Vivid's Photosynthetic Purple Plating Sponge

How to Care for Purple Plating Sponge

written by Dave Burr

Placement: Sponges must not be exposed to air, we recommend cutting the bag underwater to release the Purple Plating Sponge. Any exposure to air can cause the sponge to fill with air and then when it is placed back in water the air will burrow holes out of the sponge as it tries to escape. Mount the Purple Plating Sponge using IC gel glue, or putty, on an exposed rock or ledge in the middle to bottom third of the aquarium where they will receive moderate-low currents and moderate to low lighting. Leave a few inches around them and consider that they will often begin to shade corals around them as they grow larger.

Feeding: Although Purple Plating Sponge is photosynthetic, they do benefit from supplemental feedings of phytoplankton and marine snow.

Lighting & Flow Requirements: The Purple Plating Sponge requires low to moderate water flow and low to moderate lighting (PAR 80-200). T5's, Metal Halides, or LED's can all grow Purple Plating Sponge when the proper PAR levels are provided. We recommend a 14-20K color spectrum for best coloration.

Care Level: Easy(cannot be exposed to air)
Lighting Requirements: Moderate to low (PAR 80-200)
Water Flow: Moderate
Aggressiveness: Peaceful
Range: Vivid Aquariums
Family: Collospongia sp.
Water Conditions: 75-80° F; sg 1.024-1.026 (1.025 is ideal); pH 8.1-8.4 Ca 420-440 ppm, Alk 8-9.5 dKH, Mg 1260-1350, Nitrates <20ppm, Phosphates, < .10ppm

Water Chemistry: Providing additions of iodine will help the Collospongia sp. grow. Most good salt mixes will provide enough iodine through water changes. It is important that proper calcium (420-440 ppm), alkalinity (8-9.5 dkh - run it 7-8 if you are carbon dosing) , and magnesium levels (1260-1350 ppm) are maintained. Raising magnesium levels gradually up to 1400-1600 ppm can help to combat algae outbreaks, just keep CA and Alk in line as you raise the Mg. Nitrates should be below 10 ppm and phosphates should be below .10 ppm. We recommend doing a water change when Nitrate levels rise to 10 ppm. It is important to replace your phosphate media when phosphates rise to .10 ppm. Media Reactors make the most efficient use of your phosphate media by fluidizing it.

Dosing: Vivid Aquariums uses and recommends dosing pumps to automate the dosing of additives and keep your levels more constant. A dosing pump can alleviate the chore of manually dosing your aquarium with Ca, Alk, & Mg 2,3, or 4 times per week and will benefit your aquarium by keeping your levels constant through frequent small additions of Ca, Alk, & Mg. Our tanks all progressed when we switched from 3 manual dosings per week to 70 automatic dosings per week and we got a lot more work done.