Sponge filtration in canister - hmm...
- Thread starter MandarinFish
- Start date
- Location
- Virginia
I think that you need to reduce the flow significantly to allow them to grow. Sponges like fairly stagnant water for the types you're talking about (I am making an assumption) and will not grow, and will in fact probably die, in an area of higher flow like a canister.
Sponges actually prefer very high flow rates not stagnant water. However the flow rate through a canister is likely to be too sharp and high. Interesting idea however.
Sponges process a HUGE amount of water however the water passing through a canister is likely to be relatively devoid of food so you aren't necessarily gonna have them in their proper environment.
Sponges process a HUGE amount of water however the water passing through a canister is likely to be relatively devoid of food so you aren't necessarily gonna have them in their proper environment.
What if all other media is removed from the canister to allow enough food through?
In it's most basic form, it's a dark chamber with a powerhead basically right?
Wouldn't all the food come through?
[ February 18, 2002: Message edited by: MandarinFish ]</p>
In it's most basic form, it's a dark chamber with a powerhead basically right?
Wouldn't all the food come through?
[ February 18, 2002: Message edited by: MandarinFish ]</p>
- Location
- Virginia
I'm definitely not an expert on sponges, but when I said they like fairly stagnant water I was talking about the types of sponges that grow on the bottoms of live rock and in between pieces and in small spaces that get relatively little flow. I have these all over the low flow areas of my tank, and none in the higher flow areas. They are also growing in corners of my sump where the flow is not high, but nowhere else. I don't know if you're talking putting tree sponges etc. in your canister (which I know like higher flow) but my assumption is that you are not planning on using expensive sponges, but rather they colorless ones that form in between your rock.
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Marcosreef:
<strong>Are these syconoid sponges round and have a crown on them? My Remora seems to be filled with something similar to your description.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Sounds about right. Here's a photo of a couple:
<strong>Are these syconoid sponges round and have a crown on them? My Remora seems to be filled with something similar to your description.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Sounds about right. Here's a photo of a couple:
Actually I was refering to Sponges that would be readily bought by an aquarist to put in a canister, Axinellidae, Cinachyrella sp. Ircinia sp. etc. Cryptic sponges like David was refering to, *may* require lower flow but I'm not convinced of that and it would also be somewhat tough to collect them and get them in the canister.
Thats another issue as well. Sponges can NEVER be exposed to air thus getting them into the canister would be something of a challenge.
Thats another issue as well. Sponges can NEVER be exposed to air thus getting them into the canister would be something of a challenge.
- Location
- Virginia
Well, this is an interesting thread in that there are so many different types of sponges out there, and they have differing requirements. There is someone out there who had done studies on sponge filters, can't remember the site, and I posted something about a "sponge" filter that basically formed in a sump of mine years back that did a wonderful job of cleaning my tank water on a post by Mike Milz on ideas for converting his sump/trickle filter to a more biologically sound filter.
I had some of those sponges growing on my powerhead and on the walls of my sump, neither areas of high current, the sump being low light and the powerhead being under high light(<1 inch below surface). Though I think they started growing in the skimmer and spread from there. Anyone have more info on them? I didn't realize they were sponges until I saw this thread.
oh BTW MandarinFish about that sponge in canister idea, if your tank really will benefit from them being there, they will grow naturally. If they don't grow in there naturally and you put them there, they will most likely die. Such is the balance of nature.
[ February 18, 2002: Message edited by: samurai9 ]</p>
[ February 18, 2002: Message edited by: samurai9 ]</p>
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