White stuff growing on zoas

[Umair]

Hello fellow reefers!

I have this some white stuff growing on my zoas. I tried searching the forum but im not sure they are really sponges.

Attached photos are during the daytime when lights are off, otherwise majority of the polyps do open nicely when lights are on.

Would really appreciate your help to id this white stuff and advise on how to get rid of it.

 

[James M]

Sponges and also the zoas are stretching for light

 

[Umair]

Sponges and also the zoas are stretching for light

thank you for your response.

Sponges and also the zoas are stretching for light

oh so they really are sponges.

ok so i did some searching and assume that moving them bit closer to the light will most likely kill sponges, is it so?
or should i do the h2o2 dip method?

 

[DSC reef]

I would take a soft brush to the zoas and leave them where they are. It very well could be the sponges making them stretch as they are being suffocated. I wouldn't move them just yet or make any sudden changes. You have quite a nice colony so I assume they have been happy with the current lighting and conditions. Remove the sponge first and see how they react. I would not dip them at this point.

 

[tupes]

I also agree, sponges. Use a soft bristle toothbrush a lightly remove the sponge. It looks like its growing around the polyps and that is causing the to get long to get above the sponge and get the light needed.

Definitely dont move them just clean them up and see how they do. That is one of the biggest problems people make and it makes it worse because it stresses out the coral then you start trying to case other problems when it was very simple in the beginning.

 

[Umair]

thank you @tupes and @DSC reef for your advises.

i tried to remove sponges a week back with tweezers but the problem was polyps also got removed. it was difficult to separate the two and seemed i was doing more damage therefore put them back.

i will try using a brush and see if it gets any better.

btw can low flow be an issue? these three rocks covered with zoas are almost below the gyre. will upload a photo once i get back home.

 

[tupes]

Flow can be a problem. Zoas dont like being blasted but chances are the sponges started because of excess detritus build up that settled on them from being in little to no flow

 

[Umair]

Sorry the pic is not clear, im extremely bad in photography.

But just wanted to show the rocks where these zoas are placed right below the gyre pump. @tupes you are absolutely right i can see lot of detritus on this particular rock mountain. any suggestions regarding placement of gyre? i have two mp40's running on the other side and one this gyre250

 

[tupes]

What size is this tank? HxWxL

And what size gyre is that

 

[Umair]

What size is this tank? HxWxL

And what size gyre is that

The tank size is 23.6"x25.6"x71", it is redsea 750 xxl.

and gyre250 model.

 

[tupes]

With that size tank, before a water change, you turn up the gyre and mp40's they should be strong enough to blow out a most if not all the detritus and then suck it out for your water change