Good or bad? This newb has no clue!

[Clarinuto]

Here's another pic of some life on my live rock, but I'm not sure if its good or bad. I've looked over tons of ID posts and articles, but am not having a lot of luck confidently identifying things yet. Thanks for your help!

Lifeonrock

• Clarinuto
• Aug 6, 2018

Life on rock

 

[Isaac Alves]

Can't see the image. Not sure if it's my forum viewer.

 

[Clarinuto]

Can't see the image. Not sure if it's my forum viewer.

Strange! I’ll try to repost in this reply. It shows on my screen, but that doesn’t always mean much!

Lifeonrock

• Clarinuto
• Aug 6, 2018

Life on rock

 

[Greybeard]

Hard to tell... I'd guess it's a sponge, from the photo, but it could be several other types of organism, as well... turnicate, perhaps, even some sort of encrusting coral.

I'd have to assume it's a good thing. I've known people that assume bad, unless they can identify it. I've always gone the other way. If you don't want unidentified critters in your reef, why would you spend the money for live rock?

 

[Isaac Alves]

I can see it on the standard browser but not on the reef2reef mobile app or Tapatalk.

My guess would be:
Good sponges with a little macro algae growing on the left of it. A lot of corraline. A couple of muscles and some tiny feather dusters and/or spirobid worms (those small curved calcium structures).

Nothing bad IMHO.

 

[Clarinuto]

Hard to tell... I'd guess it's a sponge, from the photo, but it could be several other types of organism, as well... turnicate, perhaps, even some sort of encrusting coral.

I'd have to assume it's a good thing. I've known people that assume bad, unless they can identify it. I've always gone the other way. If you don't want unidentified critters in your reef, why would you spend the money for live rock?

I’m cool with the critters. I just like knowing what they are!

 

[Clarinuto]

I can see it on the standard browser but not on the reef2reef mobile app or Tapatalk.

My guess would be:
Good sponges with a little macro algae growing on the left of it. A lot of corraline. A couple of muscles and some tiny feather sisters or spirobid worms (those small curved calcium structures).

Nothing bad IMHO.

Gotcha. I should download the app so I can test and also because I am spending a lot of time on this forum nowadays.

Thanks for the super detailed description. Very useful for someone who is still learning.

 

[Isaac Alves]

No problem. I use the apps a lot.

Also, i meant to say feather dusters ( not sisters ) [emoji1]

 

[KrisReef]

I think I see a bryzoan just above the sponge. Are the bivalves (clams) still alive?
Your live rock appears to have a lot of life on it.

 

[cristata.reef]

I have the same LR. It's a sponge but a dead one, the live ones are almost paper white. There is a bryozoan above the sponge. The bivalve shells are just part of the rock

 

[Clarinuto]

Bummer that the sponges aren’t alive. I was hoping they were. Should I remove them?

 

[cristata.reef]

Bummer that the sponges aren’t alive. I was hoping they were. Should I remove them?

I wouldn't bother. If you're cycling, it'll help boost an ammonia spike to start the process. If your tank is already established they don't leak nitrates as much as other dead organisms

 

[Clarinuto]

I wouldn't bother. If you're cycling, it'll help boost an ammonia spike to start the process. If your tank is already established they don't leak nitrates as much as other dead organisms

Awesome, thank you!