Is this a sponge smothering my Blasto?

[CEReefer]

Hi guys, this has been on my blasto for a couple of days, at first I thought it was the skeleton, but now it seems more clear that it’s something growing on it.. what is it? I dipped it and brushed it off pretty well in the sink, but wondering if that’s enough and what that is..

 

[Flippers4pups]

Hi guys, this has been on my blasto for a couple of days, at first I thought it was the skeleton, but now it seems more clear that it’s something growing on it.. what is it? I dipped it and brushed it off pretty well in the sink, but wondering if that’s enough and what that is..

Looks to be a sponge. Manual removal is best course of action.

 

[HOOPDEEZ]

This is just an idea, I haven’t tried it, but many sponges do not fare well out of water. Maybe take it out and expose it to air for a couple minutes. The coral should be just fine. If anyone knows how long Bastos can stay out of water feel free to chime in.

 

[pecan2phat]

Yes I find those encrusting sponge a nuisance and it will eventually smother out any corals. I've manually removed it, dipped it and had rocks with it under tap water and no process have totally eliminated these sponges. I've even tried angels to see if they would naturally eat the sponge and keep it in check without any luck.

 

[HOOPDEEZ]

Yeah, as @Flippers4pups said remove what you can while it’s out

 

[CEReefer]

I removed as much as I could with a toothbrush, while dipping it into reef primer (polyplab), I will keep you posted!