Red Tree Sponge with problems...

[postie]

I got a red tree sponge for a small tank (20-gallon). Gave it plenty of current and target fed it a few times a week with different solutions of nutritious liquid food. For two months or more it was the healthiest thing in the tank. This week, it is getting a white fungal something on it and appears to be on its way out. What is this white stuff and is there anything I can do about it. There seems to be a lot of it on a couple of branches, and small amounts on the rest of the sponge. The actual base is still red and appears healthy. I've thought about just cutting it off where the branches begin, but I'm not about to start surgery unless it's the right thing to do. Obviously I've never kept many sponges. Seems like a couple of months of good health, actually almost 3 months, shouldn't end like this...but I don't know much about sponges and have never had much success. I mostly know they can never smell the air!!!! Thanks for any input if I can save this pretty one!

 

[Anonymous]

I would cut the branches, however sponges like that seem to not do well over the long term. Your story is pretty much par for the course.

RR

 

[postie]

I probably will try cutting the branches and leaving the main "stalk", however, I can imagine how it will go about healing and suspect it will not. Worth a try anyway....otherwise, it certainly won't make it. The sponges are so pretty, it's ashame they are so hard to keep! Thanks for the input....

 

[Anonymous]

OH - make sure you don't take it out of the water! Do all your cutting under water!

RR

 

[Anonymous]

I remember reading references on wetwebmedia that some types of sponges are known to spew toxic compounds when injured or dying as a defense mechanism. As to which species, I couldn't tell you but you could try doing some online research.

If it was me, I'd take the sponge out of the main tank (use a rubbermaid or other container filled with water to transfer it underwater) and have another bucket of tank water ready. Do the cutting, then transfer the sponge from the small container into the waiting "hospital bucket" with an airstone for circulation and leave it for a few. If it leaches anything nasty you wouldn't have it in the main tank.

I'd also run carbon on the main tank after I put it back in.


HTH and good luck

 

[WRASSER]

YES as LAW said TAKE IT OUT IT IS DIEING. When you take it out smell it you will see.

P.S. Dont take a big swift of it just smell it :wink:

 

[bearbait]

I have a red tree sponge about 3 feet tall , the only time its or the tips turned white is when the tip was out of the water or when algea covered part of it . I just left it alone and the white part just went away like dead skin, When you buy a sponge its really a gamble . if the supplier, wholesaler or LFS or even you let it touch air your pretty much done. I have had mine eight months now No toxin or any that made a diffrence was released into the tank , keep it clean from algea and dont let it hit air you should be fine unless you have another proublem with the tank. I also think the right flow has alot to do with it.

 

[postie]

OK....it does not seem to be improving, having the white stuff on every branch, but not on the stalk. It did at one time have some algae on it that I blew away with a turkey baster. After that, seems the white started to appear. So, now....do I cut it off to the healthy stalk, leave it alone and see if it heals, or take it out and throw it away? Any of the above is fine...just want to do the right thing. This is just a little 20-gallon that I'm trying to start a few things in (leathers, etc.) to move to a larger tank after it is cycled and a bit established. So, what now about the sponge...what is the smartest/safest thing to do???? Thanks for all the great responses!

 

[Anonymous]

I really dont know, you could pitch it or you can try and cut it off above the dying part to save the main stalk and see if it heals, but I'd get the dying matter the heck out of the tank either way!

 

[postie]

Just an update.....took a very close look at the red tree sponge and still considered cutting it at the base of the branches to see if the stalk would heal and begin new growth. After taking a look, the stalk itself simply did not look healthy. It did not have the white dead growth on it, but did not look salvagable. Took it out of the tank, did a small water change, and the rest of the tank already looks much healthier and happier. Just wanted to thank everyone for helping out once again. This is a great place for advice and has kept my tanks going for years. Great people...
I actually wondered if when I blew the bit of algae off the sponge with the turkey baster...it is possible that I gave it a shot of air myself without realizing and it went downhill from there. Anyway, it is gone, and when I get the larger tank going...I will try again! Thanks to all!!!

 

[WRASSER]

I doubt that would do it, It probably was exposed to air at the LFS before you even got there. I have had a few sponges do the same thing yours did.
Thanks for the up-date :wink: