What might this be?

Lonny · Mar 12, 2016

The turquoise thing beneath the polyp. Should I be concerned? I like the way it looks hope I can keep it

here's a pic from last night

thanks

cloak · Mar 12, 2016

It looks like some type of sponge IMO. While most of these are harmless there are certain varieties that have been known to smother corals. Definitely keep your eye on it. GL.

Lonny · Mar 12, 2016

Thanks cloak! Hopefully it's a good one cuz I do like the color.

TinaFoster · Mar 12, 2016

It looks rad! Hope you can keep it

briancarterkc · Mar 13, 2016

Sponges can't tolerate air (they have no mechanism to expel it from their bodies) so if you want to keep it don't let the plug ever be exposed to air.

Lonny · Mar 13, 2016

briancarterkc said:
Sponges can't tolerate air (they have no mechanism to expel it from their bodies) so if you want to keep it don't let the plug ever be exposed to air.

Good tip thanks! Other than putting it in the DT it hasn't seen any air. I have no clue how to care for sponges and I really like the color of this one so thank you very much for the advice!

Salty1962 · Mar 14, 2016

Just make sure the sponge doesn't over grow your zoas. I had some yellow sponge crowd out my zoas.

saltyphish · Mar 14, 2016

Pineapple sponges would smoother my zoas. I just removed the problem ones.

Lonny · Mar 14, 2016

Thanks guys! How many colors of sponge are out there? I really like the turquoise.

briancarterkc · Mar 14, 2016

Lonny said:
Thanks guys! How many colors of sponge are out there? I really like the turquoise.

Well, there are encrusting sponges like what you have and "decorative" sponges. Encrusting come in blue, purple, pink, yellow, orange, and taupe that I've seen. I'm sure there are others. Decorative sponges seem to come in some pretty brilliant basic colors. You can see yellow, red, and orange decorative sponges in my tank here.

Lonny · Mar 14, 2016

briancarterkc said:
Well, there are encrusting sponges like what you have and "decorative" sponges. Encrusting come in blue, purple, pink, yellow, orange, and taupe that I've seen. I'm sure there are others. Decorative sponges seem to come in some pretty brilliant basic colors. You can see yellow, red, and orange decorative sponges in my tank here.

I really like that orange! So entrusting basically equates to, I'll be scraping it back away from my zoas at some then?

Lonny · Mar 14, 2016

briancarterkc said:
Well, there are encrusting sponges like what you have and "decorative" sponges. Encrusting come in blue, purple, pink, yellow, orange, and taupe that I've seen. I'm sure there are others. Decorative sponges seem to come in some pretty brilliant basic colors. You can see yellow, red, and orange decorative sponges in my tank here.

Awesome tank by the way!