White Sponge ID

[MikeO5422]

Anyone have any idea what this sponge is? It has a thick spider web consistency to it. All I know is it grew on my candy coral and the candy suddenly bleached and died as the sponge extended out the the polyps. I don't know if the sponge did it or something else....Anyway, now it seems to be all over the aquarium and I am concerned its going to grow on other coral. I tried a lot to kill it. Scraped it, exposed it to air, dipped it in fresh water, scrubbed it with tap water, dipped it in pest killer, I cannot kill it so I hope its okay....

I also noticed that it seems to only grow in dark places. I know they don't need light to grow, but I am wondering if light actually harms it? I am going to scrape some and try to cultivate it in a container under some good light.

 

[DSC reef]

Not sure on the exact species but one that's typically found in reef tanks. We had plenty growing. If it got to close to corals I'd remove it with a toothbrush. I always like sponge in the tank.

 

[MikeO5422]

Okay, thanks.

 

[cloak]

It looks kinda cool to me. If you keep corals just consider it one of them.

 

[Zeal]

Ive been told if theyre growing in you tank then youre headed in the right direction

 

[cloak]

I agree... They're definitely filling a niche.

 

[MikeO5422]

Well, I glued them in because those ones area really close to an acro. I think that will kill them.

You all say they are good, tell that to my candy - R.I.P!

 

[cloak]

Huh? So that sponge killed your acro above anything else? Hmm...

 

[MikeO5422]

eh, I worded that a bit funny. I think the glue will kill the sponge*. The sponge did not kill the acro.

However, that sponge grew on the trunk of my candy colony. After a while it starting growing little tentacles that extended over the candy heads and the candy bleached wherever the tentacles touched. I tried to get it off the candy for weeks but it kept coming back just as strong and soon bleached the whole candy. During this time all other corals were fine and water params were solid. I talked to a lot of people and most of them say the sponge is harmless minus occasionally choking out some coral. Other than the sponge I have no other explanation for the sudden death of that candy colony. So now im scared of them.