Photosynthetic sponges (such as plating species like [Collospongia]) require never being exposed to airduring handling or placement, as trapped air bubbles will block their internal water channels and cause tissue death.
Essential Care Requirements
- Lighting: Provide moderate lighting (roughly 150–250 PAR) using LEDs or T-5s to support their internal photosynthetic symbionts.
- Water Flow: Maintain moderate, indirect water movement across the surface to clear away debris and prevent algae or cyanobacteria from settling in their crevices.
- Placement: Mount them securely on rockwork or plugs in the middle-to-lower third of the aquarium, leaving extra space around them as they can grow and shade neighboring corals.
- Feeding: While they get energy from light, they also filter bacteria, microplankton, and dissolved nutrients out of the water column and benefit from supplemental target feedings.
- Water Parameters: Maintain stable marine conditions:
- Salinity (Specific Gravity): 1.025–1.026
- Temperature: 75°F–78°F
- pH: 8.1–8.4
- Alkalinity: 8–9.5 dKH
- Calcium / Magnesium: 400–450 ppm / 1300–1450 ppm
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