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KeithM
15-01-08, 18:53
Just for a bit of fun! Post yours up too

http://lh4.google.com/KeithMan88/R40ABYslZnI/AAAAAAAAAzY/Sdjduq-zE_8/s800/UR077.jpg

http://lh5.google.com/KeithMan88/R40ACoslZoI/AAAAAAAAAzg/y4--H42j2IA/s800/Ur078.jpg

http://lh6.google.com/KeithMan88/R40AD4slZpI/AAAAAAAAAzo/8iRdCrJLl7o/s800/UR079.jpg

Any Id's would also be useful ;)
morgandy
17-01-08, 02:37
Hi Keith, Chuck S asked me to link up the pic of his black hitch-hiker sponge(he can type on the computer now, but not do pics 'yet'!). He'll fill in details on this cool thing..these are progressions I've done through the year on it.

http://www.twilightreef.com/072507_c5_w.jpg
http://www.twilightreef.com/072507_c19_w.jpg
http://www.twilightreef.com/pic3.jpg
http://www.twilightreef.com/c_nov11_5.jpg
KeithM
17-01-08, 09:37
Thanks Amy - a very cool sponge!

Would you be able to help me gently push chuck for a little write up on his system and methods? :D I would love to hear more about it!
morgandy
18-01-08, 02:01
Keith, maybe you've seen it already..His thread now just posted on his tank; thread is dedicated to N/P systems!
dendro982RC
24-01-08, 12:09
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g78/dendro982/mix/whitespongeNC.jpg
Dividing:
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g78/dendro982/mix/whitespongeNC2.jpg
This is a little different:
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g78/dendro982/mix/whiteFuzzysponge.jpg

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g78/dendro982/mix/lilacSponge2.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g78/dendro982/mix/palebluesponge.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g78/dendro982/spongeSept25.jpg
Young ones:
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g78/dendro982/mix/yellowsponges.jpg

Amy, I also would like to see what kind of system worked for you. When you can, please?
Andythescientist
30-03-08, 21:33
Not nearly as exciting but here are mine, all been there for years..

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q1/ball1.jpg


http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q1/ball2.jpg


http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q1/finger1.jpg
nitram
01-04-08, 00:24
Kieth Man whats the orange coral left hand side first picture, I bought one from my lfs. about six weeks ago, it came in from t.m.c. as a cultured orange pussy!! niether of us thought that was correct, although I think the cultured part is right. Put a load of newly hatched brine srimp in the tank tonight, best it's looked since I've had it. Your advice would be appreciated.
KeithM
01-04-08, 09:19
Nitram, the orange coral in the first photo is a small Scleronephthya. They usually do well in areas of high flow and high feeding with small particle foods. artemia and cyclops is a good start.
Andythescientist
01-04-08, 11:33
Since looking around the tank for this, i've noticed at least a dozen ball sponges knocking about the place, ranging from about 1cm-1inch in diameter.. Are they supposed to be that common, i thought most died away?
nitram
01-04-08, 20:10
Thanks Kieth man, is it the angle of the photo or is yours upsidedown?
KeithM
02-04-08, 09:40
Andy - IMHO, sponges indicate a heathly supply of bacteria in your tank. Sponges in my tank do sometimes die off but I also get new ones popping up.

Nitram - I mounted that scleron upside down to see if would open more but it didn't. That piece did secure itself to the rock but it didn't open up properly because there wasn't enough flow. Unfortunately, it just melted away :(
Andythescientist
02-04-08, 10:16
Andy - IMHO, sponges indicate a heathly supply of bacteria in your tank. Sponges in my tank do sometimes die off but I also get new ones popping up.

Nitram - I mounted that scleron upside down to see if would open more but it didn't. That piece did secure itself to the rock but it didn't open up properly because there wasn't enough flow. Unfortunately, it just melted away :(

In that case do you think that the presence and maintenance of lots of hitch-hiking sponges is an indication that there is a good chance one of the more exotic sponges might do well? I've always fancied a blue or red sponge, but never bought one due to fear that it'd just slowly die off.
KeithM
02-04-08, 10:38
In that case do you think that the presence and maintenance of lots of hitch-hiking sponges is an indication that there is a good chance one of the more exotic sponges might do well? I've always fancied a blue or red sponge, but never bought one due to fear that it'd just slowly die off.

To be honest, I have no idea! Most sponges feed on bacteria but there are so many different types of marine bacteria its impossible to say if one would do well in our tanks - They don't all feed on the same bacteria.

Sponges are pretty fancinating creatures. Some do well in reef tanks, whilst others just end up dying. If you dig a little further into what sponges are actually made of and what lives inside them you'll find out how complex they actually are! A lot of scientist are still researching sponges and it all goes way over my head..

If I was to attempt keeping some more 'exotic' sponges, I would at least try to find a way to feed a little more bacteria into the system. I know that Claude Schuhmacher has built a sponge system for a university and that involved huge bio towers to breed bacteria to feed the sponges.