Sponge Taking Over!

[jetbox]

Been away for a week and come back to find a sponge has taken over the tank. It was fairly small when i left but now its the size of half a football, some of it is even growing above water level.

Its light brown in colour, not the most attractive but it looks ok (hitchhiked on LR) Can I simply cut it back with scissors or will it release nutrients into the water when cut...

Any advise welcome

 

[Colin_T]

most spinges release chemicals when damaged. It is their only form of defense. If you must chop it up I would suggest taking the rock out and putting it into a bucket of seawater with some water movement from a powerhead or airstone. Then cut it and leave it in the bucket for a day. Hopefully it will have stopped stressing out and poisoning everything after that time. Rinse it in some clean seawater and then it can go back in the tank.
NB: Trimming the sponge might actually kill it.

 

[jetbox]

Here's a picture of the sponge. should it be cut or left alone??

 

[nanocubeking]

WOW! Thats wicked!

 

[Colin_T]

that 's cool. It looks like a bleach blonde afro from the 70s.
I would keep it until it got too big. It looks like there is still a bit of space around it. When it gets too big then trim it.

 

[nanocubeking]

If it gets to big and your just going to throw it out Id love some in my tank!

 

[jetbox]

If it gets to big and your just going to throw it out Id love some in my tank!

yes looks ok but worried its getting too big... Its about half an inch above the water line now too...Can you take cuttings from it and grow new sponges from it do you think???

 

[nanocubeking]

If it gets to big and your just going to throw it out Id love some in my tank!

yes looks ok but worried its getting too big... Its about half an inch above the water line now too...Can you take cuttings from it and grow new sponges from it do you think???

Its possible. Is it really growing out of the water?

 

[TylerFerretLord]

I wonder what it's using to grow. o.o

That would be great at nutrient export if it's taking up the right nutrients.

 

[jetbox]

Nutrient export maybe your right... nitrate is zero at the moment...

Its becoming a problem though as its growing around the weir (covering about half the weir now) I am going to have to move it or cut it soon

 

[Adrinal]

That rocks!

I got to get my hand on some of that!!!!