Green algae and funny white thing

[dave_barnwell]

Started my first tank a few weeks ago then after the required time added some live rock. That was four days ago. I've noticed now that the rock has green algea on it and a strange white thing. I've also noticed what seems to be some tiny bugs that are on the surface. My bulb did blow and there wasn't any light for a couple of days.

Any help or ideas would be much appreciated.

The overall colour of the second image is just bad photography

 

[shred5]

The green is cyano bacteria and is normal in a new tank during cycle and will eventually giveway.

The white thing looks like a sponge, it being white could indicate its dead but there are white sponges out there.

 

[dave_barnwell]

Thanks for that, was getting a bit worried. Being new there is a lot of confusing stuff to read and understand

 

[Giancarlo]

Agreed the White thing is a sponge, though I doubt it is dead.

 

[dave_barnwell]

It would be good if it's still strong. I take it that it doesn't do any harm

 

[shred5]

It would be good if it's still strong. I take it that it doesn't do any harm

When sponges die they loose tissue or turn white. They build a skeletal structure out of spicuals that last a long time after death.

Most sponges die in transportation because air gets trapped in them and they can not survive that. The ones that do survive till your tank die of starvation do to not enough food and sterile environment we keep.. There are a few however that will grow from a small part and grow very well in a reef. Most of them are of some incrusting type. There are a few if shipped right that can do well if fed right too. Sponges are not as hard to keep as they once were and do very well in nps systems.
There are also a few sponges that can grow very fast in a reef tank and actually take over and become a problem but most sponges are harmless and are actually benificial.

Honestly the biggest problem comes when a bigger sponge dies, they can reduce the water quaility pretty fast.