Pineapple sponges

Discussion in 'General Reef Topics' started by PghSteeler, Jul 23, 2012.

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  1. PghSteeler

    PghSteeler Tassled File Fish

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    I have started seeing them everywhere!! I have no clue how they got into the tank I noticed one awhile ago and it got rather large before it completely disappeared, but know they have spread to grow in the HOB filter, on the heater, other rocks, just everywhere!

    They are not real large and I believe they are harmless, much better than aptasia ;D, but not the prettiest guys either. Is this just one of the cycles a tank goes through (still under 6months old) that will eventually fade away to only a few? Im assuming they are the reason for my nitrates going from 5-10 to 0 over the past month
     
    PghSteeler, Jul 23, 2012
    PghSteeler, Jul 23, 2012
    #1

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  2. Jmblec2

    Jmblec2 Corkscrew Tentacle Anemone

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    their number should decline as the tank matures and you keep up with your WCs.
     
    Jmblec2, Jul 23, 2012
    Jmblec2, Jul 23, 2012
    #2
  3. SAY

    SAY Ocellaris Clown

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    yes, they are harmless and will decline with time. i still see a few in my sump from time to time but not the number that was in there when the tank was younger.
     
    SAY, Jul 23, 2012
    SAY, Jul 23, 2012
    #3
  4. Mr. Bill

    Mr. Bill Native Floridian

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    Did you start with or add live sand? That's when I got a massive "invasion". They can also come in on LR or frag plugs. FWIW, they're harmless filter-feeders that are fairly short-lived in the aquarium, unless you have a sizable bio-load to keep them fed. Mine were completely gone in a couple of months.
     
    Mr. Bill, Jul 23, 2012
    Mr. Bill, Jul 23, 2012
    #4
  5. JHiestand

    JHiestand Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

    Joined:
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    I had a decent outbreak when I first started my tank, Now I only see a few here and there in my sump, they seem to grow between the baffles for some reason.
     
    JHiestand, Jul 24, 2012
    JHiestand, Jul 24, 2012
    #5
  6. PghSteeler

    PghSteeler Tassled File Fish

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    Mr Bill I started with the live sand in a bag from caribbsea. Didnt notice a thing until a month or so ago seems like I find a new creature every week or so I guess welcome to the world of SW lol
     
    PghSteeler, Jul 24, 2012
    PghSteeler, Jul 24, 2012
    #6

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  7. Mr. Bill

    Mr. Bill Native Floridian

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    AragAlive? That's some good stuff. :)

    Only used it once, and that was with my first reef... all kinds of critters started crawling out in just a couple months. Then I made the ultimate newbie mistake- I listened to the LFS and added a sand-sifting star and a diamond goby. In the next 2 months, my sandbed was depleted of all infauna and they starved. :cry:
     
    Mr. Bill, Jul 24, 2012
    Mr. Bill, Jul 24, 2012
    #7
  8. PghSteeler

    PghSteeler Tassled File Fish

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    I used caribbsea ocean direct livesand. I did not add a sandsifting star but did just add a cousin of your diamond goby, the tiger watchman goby, posted other threads on here on that topic. I am hoping mine doesnt starve and will eat pellets or mysis
     
    PghSteeler, Jul 24, 2012
    PghSteeler, Jul 24, 2012
    #8