Filter feeder ID

[mattybecks]

I was on the prowl for red macro algae and didn't ever notice this guy stuck to one of the pieces. Only when I put the pieces into the tank it felt squishy and I noticed something on it. Is it some kind of sponge? it can shrink down surprisingly small when it is touched, vents open and close.
Its been in my aquarium about 3 weeks now.

 

[aqua_code]

Looks like "Halymenia Elongata - Red Finger" very cool and a rare find.

Halymenia Elongata - Red Finger

Halymenia Elongata - Red Finger

reefersden.weebly.com

 

[mattybecks]

Looks like "Halymenia Elongata - Red Finger" very cool and a rare find.

Halymenia Elongata - Red Finger

Halymenia Elongata - Red Finger

reefersden.weebly.com

Thanks but that looks like the red macro algae growing in front of the filter feeder? Doesn't look like the sponge filter creature in question.

 

[aqua_code]

Interesting, looks like some sort of barnacle attached to live rock or tube worm. I can't really ID that too well. Does it have animals living in the openings?

 

[Hermie]

sponges cant really "rapidly" change shape

 

[Hermie]

I would guess it's a tunicate of some kind

 

[vetteguy53081]

+1 tunicate

 

[mattybecks]

Interesting, looks like some sort of barnacle attached to live rock or tube worm. I can't really ID that too well. Does it have animals living in the openings?

there are no animals living in it. If I touch it, or a hermit walks on it, it will quickly close the openings and shrink in size. its a very soft organism, only the little "mouth" pieces or the entrances and exit points of the water are a little hard.

 

[mattybecks]

sponges cant really "rapidly" change shape

yeah I thought. didn't know what else to call it cause it felt "spongy" haha

 

[mattybecks]

I would guess it's a tunicate of some kind

Thanks I think that is what it is!

 

[ScottR]

The last pic is the best. Clearly a tunicate. Can tell from the two openings. Supposedly hard to keep in an aquarium. But cool hitchhiker.

 

[mattybecks]

The last pic is the best. Clearly a tunicate. Can tell from the two openings. Supposedly hard to keep in an aquarium. But cool hitchhiker.

Really? why are they hard to keep?

 

[ScottR]

Really? why are they hard to keep?

That’s just what I’ve “heard” from other reefers. I’ve always said I wanted the colorful variety all along the bed of my tank. In the wild, they’re usually found around sponges and it’s beautiful. I believe water flows in one tube, it filters it and water out the other tube. I guess you’d have to keep enough food in column for them as well as enough flow for them to filter. I am by no means an expert and this is just from what I’ve heard. But if you can keep it, they’re totally cool.

 

[mattybecks]

That’s just what I’ve “heard” from other reefers. I’ve always said I wanted the colorful variety all along the bed of my tank. In the wild, they’re usually found around sponges and it’s beautiful. I believe water flows in one tube, it filters it and water out the other tube. I guess you’d have to keep enough food in column for them as well as enough flow for them to filter. I am by no means an expert and this is just from what I’ve heard. But if you can keep it, they’re totally cool.

Thanks man. I will see how it goes and keep the forum updated. Been about 3 weeks thus far and so far as good!

 

[ScottR]

Thanks man. I will see how it goes and keep the forum updated. Been about 3 weeks thus far and so far as good!

Sounds cool. I did a quick read about them. Some are easier to keep than others. They have strong nutritional needs such as phytoplankton and zooplankton. Some photosynthesize.

- Quality Marine

 

[mattybecks]

Sounds cool. I did a quick read about them. Some are easier to keep than others. They have strong nutritional needs such as phytoplankton and zooplankton. Some photosynthesize.

- Quality Marine

I have collected my macroalgae out the ocean here, and when I bring them home, the container they are in (I keep them in containers full of the ocean water) is teeming with ting organisms. Some larger, some you can just barely see. I usually remove crabs if I find them, but keep everything else. I'm wondering if by doing this I have introduced a few colonies of these planktons which are breeding and providing a food source for it.
This is what I love about the saltwater hobby. You are always finding out new little things about the goings on in your tank haha.

 

[mattybecks]

Sounds cool. I did a quick read about them. Some are easier to keep than others. They have strong nutritional needs such as phytoplankton and zooplankton. Some photosynthesize.

- Quality Marine

Thanks for that link! I have realized that I have a lot of the tiny little colourless ones as mentioned in the article around my tank.

 

[sixty_reefer]

Yeah definitely sea squirt on some red bamboo algae

 

[ScottR]

I have collected my macroalgae out the ocean here, and when I bring them home, the container they are in (I keep them in containers full of the ocean water) is teeming with ting organisms. Some larger, some you can just barely see. I usually remove crabs if I find them, but keep everything else. I'm wondering if by doing this I have introduced a few colonies of these planktons which are breeding and providing a food source for it.
This is what I love about the saltwater hobby. You are always finding out new little things about the goings on in your tank haha.

I’ve always wondered about using ocean water and phyto as well. Will the phyto continue to grow in my system? Or will other microalgae currently in my system outcompete it? And ocean water does bring some interesting things. Most life in the ocean starts out as tiny, microscopic organisms and then grow. Then you’ll start seeing weird things growing all over the place. I find weird things in my tank all the time.

How’s the water quality in UAE?

 

[mattybecks]

I’ve always wondered about using ocean water and phyto as well. Will the phyto continue to grow in my system? Or will other microalgae currently in my system outcompete it? And ocean water does bring some interesting things. Most life in the ocean starts out as tiny, microscopic organisms and then grow. Then you’ll start seeing weird things growing all over the place. I find weird things in my tank all the time.

How’s the water quality in UAE?

That's an interesting point.

As for UAE water quality, (see reference link below from earlier this year). https://www.timeoutdubai.com/news/3...re-officially-among-the-cleanest-in-the-world

Some of the cleanest beaches in the world apparently. We have Blue Flag rating, "beaches are regularly checked to see if they meet strict criteria –including water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, safety and services."

Part of Dubai's "green plan". Not only for the coastline but they have been planting "forests" (if you can call them that) inland and pretty planting as much vegetation as possible, as well as a couple huge man made lakes. I had a look at the fish species in these lakes if you are interested to see.

The fish of Dubai’s desert lakes

Al Qudra lakes. Situated in the Seih Al Salam desert in Dubai. It was created as part of a project to green and enrich part of the desert of Dubai. It is one of at least six other huge freshwater bodies located in Dubai. Some general info about the area. - About 40 hectares of...

www.monsterfishkeepers.com

The fish of Dubai's desert lakes - part 2 underwater footage

As mentioned in a recent thread - (https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/the-fish-of-dubai’s-desert-lakes.717880/) I got some decent underwater footage of the fish in Al Qudra lakes, Dubai. It was a little tricky filming as when I walked I threw up sediment and fine sand, so some...

www.monsterfishkeepers.com