Torch skeleton question

[Servopkg]

Hi Yall- quick question. I have a torch with two heads. It looks like some skeleton formation being formed between the two heads. This used to not be here and the right head was not doing well. I think its growing better. See area circled in red. Can anyone confirm this theory? It looks very hard and white. Just want to make sure is a good sign and not bad.

 

[salt2salt]

looks like a sponge

 

[Twinanoreef]

yep, a sponge. You can scrape it off easily.

 

[resortez]

I doubt its forming another polyp. I’ve personally never seen a lps coral grow it’s skeleton without having a polyp at the front of the growth. I second salt2salt in looking more like some type of sponge growth. Have you taken a closer look at the area & inspected if it’s a hard or soft surface? Are there any similar growths like it anywhere else in your tank? Depending on what the white growth is, it can stress the coral tissue & force the polyp to recess back into its skeletal structure. I recommend a closer inspection & if it can be removed, remove it before the white stuff begins to cause bigger problems. Good luck.

 

[Servopkg]

Thanks. Let me see if I can scrape it. Strange it would be forming now, I've had the torch for 5-6 months and nothing new was introduced to the tank except for one new coral and that went through a dip first...

 

[Servopkg]

It was a sponge. I picked it off in pieces with a long pair of tweezers since it was glued to my rockwork not damaging my torch tentacles. Thanks for helping identify it, now need to learn what a sponge is...never seen one yet in my tank.

 

[Servopkg]

Ugh, just learned I should have not scraped it in my tank...hope the bits don't form more.in the tank...

 

[Twinanoreef]

Sponges will naturally appear in a mature tank. Usually in crevices and overhangs that have little light. So it doesnt really matter that you scraped it in the tank. I would keep it off the torch if they regrow.

 

[Servopkg]

also related to this torch, don't blast it with direct flow from a turkey baster, it knocked some of the tentacles loose. Yikes!