Fuzzy white stuff identification help

[Greggo12]

Hey everyone,

Just wondering if someone can help identify this stuff. Is it just bacteria? It is not slimy to touch.
Tank is very old, parameters are good. Seems to only grow in shaded/dark areas (this area of the rock was covered from light). It will grow on the stalks of zoas, but doesnt seem to affect them at all. Mostly grows on the underside of the live rock.

Thanks!

 

[DSC reef]

Looks like sponge. It can suffocate the zoas so I'd try to remove it. A soft toothbrush, hobby knife, etc will do the trick.

 

[Lorenzo Angotti]

I would agree, with the comment above, if it Is at all possible to expose the rock at all to air that would kill the sponge.

 

[Greggo12]

I’ll try exposing it to air. Can sponges be stringy and wave around in the current like algae does?

 

[DSC reef]

Some can. Yes. Also, I would manually remove the sponge. I've never had sponge die as soon as it hit the air.

 

[arge]

Torch tip stinging zoa colony maybe?

 

[vetteguy53081]

syconoid sponge also called poriferan sponge. Harmless and can be trimmed back

 

[Greggo12]

Torch tip is not stinging it. The zoas that have this growing on it actually dont seem to care at all, and grow+replicate normally.

Thanks vetteguy, I googled that sponge but it doesnt seem to be the type I have. This algae is fluffy and sways in the current like hair algae would. It is also difficult to remove by hand, as you only pull out small strands of it and they seem to break in half when you tug.