White root algae?

[MarsReefer]

I found these root looking things growing in the bubble trap chamber between my refugium and return pump chamber. They are attached to a piece of loose filter pad that I keep to quiet the bubbles between the chambers.

They are pure white and look like fingers dangling down from the underside of the foam.
Good? Bad? Extra filtration?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I found these root looking things growing in the bubble trap chamber between my refugium and return pump chamber. They are attached to a piece of loose filter pad that I keep to quiet the bubbles between the chambers.

They are pure white and look like fingers dangling down from the underside of the foam.
Good? Bad? Extra filtration?

This is poriferan sponge and will grow even more. Remove with a crochet needle or inject via syringe with vinegar or air which will shrink it

 

[lapin]

Are they hard and break off easy?
If so
They could be a tube worm. I have a sump full of them.

 

[MarsReefer]

This is poriferan sponge and will grow even more. Remove with a crochet needle or inject via syringe with vinegar or air which will shrink it

Are they harmful in any way? I can just toss the filter pad and put a new one in. But if they are just soaking up nutrients and not causing any harm I’ll leave them.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Are they harmful in any way? I can just toss the filter pad and put a new one in. But if they are just soaking up nutrients and not causing any harm I’ll leave them.

Unless they’re smothering your corals, sponges are harmless filter feeders (a lot of people consider them signs of good ecological health in a tank).

 

[vetteguy53081]

Are they harmful in any way? I can just toss the filter pad and put a new one in. But if they are just soaking up nutrients and not causing any harm I’ll leave them.

Yes you can and they will grow and clog the area- Not my idea of a filter feeder in comparison to tunicates which filter nicely