Success with Sponges?

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I have a 4 year old reef tank, and over the years I have attempted on
numerous occassions to introduce specimens of sponges into my tank. I
know that they are not to be exposed to air at all. Virtually all the
attempts have had a similar course. They start to shrink away, usually
with a whitish film. Usually after about 6 months they have virtually
vanished. The only exception to this experience has been with the
sponges that came naturally growing on my Live Rock. I have multiple
specimens of naturally growing sponge which has actually been growing
in my tank. Anyone with success with sponges?

[j]

About 8 months ago I purchased an orange bread crumb sponge. After an
initial wasting away, it is doing well now. At first I had it out in
the open under full lights. I moved it under an overhang and tucked
back a little. When I got it it was attached to a small rock about 1/4
the size of your fist. I pulled it out of it's cave recently and the
rock has almost completely disappeared - almost fully encrusted by the
sponge! From what I understand my experiences are not representative of
the majority of reef keepers. Also, I employ a fully mature refugium
consisting of crushed aragonite/live rock rubble substrate, live rock,
various macros, various hitch-hiker crabs, starfish, some blue legs, an
emerald crab, and a couble of brittle stars.

wrote:
> I have a 4 year old reef tank, and over the years I have attempted on
> numerous occassions to introduce specimens of sponges into my tank. I
> know that they are not to be exposed to air at all. Virtually all the
> attempts have had a similar course. They start to shrink away, usually
> with a whitish film. Usually after about 6 months they have virtually
> vanished. The only exception to this experience has been with the
> sponges that came naturally growing on my Live Rock. I have multiple
> specimens of naturally growing sponge which has actually been growing
> in my tank. Anyone with success with sponges?
>

[j]

About 8 months ago I purchased an orange bread crumb sponge. After an
initial wasting away, it is doing well now. At first I had it out in
the open under full lights. I moved it under an overhang and tucked
back a little. When I got it it was attached to a small rock about 1/4
the size of your fist. I pulled it out of it's cave recently and the
rock has almost completely disappeared - almost fully encrusted by the
sponge! From what I understand my experiences are not representative of
the majority of reef keepers. Also, I employ a fully mature refugium
consisting of crushed aragonite/live rock rubble substrate, live rock,
various macros, various hitch-hiker crabs, starfish, some blue legs, an
emerald crab, and a couble of brittle stars. I belive this to be
instrumental in my success.

wrote:
> I have a 4 year old reef tank, and over the years I have attempted on
> numerous occassions to introduce specimens of sponges into my tank. I
> know that they are not to be exposed to air at all. Virtually all the
> attempts have had a similar course. They start to shrink away, usually
> with a whitish film. Usually after about 6 months they have virtually
> vanished. The only exception to this experience has been with the
> sponges that came naturally growing on my Live Rock. I have multiple
> specimens of naturally growing sponge which has actually been growing
> in my tank. Anyone with success with sponges?
>

[Marc Levenson]

I bought an orange tree sponge that I've had for 6 months.
It was initially out in the open in good current, but algae
grew on it. I moved it twice, and it is probably 50% of
what it was. Interestingly, what is more hidden in the
rockwork is still doing very well. I'm leaving it there,
and enjoy seeing what it will do in that spot.

Marc


wrote:

> I have a 4 year old reef tank, and over the years I have attempted on
> numerous occassions to introduce specimens of sponges into my tank. I
> know that they are not to be exposed to air at all. Virtually all the
> attempts have had a similar course. They start to shrink away, usually
> with a whitish film. Usually after about 6 months they have virtually
> vanished. The only exception to this experience has been with the
> sponges that came naturally growing on my Live Rock. I have multiple
> specimens of naturally growing sponge which has actually been growing
> in my tank. Anyone with success with sponges?
>

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