A 55G link in the Golden Chain

[Dentoid]

Personally, I would get rid of it. I had 2 orange tree sponges with my TBS rock that did the same thing. It's not worth it, eventually these sponges die from starvation, we just can not provide for their nutritional needs. In fact, I wish TBS would stop taking these animals from the wild. JMO.

[bluespotjawfish]

Did this sponge get exposed to any air? You probably already know not to expose it to air, but just in case I thought I'd mention it. It could bounce back, but keep it in a flow area. Also check how much light it is getting. It may not want as much as you have it under. Make sure you have an adequate cleaning crew (small crabs) to keep the dying stuff picked off of it.

Good luck!

[Octoman]

I think I lost 2 out of the three sponges. I'm not sure if they were dead or not, but I yanked them pretty quick when they were looking strange. I've read mixed information about them releasing toxins if they die, so I didn't want to risk it. However, I had a nice large orange one that was sloughing a bit, but I took a chance and left it and it seems to be doing fine now. It will open up for a while (you can see all the little tubes open up on it). The hermit crabs love it, there are always two or three hanging out on it. I feed cyclopeeze and unrinsed frozen krill or brine about once per week. I read that the sponges do well on juice from frozen seafood or packaged seafood, that's why I don't rinse first. So far, no nitrate troubles from it and the tunicates, sponges, featherdusters, and filter feeding cuke all seem to love it.

[goldenmean]

Thank you all for your advice and experience.
I was going to watch him closely and hope he cleared up but
This morning the red tree sponge had more deterioration at the tips and one of the limbs had an area about 4 inches down that I could start to see the structure. I removed him.

This mornings test:
NH3 <.05
NO2 .25
NO3 10

I want to rant a little bit.
I have heard over and over that Salifert test are so great. The best.
Yet their lowest ammonia reading is less than .5, then .5
<.5 is rather vague and IMO .4 is just too high
Anyway right now ammonia is not my problem. Its the trites and trates.

The Condy seems to have found a spot she really likes. Her body is in a hole in this rock so it is. Dr. Rice, as I call her, likes to eat too. I gave her a bit of fresh calamari and shrimp a couple of nights ago that she just loved.

I did not feed the whole tank so that did not affect my NO2/NO3. I only spot fed Dr. Rice.

[Melanie]

I think you are doing a great job and I really enjoy following along.

I'd Karmacize you but RS says I'm out of Karma. Maybe I should borrow Sasquatch's Karma gold card.

[goldenmean]

Thank you Melanie!
I am glad you are enjoying following along on my tanks golden path.

I have noticed a couple of very tiny patches of what I am assuming is Cyno.
I never had to deal with any nusance algae in the nano. (knock on wood - knock, knock) I turkey bastered it up (I don't know if bastered is a word but I like it) and changed the directional flow of my powerheads. I now have 2 Tunze 6045 nanostreams so the tank has a lot of flow. Those powerheads are awesome.

[AQTCJAK]

if you had or think you have cyno have you checked you Phosphate levels?

[sasquatch]

bastered is a great word! how ever serving battered seafood to your condi? small wonder you have cyano lol. I agree with you on saliferts tests, some of them are great some of them stink, Im extending credit to Melanie, but the interest rate is gonna wipe her out hehe. Sasquatch

[goldenmean]

The problem is with the high nitrates I am sure.
Which I am lowering by WC.
I did 25% Saturday, 25% Sunday, and I am about to do a smaller one - 10% now.

No the condi got FRESH calamri not Fried Calamari. I didn't have any cocktail sauce

[AQTCJAK]

High Nitrates do fuel phosphates so I would check them to be on the safe side. WC help alot but if the cyno remains there is something still feeding it.

[goldenmean]

I just completed the 10% WC
and got the elos PO4 test kit out.
I'll perform it tomorrow with the other tests

[goldenmean]

Halo 3 is in the house.
Now I can spend as much time as I want with my tanks and not make my Other Half feel neglected.

It looks amazing on the 50"HD TV

[Octoman]

Mmmm, Halo 3 - Unfortunately I still don't have the 360, been sinking all my $ into the tub full of water in the living room lately...

Cyano blooms come and go, I had one for about 2 weeks shortly after putting my rock in. Just when I was convinced it wasn't going away, I went on an overnight trip and when I came back it was gone. Sounds like you're on the right track by cutting down the nitrates and bastering.

[Dentoid]

Originally Posted by AQTCJAK

High Nitrates do fuel phosphates...

WHAT?

[goldenmean]

I believe that Nitrates and phosphates are independent sources of nutrients for cyno. Having high nitrates does not create or feed phosphates.

I use RO/DI water from my in-home system that is still fairly new and as my set up is new I have not been feeding the tank. The condy got some calamari but that would not have added any PO4. I have tested PO4 from my RO/DI water and from freshly made SW in the recent past

The tiny patches of cyno that I bastered up were all very small - less than a size of a dime. There was no signs of any this morning. I was up too late last night so I did not get up early enough to run tests before work today.
I will do so this eve.