SpongeIDFAQ4

FAQs on Sponge Identification 4

Related Articles: Sponges in Marine Aquariums

Sponge ID 9/22/06 Could you possibly identify what this is? I noticed it one day behind one of my power heads. I enclosed a pic. It looks like a miniature clear or white colored tree branch all scrunched up. Sometimes I notice small "bugs" that resemble fleas inside the branches. Its very small and unusual to me. Any help would be appreciated. <Appears to be a sponge, quite possibly. a type of Clathrina. The critters are more than likely copepods/amphipods, good snacks for the fish.> Thanks.
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>

Help with Sponge ID 8/31/06 Can you help me id this sponge so I can research it more? <Yes... this is a Syconoid> I have already searched the net but could not find a positive match. Maybe Sycon or Syconoid sponge, but I haven't seen them with the extended tubes? <Quite common in aquariums... and in the wild if one looks about> The tubes have grown longer now and have entwined each other like spaghetti and look like they have attached to each other in one large mass. There are about 50 small ones in my skimmer and more every week in my tank. I do not want a tank of sponges and I have heard that sponges can also become toxic and crash a system, so should I remove them and give/trade them away? <Mmm, this group is rarely problematical... can likely trade some about> If they are beneficial and do not require light, I would like to move some to my new sump too. <Good idea... if they'll "take" there> Thanks for your time, Pat <And you for sharing yours. Bob Fenner> P.S. You may use the picture Patrick

Sponge ID - 01/01/06 Hi, <<Hello>> Like everyone else I keep coming back to your page when looking for answers about my aquarium you have been a great resource. <<Happy to help>> I have attached a photo of what looks like two different sponges that grew on the live rock my coral is attached to. Could you identify them for me? <<The white one is a Syconoid sponge, the yellow is a type of encrusting sponge. Both are harmless if not beneficial.>> Not sure what I am doing right but they seem to like where they are and I like them. Hope they are nothing to be avoided. <<Not at all, do enjoy them.>> Anne <<Regards, EricR>>

Beautiful color, what is it? 11/21/05 Greetings crew. Great site; immensely helpful. I'm new to the marine aquarium thing, but have been considering and researching for a number of years. A recent trip to Cancun, including snorkeling a few spectacular reefs, sealed my fate. <Good! Wonderfully complementary hobbies, interests, vocations> I have a 38g glass tank with Coralife Super Skimmer which, FWIW, seems to perform very well, 192w CF (96w actinic 96w 10K) with 2 3/4w moonlight LEDs, Fluval 403 with media (ceramic, carbon, sponge) and 2 maxijet900 powerheads (230gph each), outboard 200w heater. I execute bi-weekly water changes of about 6g and my parameters are fairly consistently 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 0 nitrates, 0 phosphates. I have to keep a close eye on ph, but maintain it at about 8.2. SG is 1.022, temperature pretty consistent at 81deg. Livestock consists of: 2 blue devil damsels 1 Coral beauty 1 Rusty Angel <Both in such a small volume... troubles ahead> 1 Maroon clown <Ditto> 1 Blood shrimp, who molts pretty consistently every two weeks Half dozen margarita snails 1 Olive snail, sand sifter (is he a carnivore? He comes running when he smells Mysis in the water) <Yes> Hairy mushrooms on one rock Red mushrooms on a second rock Maroon-ish mushrooms on a third of the glow in the dark variety Mystery yellow 'stuff' (I'm assuming sponge and the subject of one of my questions) <Is...> About 30# live Fiji rock About 10# of Tufa About 1in aragonite I have two questions, one re calcium content, the other about a new acquisition: My calcium level is consistently above 520, <Too high> the highest my test kit will measure, and this without my supplementing it. Is this due to the Tufa leaching calcium, and is there any danger in this? <Possibly and yes... best to "knock down" with the addition of carbonate, bicarbonate...> I like the Tufa because the two rocks have great caves that the fish like at night. I also expect that eventually they will become live rock with great porosity. I'm also attaching a picture of a small rock I bought because of the beautiful yellow 'stuff' on it. At the LFS, they said it was probably a sponge, but could be algae of some sort. <Much more likely the former> What is it and what can I do to ensure that it thrives? <What you're doing... there is obviously the "right" or favorable circumstances present from your set-up, maintenance... endogenous foods, water movement, a dearth of predators...> It's why I bought the rock. It also has a nice population of mushrooms and various small feather dusters, etc, but I really like the color it adds to my tank. Thanks for your help, and the eagerness of you all to help the community at large. Regards Phil <Welcome. Bob Fenner>

Sponges & Polyps 10/12/05 Hi, I apologize for probably asking you the same question you've been asked a hundred times, but I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for. I have a 29 gal. fish/reef tank with live rock. We have been very lucky with our tank, it has been up and running for about a year. Within the last month (we have added no new live rock) we have noticed several new growths, and I am not sure what they are. We seem to have 5 different kinds of sponges growing and some polyps. There is a fuzzy ball-looking sponge (no pic since it's behind some rock), and a patch of white-ish sponge (again no pic). <You can likely see what you have... on WWM... on the Sponge ID FAQs files> What I have included is one picture of a black sponge... I apologize for the fuzzy pic, but it is definitely a sponge with holes for passing water through. <I agree with your identification> The other sponge pic has two on it, on the left is a patch of orange that I am unable to identify, and to the right is a purple sponge which I am assuming is a tubular sponge. <Too small, blurry for me to make out> We have several of the purple ones growing in different areas of the tank. Since they are multiplying I am guessing that whatever we're doing is good for sponge growth. What I am wondering is do we need to do anything special/different? <Mmm, nope> Can you help me identify the black and orange sponges? <Not from these, or pix... if you'll read a bit you'll find that such species, genera, sometimes family ID's require microscopic examination of sclerites...> We are enjoying watching them grow and would like to keep them alive if possible. <Can be... their presence is indicative of healthy state... are of use> None of our fish bother them, but as far as lighting we only have one blue actinic and one full spectrum daylight. <These are likely non-photosynthetic> We also have moonlights for nighttime. This lighting has worked fine thus far since we do not have corals. I have heard that sponges prefer shaded areas, and indeed the ones that are more shaded are growing faster. My other question is for the third picture...(again, sorry for the fuzziness). The appear to be bright green polyps, and also a colony of peach colored polyps, but are definitely not star polyps...they are more flower-like and look more feathery and delicate. I have been trying to look up green polyps but haven't found any answers. Any ideas on exactly what these are and what is the best care? <Look to be Clavulariids... can be searched by this name> I know our lighting is probably too low for these to survive, but they are multiplying actually quite rapidly. Sorry for the length of my questions, and thank you in advance. ~Jennifer <Read on my friend. Re-direct your curiosity to delving into what you're interested in. Bob Fenner>

Sponge/Asc. identification 9/29/05 Is there any chance you could identify this splendid sponge for me? At least I think it is a sponge--it appears to have siphonophores. The photo was taken in the Red Sea <A nice pic... of an Ascidian, sea squirt... Please see here: http://wetwebmedia.com/ascidians.htm Bob Fenner>

Have you heard of an orange sea sponge called codmium? 9/10/05 My daughter has a science paper to write, and we are not sure if this is the correct spelling or not. We have been unable to find information on the Internet. Thanks, Michele Reader <Mmm, a search on the Net turns up nothing for this spelling... there is a genus of algae called "Codium"... otherwise, you might have success perusing our postings of sponges: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sponges.htm Bob Fenner> Syconoid Sponges...Probably - 08/18/05 Dear Crew, <<Hiya!>> I have a problem that I hope you can solve. <<I'll give it a try.>> I have a 12 gallon reef tank with almost 40 lbs of live rock <<Yowza!...how do you have room for anything else?>>, 3 inches of live sand, a 10 gallon refugium, 65 watt power compact 50/50 light, 1 blue damsel, a green Chromis, and a hi-fin shrimp goby, a cleaner shrimp, 6 red hermits, 7 snails, and various corals. On one rock that houses 6 red mushroom corals, I see about 20 small, white, cotton ball looking objects. <<A sponge of sorts most likely.>> The fish seem to stay away from it, as well as the hermits and shrimp. <<Hmm...likely not related to the sponge.>> The cotton balls also have feather looking objects coming from the top. Some are about half an inch tall, the others are about 1/8th inch. Do you have any idea what these are, or if they are dangerous. <<Sounds like Syconoid sponges...harmless if not beneficial.>> I did have one leather finger coral die and almost dissolve before I figured it was dead (it didn't lose any color. Could this be spawn of it. <<Not likely in my opinion...would look to other sources/problems.>> Also what confuses me the most is they are on the back of the rock, out of the light, towards the back of the tank. <<Yes...many sponges prosper in these type conditions...helps prevent being overgrown by algae.>> Thank you so much Josh <<Always welcome my friend, EricR>>

Syconoid Sponges...Probably (II) - 08/19/05 Dear Eric, <<Joshua>> Thank you so much for the info. It really eased my mind. Joshua. <<Is my pleasure to assist and assure. EricR>>

ID Troublesome Encrusting Algae, Sponge Hi guys, I've searched & scanned the archive and couldn't figure out what this is... Photos are attached. It's a reddish-brown, spongy algae (or sponge?) <The latter> that encrusts rock, GSP fairly quickly. I originally was scrubbing it off with a toothbrush, but now I'm seeing little bits of it replicating/seeding in more & more places. Can you tell me (a) what it is, and (b) how to either exterminate it, or at least keep it under control? Thanks!! John <Likely nutrient limitation is your best approach here... along with physical removal, perhaps a search for a purposeful predator. Bob Fenner>

Sponge IDs? 7/19/05 Dear Sir bob, <Not knighted... yet!> Good day! <And to you> First and foremost, I visited your website and read some letters of your fans and sponge enthusiasts. Well, I'm very satisfied of your scientific information and explanation regarding sponge or related to sponge. In this connection, I would like to ask a favor from you or need your help to check the sponge images in their scientific names of our new launched POPPE IMAGES for some of the images cannot be identified or we are confused which is based on the picture only. Even if we have some books for reference but still it is not enough to relay the right or correct information to the possible client. <Uhhh...> It's really a great honor and a great privilege for us that you will correct our works. For further information, please visit our website. www.poppe-images.com Looking forward to hear from you soon. Sincerely yours, LEONOR O. ABAD Marketing Correspondent Conchology, Inc. Cebu Light Industrial Park, Basak, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Philippines Web : www. conchology.be <Few Sponges can be accurately identified to species from photographs... I would contact folks who specialize in Poriferan systematics (mostly at colleges), with specimens or parts of colonies... and ask for their help. Bob Fenner>
Re: Sponge IDs 7/20/05 Dear Mr. Bob, Good day! <And to you> Sorry for the "sir" thing for we have the standard to call the person that way as a sign of respect. <I see> Thank you for the reply. I really appreciated even in your busiest day still you manage to answer me. <We answer all> And I would like to thank you also as what you said in your replied letter that you are going to contact some of your friends or colleagues who specify in Poriferan to ask them for help. <Ah, good... the University at Banos (where fishbase.org is produced) I believe should have some folks that can/will help> Looking forward to hear the good news from you. More power!
<Be chatting, Bob Fenner>