Any idea what this is?

[Heavysledz]

I found this on at the base of my Xenia between the frag it came on and my live rock. The frag has been in place for over a month and this just showed up a day or two ago..any ideas? It is not glue as the frag was wedged in place only....

 

[Crabs McJones]

I found this on at the base of my Xenia between the frag it came on and my live rock. The frag has been in place for over a month and this just showed up a day or two ago..any ideas? It is not glue as the frag was wedged in place only....

A type of sponge most likely. @DSC reef @Lovemyreef2015 thoughts?

 

[Heavysledz]

thanks for the quick response....is it harmful or a nice surprise? Just wondering if I need to get rid of it...

 

[Crabs McJones]

thanks for the quick response....is it harmful or a nice surprise? Just wondering if I need to get rid of it...

If it is a sponge they are harmless filter feeders and generally a sign of a healthy system There are instances where the sponge grows into or near a coral and upsets it, but other than that they are harmless.

 

[Kamden Uelton]

Sponge! They are beneficial think of them as a free, hitchhiking skimmer (well part of a skimmer, you gotta have a lot of sponge for them to make that much nutrient impact)

 

[Heavysledz]

OK good....I will keep an eye on it to see how it does and if anything nearby looks irritated.....generally how big do they get and do the move or will this be were it is indefinetly?

 

[Crabs McJones]

OK good....I will keep an eye on it to see how it does and if anything nearby looks irritated.....generally how big do they get and do the move or will this be were it is indefinetly?

They don't get to big. In fact it wouldn't surprise me if that one stayed around that size. If it does start getting to big its easily removed with your fingers

 

[Heavysledz]

ok good to know.....Not sure how it survived a freshwater dip and CoralX dip when I got my Xenia but it some how survived so it deserves a shot in my tank!

 

[Crabs McJones]

ok good to know.....Not sure how it survived a freshwater dip and CoralX dip when I got my Xenia but it some how survived so it deserves a shot in my tank!

They most commonly come in on live rock, and there's a good chance it didnt start in that spot

 

[Heavysledz]

My rock was dry rock when I started the tank up 2 1/2 months ago. So it had to hitchhike in on something other than the rock...so likely one of the various LPS or softies I added. I wasn't dipping them initially until I found some of the bad nudibranchs irritating my Zoanthids that forced me to take them back out and dip them to get them off. I now dip everything before it goes in and have been putting them in a QT tank as well as to monitor them before putting them in my DT.

 

[SAPPER]

Thats Clathrina I have white and yellow, never had a problem with the yellow Clathrina. But a good few year back I had a little white ball of Clathrina have a growth spurt and smother some zoas. But as mentioned above its easily removed if it starts.

 

[DSC reef]

That's my favorite type of sponge, we have some yellow ones in our tanks. Easily removed if it becomes bothersome.

 

[SAPPER]

I like the yellow Clathrina

 

[Heavysledz]

thanks for the feedback all....I will just watch it for a while