What is this

[ReDNeK_YeTi]

Can anyone tell me what this is?

 

[anthonygf]

Looks like pineapple sponge. They are good, I have many. I think it means your tank is healthy. Unless you are looking at the aiptasia just above it, not good.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Can anyone tell me what this is?

The little white things are pineapple sponges - harmless filter feeders common in newer tanks.

 

[anthonygf]

The little white things are pineapple sponges - harmless filter feeders common in newer tanks.

Why do I have them in my 75 that is 2 years old? Upgraded from 46 bowfront I had for 5 years.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Why do I have them in my 75 that is 2 years old? Upgraded from 46 bowfront I had for 5 years.

My understanding is that they’re limited in most tanks by lack of specific nutrients - if your tank has the nutrients (thought to be primarily silica or silicates - I’ll defer to others on the exact chemical makeup) and some food for them, the sponges should be able to survive.

Pineapple sponges which are harmless, and short lived. They stem from silicates and can be from new rock or sand and even expired Di Resin

 

[anthonygf]

My understanding is that they’re limited in most tanks by lack of specific nutrients - if your tank has the nutrients (thought to be primarily silica or silicates - I’ll defer to others on the exact chemical makeup) and some food for them, the sponges should be able to survive.

Well I must have silicates because still getting diatoms and my TDS is zero. And gets worse after water change, I am going back to less frequent water changes where I had no diatoms. Thank you. edit; I thought I fixed that misspelled word....

Sorry for hijacking your thread ReDNeK_YeTi. Happy Reefing!

 

[vetteguy53081]

My understanding is that they’re limited in most tanks by lack of specific nutrients - if your tank has the nutrients (thought to be primarily silica or silicates - I’ll defer to others on the exact chemical makeup) and some food for them, the sponges should be able to survive.

They prefer low flow/low light areas and presence of silicates. At my store, the only place they ever appeaared was in umps and as soon as silicates were changed, they vanished. They have silicate skeletons and survive on algae

 

[ReDNeK_YeTi]

Thank you for all the help and it’s no problem I’m glad to see this thread could help more than just me

 

[anthonygf]

They prefer low flow/low light areas and presence of silicates. At my store, the only place they ever appeaared was in umps and as soon as silicates were changed, they vanished. They have silicate skeletons and survive on algae

Is it possible to have silicates in RODI water if TDS is zero?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Is it possible to have silicates in RODI water if TDS is zero?

Yes