White Spongy something??

revhtree · May 15, 2009

I have this white, spongy substance growing around the bottom of some of my frags. It scrapes off real easy, but its hard to get it all.

Any idea what it is?

Sikryd · May 15, 2009

revhtree said:
I have this white, spongy substance growing around the bottom of some of my frags. It scrapes off real easy, but its hard to get it all.

Any idea what it is?

Most likely a sponge - won't hurt anything if it is.

revhtree · May 15, 2009

Well it seems to be choking out some palys/zoas.

Hypertek99 · May 15, 2009

Yep sponge they are common and will take over your zoas. If not killing them they will halt your zoas growth by blocking surface area to grow.

JuniorMC8704 · May 15, 2009

easy fix bud. Pull your zoa frags and leave them out of the tank for several minutes. the sponges will be gone in no time.

This works almost flawlessly.

Then i usually to a coral revive dip, but not always.

Hypertek99 · May 15, 2009

Haha the old air kills sponge trick!!

revhtree · May 15, 2009

COOL! Good to know! Think a coral cleaner dip might kill it as well?

JuniorMC8704 · May 15, 2009

well it might, but the air for zoas is a no brainer....they are of the water in the wild for hours at times...

Hypertek99 · May 15, 2009

Hmm now you have me thinking. Do you think air will make the zoas healthier and happier?? Cuz they are always in water in our tanks but in the wild when low tide hits they are out of the water.

Paul_N · May 15, 2009

hmmmmm. My tank is far from perfect and I struggle with sps from time to time, but I have always had success with zoas and have never lost one or had one melt on me. I do use an air pump twice in the early am hours for 15 mins each time that injects air into my power heads. I wonder if that accomplishes the same thing? Just a thought.

* I have a video somewhere. I'll find it and post it.

Hypertek99 · May 15, 2009

May i ask why you add air to your pumps?? A lot of us don't like air bubbles as it creates saltcreep. But maybe we're onto something here?

Paul_N · May 15, 2009

I had read on another forum that some of the coral were exposed to air when the waves would break on the reefs and it would cause them to slime over. It went further to say that this was a good thing for the coral to trigger new growth. The theory is that the air bubbles being blown around the tank and hitting the corals will mimick the waves breaking on the reef and air mixture. I figured it also helps to aerate the water so it can't be a bad thing. I never noticed any negative effects so I have continued to do it. It is loud and the primary reason I do it at night when we are upstairs in bed. I honestly have not noticed any more salt creep than usual. If it is more it is very little to the point I can't tell the difference.

Here is the video:

Those are (2) koralia #4's

killingseed2000 · May 15, 2009

i usely take the rock out ,if you can, and i would drip iodine on the sponge then rise it off if water. will kill most of it and do a follow up a week later. the sponge will impede the grow fo the zoas.