ID help please

[SebM]

I’ve just spotted something that is growing on one of my rocks and I have no idea what it is.

Background info about my tank:

It’s been running about 2 months. No live rock as you can’t get any in England at the moment.

Caribsea live sand (pink Fiji), Caribsea life rock and TMC reef rock (both man made and fry).

Cycle completed with Dr Tim’s and ammonia.
First fish were two clowns and last weekend we added two fire fish.

In between clowns and fire fish I added a GSP frag, two pavona frags (neon green and purple) and a Kenya tree frag.

All fish and corals are happy. The Kenya tree initially leaned over, then dropped its upper half but is now growing some tiny branches on what was left.

I found the top half under the rock but couldn’t get to it. It appeared to disintegrate and is now gone.

I’m baffled by whatever it is that’s growing! Could a piece of the Kenya tree have made it there and that’s what it is? I know they can grow like weeds…

is it something else (it doesn’t look anything like a Kenya tree)?!

Is anyone able to ID it for me based on my attached video?

Thanks!!

https://thumbsnap.com/i/Rjmt5m57.mp4

 

[blaxsun]

I can't be 100%, but it looks like a pineapple or similar sponge.

 

[tbrown]

I’ve just spotted something that is growing on one of my rocks and I have no idea what it is.

Background info about my tank:

It’s been running about 2 months. No live rock as you can’t get any in England at the moment.

Caribsea live sand (pink Fiji), Caribsea life rock and TMC reef rock (both man made and fry).

Cycle completed with Dr Tim’s and ammonia.
First fish were two clowns and last weekend we added two fire fish.

In between clowns and fire fish I added a GSP frag, two pavona frags (neon green and purple) and a Kenya tree frag.

All fish and corals are happy. The Kenya tree initially leaned over, then dropped its upper half but is now growing some tiny branches on what was left.

I found the top half under the rock but couldn’t get to it. It appeared to disintegrate and is now gone.

I’m baffled by whatever it is that’s growing! Could a piece of the Kenya tree have made it there and that’s what it is? I know they can grow like weeds…

is it something else (it doesn’t look anything like a Kenya tree)?!

Is anyone able to ID it for me based on my attached video?

Thanks!!

https://thumbsnap.com/i/Rjmt5m57.mp4

It's probably a tunicate or hydra. Do they move around or stay in that one spot?

 

[SebM]

Thanks @blaxsun and @tbrown3589

Just googled all three and I'm leaning towards pineapple sponge or tunicate.

Hasn't moved around so far but I spotted another one this morning. Both of them are like a tube that's pulsating and opening/closing an opening at the top, almost like a mouth haha.

How would I have introduced them (obviously I don't mind them), given the the setup? In the live sand or with the coral frags. I dipped the frags in Redsea DipX.

 

[blaxsun]

They're beneficial for the tank.

 

[tbrown]

Thanks @blaxsun and @tbrown3589

Just googled all three and I'm leaning towards pineapple sponge or tunicate.

Hasn't moved around so far but I spotted another one this morning. Both of them are like a tube that's pulsating and opening/closing an opening at the top, almost like a mouth haha.

How would I have introduced them (obviously I don't mind them), given the the setup? In the live sand or with the coral frags. I dipped the frags in Redsea DipX.

You don't introduce them. They come and go. My guess is spores in the rock, sand, or salt.

 

[Goaway]

Definitely a type of sea squirt/tunicate. Reminds me of rhopalaea. Could be another species. Enjoy them while you have them

 

[SebM]

You don't introduce them. They come and go. My guess is spores in the rock, sand, or salt.

Nice. As all my rock is manmade I didn't think I would get anything like this. Had loads of sponges in my old tank years ago but that was proper live rock.

 

[SebM]

Definitely a type of sea squirt/tunicate. Reminds me of rhopalaea. Could be another species. Enjoy them while you have them

Oh these look amazing! I hope we keep them for a long time!

 

[Goaway]

Mine look like a pair of lungs. I don't know how they spread, but they manage. If the sea squirt is partially photosynthetic, they will survive. The ones who are not, usually last a few months before they disappear.