ID please

[Timothy Davis]

Please, someone help ID the following two pictures. The first picture is the rock with the most amount of this grey fuzz looking algae.. the same fuzz was on the glass, and is now floating around since i scrubbed it. What is it, and how can I eliminate it. The second picture is a rock that has a dark, almost mold like spot.. it isn't the only one either, several rocks has this as well. ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED.

 

[Big G]

Sponges. Filter feeders. They come in lots of shapes, colors, etc.

 

[Timothy Davis]

Both? @Big G

 

[Big G]

Yeah, probably. The fuzzy stuff is like proto sponge that have not yet formed. And is kind of a nuisance. There is a similar looking algae "Cotton Candy Algae" but it usually is pinkish, red/brownish in color. So probably not algae. The bottom picture is the matured sponge. And is a good little filter feeder for your tank. Unless you don't like sponges.

Sponges like dark, lower light areas in your tank, sump, overflows, etc. It's usually the sign of a healthy tank when you see them sprouting.

 

[Timothy Davis]

I'm good with sponges. The top one makes me fear that it may grow over corals.. invasive almost.

 

[Big G]

I'm good with sponges. The top one makes me fear that it may grow over corals.. invasive almost.

Yep. Kinda nuisance. I toothbrush & siphon that stuff.

 

[Maritimer]

I suspect the fuzz to be more likely bacterial than sponge. That rock looks rather new, and it's more likely to find sponges growing in a more established system. (They're also generally not quite so ... fuzzy.)

~Bruce

 

[KJ]

Look like fungal or bacterial mats.