Any idea what this is?

[Patrick Cox]

Hi,
Any idea what these white things are? I have them all over my tank. (Look like feathers.). Tank was started last spring. Thanks.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Pineapple sponges - harmless filter feeders; they tend to boom then bust in population and go away on their own after a while.

 

[Patrick Cox]

Pineapple sponges - harmless filter feeders; they tend to boom then bust in population and go away on their own after a while.

Thanks. Any idea where they come from? I only have dry rock and carib sea sand in my tank with a few fish. Thanks.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Thanks. Any idea where they come from? I only have dry rock and carib sea sand in my tank with a few fish. Thanks.

They can regenerate from cells, so if their cells are on you fish, snail shells, macroalgae, etc. (basically anything wet), then they can find their way into your tank and start growing into new sponges.

For a good example from the genus:

Regeneration in the sponge Sycon ciliatum partly mimics postlarval development

Highlighted Article: Sponge regeneration is as dynamic as embryogenesis and can be explored to study the genetic features underlying the evolution of multicellularity and regeneration.

journals.biologists.com

 

[vetteguy53081]

Often silicates are cause which can be from new rock, new sand, from tap water if used and expired or leaking Di Resin cartridges.
These are short lived and will dissipate as silicates reduce. You can peel them off with the edge of a credit card into a net if they are too many
They are not harmful and cherish algae if they get any

 

[DJC]

Agreed pineapple sponges
Had a few in my tank with same set up - dry rock and Carib sand

They didn’t last long. And disappeared after a while shame really found them cool looking