9 months old, but I have a hard time telling the TBS from the base rock I used. I guess it's just two different experiences with the same product.
I have dozens of these guys, none that nice looking.Finally found it. The specimen is a Tunicate. I read about a reefer who was running a skimmerless tank with several of these. I may be confusing my forums, but I believe that he is with ChicagoReefs.
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Dozens of ? They are breeding? Asexually, I am guessing.I have dozens of these guys, none that nice looking.
I don't think I ever posted pictures of them, I can but they really aren't that pretty. Some are pretty big in relation to some of the rock they are on, 1 1/2" is probably the biggest. The only thing I can think of that could be keeping everything alive is all the foody son pumps into the tank for his Sun Corals. We feed very heavy, but export heavy also.Dozens of ? They are breeding? Asexually, I am guessing.
That must have been you with the pics that I saw, if you ever posted them. Please tell me if you're ever selling specimens.