Organism ID Help

[underthereef]

Hi, Something is growing in my sump! Lol. I'm not sure what it is, but they are starting to grow all over the place in my sump area only. Started only noticing a few then now they are everywhere over the course of a couple months. They look like little brown balls/football shape with some type of white thing coming out one end and possibly a hollow center tube. What are these?

 

[ReeferHD]

Pineapple sponge, harmless filter feeder my tank has thousands.

 

[bushdoc]

Pinaple sponge under the sea, but who lives there?

 

[TokenReefer]

 

[underthereef]

So, basically I can say I have Spongebob's in my tank?! Crazy! So technically can they be considered good? Filtering the water? I was going to try to vacuum them all out but maybe I should leave them. I was worried about them overrunning the sump. Lol

 

[TokenReefer]

I would leave them. Only beneficial, not harmful. They filter DOCs and that's usually plentiful in a newer tank I believe. They will go away on their own as the tank progresses. I had a ton at one point but hard to find one now I've noticed...

 

[underthereef]

Interesting. Reading up on them now, yea it sounds like maybe because my tank is newer and if anything they are probably helping out for now with the natural cycle and imbalance in the tank. Thank you guys for the help!

In another note, would anyone be able to also ID this algae like substance growing everywhere in the display? I thought diatoms at first when it started but seems to of evolved into a thick jelly like substance. It started thinner and darker but then got thick and flakey/jelly and is lighter in color. Is it still diatoms that is just sheeting off? Or another type of algae?