Encrusting Sponge? How do I get rid of it?

BioCuber · 01-23-2007, 02:45 PM

Until today I kept looking at a chunk of my live rock and thought I was watching the coralline disappear over time. Upon closer inspection I realized something semi-transparent and spongy was growing on the rock. Since it feels spongy I am guessing it is some sort of encrusting sponge (it does have some nearly invisible vents). What do you think?

Since I can see thought it to the rock I know the coralline is disappearing wherever the sponge grows. Is there anything I can do to control the growth of this stuff? To me it looks quite unsightly and boring. I would hate for it to take over more red rock, or worse a coral.
Here are some photos...

The sponge, notice the gaps in its growth on the lower right

Photo taken today, the sponge is between the leather and stars

Photo taken on 12/14/06, no sponge

Thank you for your assistance.

Josh

BioCuber · 01-23-2007, 03:19 PM

Someone in another forum suggested removing the rock from the water to kill off the sponge by exposing it to air. Is this a viable suggestion? If I do give it a try, what makes a lethal duration of exposure to take care of the sponge? Here's a more important question, how long can I keep the leather and stars out of the water?

Thank you,

Josh

betamed · 01-23-2007, 05:40 PM

I have a black encrusting sponge on a rock that I had to pull out of the tank a few weeks ago. It was only for a few minutes and the sponge died back. It did recover, but if it was longer or if you can scrub it off that should help. I think the other types of sponges suffer more from air exposure than encrusting though.

dobejazz · 01-23-2007, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BioCuber

Someone in another forum suggested removing the rock from the water to kill off the sponge by exposing it to air. Is this a viable suggestion? If I do give it a try, what makes a lethal duration of exposure to take care of the sponge? Here's a more important question, how long can I keep the leather and stars out of the water?

Thank you,

Josh

I tried that with a blue encrusting sponge it wasn't out of the water long but it had no effect on it all. If anything it seems to be growing faster

ChilisREasy · 01-23-2007, 06:41 PM

thats the joys of live rock why do you want to kill it ?

dobejazz · 01-23-2007, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChilisREasy

thats the joys of live rock why do you want to kill it ?

Because it is taking real estate away from my clove polyps

ChilisREasy · 01-23-2007, 06:47 PM

i wish i had more sponges..i just have one tiny orange one..never has grown..

BioCuber · 01-23-2007, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChilisREasy

thats the joys of live rock why do you want to kill it ?

ChilisREasy,

Thanks for the reply. Actually I don't want to kill anything, however this "sponge" seems way too evasive to ignore. At its current rate of growth I can envision it taking over all of my rock leaving me with nothing but a giant semi-translucent blob covering everything in my tank. In three weeks time I have about four square inches of sponge. This is a much more rapid growth rate than anything in my tank. I feel if I don't do something now I may wake up tomorrow and it will be too late.ffice

ffice" />>>
>>
Josh

BioCuber · 01-23-2007, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dobejazz

Because it is taking real estate away from my clove polyps

And possibly everything else in my tank. Thanks dobejazz!

BioCuber · 01-23-2007, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChilisREasy

i wish i had more sponges..i just have one tiny orange one..never has grown..

Trust me, you don't want this sponge. I would be glad to have a tiny orange one, but... not this guy.

Josh

ChrisPrusha · 01-23-2007, 09:09 PM

My guess is that it won't grow much into the direct light. In any event, I don't believe a sponge will ever crowd out a GSP or leather.

Spridle · 02-07-2007, 01:07 PM

I had/have this same nasty black encrusting sponge and it almost took over my tank. It overtook about 1/3 of the rock (happened twice over about 3 years), so I removed that rock and discarded it and replaced it with new. Now, I'm proactive -- whenever I see that black sponge starting to grow (even the smallest pieces) I scrape or tweezer it off. I also will remove affected rock if I can and put a few drops of HCl (hydochloric acid) on the sponge and that seems to work the best. The secret is to keep it in check and not let it get a hold. I currently spend about 1 hour per month abating sponge! But it is getting better. I hope it will eventually completely die off.

ChrisPrusha · 02-07-2007, 02:42 PM

Whoa!

Fly Guy · 02-07-2007, 10:18 PM

Ive had that lovely brownish black sponge as well. I found i could get rid of it by simply picking it off. It reappeared a couple of times but just little pieces....i picked them off as i saw them and i havent seen it for over a year now.

As far as the exposure to air thing........that only kills the sponges we LIKE

dobejazz · 02-07-2007, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fly Guy

As far as the exposure to air thing........that only kills the sponges we LIKE