Something decided to grow...

[Dude64]

So this grew up over the week... At first I assumed I needed to treat for an algae growth (prob do but that's another post). Fortunately this is on a loose stone so I got some pretty good closeups. I bought a 'clump o frag' bits n pieces for $20 at my LFS. most of it died ... but this one fern, normally about 2-4 inches tall, migrated to this rock. It is incredibly difficult to see, but it is still there ... Im guessing .75 - 1.25 mm tall (yeah millimeters... the other was inches). The intriguing part is this bright green .... carpet?... spot on the rock currently ~1" diameter. Anybody got thoughts? I'm noting the density of gray under the green (the rock was solid covered in Coraline algae to start). That causes me to wonder... not algae???

 

[Dude64]

pics didn't upload... so, here

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Interesting! I wonder if some of the algae experts in here might know. @Tigahboy do you have any ideas?

 

[Dude64]

Interesting! I wonder if some of the algae experts in here might know. @Tigahboy do you have any ideas?

a few more days in the tank
.. this thing appears to be something more than algae to me...

 

[vetteguy53081]

a few more days in the tank
.. this thing appears to be something more than algae to me...

Cant see it clearly on my phone but looks like a St. Thomas mushroom

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I'm not sure what is it, but I honestly love how it looks.

Maybe an encrusting sponge of some kind? I've never seen one with that deep green, but I have seen black encrusting sponges that are super thin like this. What's really throwing me is that it seems to be translucent (you can see this if you look close at the most recent pic, particularly if you look around the edges at the bottom).

 

[Dude64]

I'm not sure what is it, but I honestly love how it looks.

Maybe an encrusting sponge of some kind? I've never seen one with that deep green, but I have seen black encrusting sponges that are super thin like this. What's really throwing me is that it seems to be translucent (you can see this if you look close at the most recent pic, particularly if you look around the edges at the bottom).

That sounds likely as this lacks a pronounced mushroom center and or edge definition... I found post from 'scubafrog' a few years back with a similar yellow growth ("Yellow slime on rock - Is it a sponge?") and aside from color this looks to be in that genre. Thanks... I will watch and take more pics.

 

[Dude64]

now I'm just posting b/c this has gotten interesting... the encrustation is progressing nicely, but also that miniature fern frag has doubled in size!!!

 

[Dude64]

Prob one last update unless I find I have unleashed the spawn of satin encrusting sponge, lol. Aiptasia popping up again a d decided to pull this out and spot glue 2 heads. Upon return to the tank moments later, the sponge separated, carpet style, and a few 3-4mm chunks are settling elsewhere...