What is this Blue Stuff

[Akadios]

At first it started on this symposium coral (see pic) now it has also appeared on the base of this small piece of birds nest I am trying to grow out. What is it, is it a sponge?

 

[JaimeAdams]

It's a sponge

 

[Maggie321]

That is a beautiful sponge! I've never seen it blue.

 

[Akadios]

Is there anything I can do to propagate it while not letting it kill the symposium lol or will it self propogate

 

[4FordFamily]

That’s a a gorgeous sponge!

 

[JaimeAdams]

I've had blue sponge in tanks at work and have seen it on imported coral.

 

[Maggie321]

Well it seems to be propagating on its own

 

[cristata.reef]

Unfortunately, since it was taken out of the water, the sponge has a very poor chance of survival. Sponges have a very porous body that readily lets in water, air, etc (it's how they feed). Once air gets in it will immediately start to kill of the cells inside. When the sponge loses a certain amount of cells it will die since it cannot feed itself. You can always try to re-submerge it in the tank and frag off a piece but make sure you keep it underwater. Also don't ever use glue with sponges. @Kamden Uelton can probably help you with the more intricate details about propagation.

 

[Kamden Uelton]

those are some lovely sponge & tunicates you have! as for the propagation following the steps in this BBC video helped me propagation many species and types of sponge.

 

[Akadios]

what video? they are alive and well, spread a bit more on the symposium

 

[JaimeAdams]

Unfortunately, since it was taken out of the water, the sponge has a very poor chance of survival. Sponges have a very porous body that readily lets in water, air, etc (it's how they feed). Once air gets in it will immediately start to kill of the cells inside. When the sponge loses a certain amount of cells it will die since it cannot feed itself. You can always try to re-submerge it in the tank and frag off a piece but make sure you keep it underwater. Also don't ever use glue with sponges. @Kamden Uelton can probably help you with the more intricate details about propagation.

I've found that harder bodies sponges don't like to be out of water. I have found that softer sponges can do alright with it. We were selling pieces of a large black tube sponge at work that was fine being taken out of the water. I too have blue sponge in my home tank.

 

[pdisner]

Does look like a sponge in spots, or aren’t symposiums supposed to come that color blue as well. In another part of the pick it almost looks like corelites.