What might be the cause of this strange vegetation?

Moeshi · 06/07/2015, 05:00 PM

I apologize that I have to skip the formal introduction, as this is my first post on this forum I've been following for so long.

Recently I set up a new system only using spare parts. Old powerheads, bad lightning and no intention of keeping either fish or corals.

5 months into this little 30g system, some weird, black bulges has started growing everywhere. I intentionally let it flourish when I first saw it on a rock, because I'm keeping this small tank for the sole purpose of experimenting. It grows primarily on sand. Some sparse vegetation on rocks. It doesn't look or act like any other potential bubble algae I've seen before.

The algae(?) looks squishy and bubbly, but it's actually completely solid and it feels like squeezing soft cheese. It doesn't break easily either. Inside they look like a grapefruit that has had it's skin peeled.

I know it's a sort of vague description, but I hope the pictures can make it a little clearer what I'm talking about.

In addition to know what it is, I'm curious what might be causing it. What sort of nutrients it feeds off of. Also, what might feed on it.

photo 1.jpg

photo 2.jpg

photo 3.jpg

photo 4.jpg

Have a nice day!
Moeshi

thegrun · 06/07/2015, 05:17 PM

It looks like some type of sponge, but I wouldn't rule out a bacteria mat.

lpsouth1978 · 06/07/2015, 05:28 PM

Looks like a bacterial mat to me. Poor water quality and low flow? I see this often in the lower quality and less reputable LFS in my area.

Moeshi · 06/07/2015, 05:47 PM

Thanks for the quick response, you guys are fantastic as always!

I can't imagine it being flow. On the contrary I think it's more related to the opposite. The powerheads have a combined power of 660gp/h. The tank is only 30g. Not even copepods or snails can hold on to the glass in the areas with the highest flow - let alone the sand. The liverock in the center is without a doubt the area that gets the least flow. Both heads are pointed at the front glass, and the strange growth is just below on the sand, whilst there is close to nothing on the rocks.

Also, is it possible for bacteria to be solid as I described? It doesn't come off easily and it takes an entire patch of sand with it, when I lift up a piece.

Nitrates are 0
Nitrites are 0
Salinity is 1.024
pH is 8.1
I have no account of anything else.

I have no idea how to distinguish it as a sponge, if that's the case. The two turbos and one super tiny hermit crab that lives in the tank, as well as asterina stars, strombus hitchhikers and amphipods, doesn't seem to mind it. They don't eat it, but they aren't exactly afraid of touching it, although they avoid crawling on it most of the time.

I don't feed the system.

heathlindner25 · 06/07/2015, 05:50 PM

looks like some sort of cyano bacteria,but I reserve the right to be completely wrong on this one..lol

Sk8r · 06/07/2015, 09:44 PM

Take some in a net and give it a sniff. If it smells wholesome it's probably ok, but if it doesn't, I'd take measures.

Moeshi · 06/08/2015, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

Take some in a net and give it a sniff. If it smells wholesome it's probably ok, but if it doesn't, I'd take measures.

It smells just fine. No odor at all.

CStrickland · 06/08/2015, 04:53 PM

Maaaybe a plating lobophora? The texture sounds rightish depending how soft you like your cheese

and it can be dark like that. But I thought it spread from one place, not like popping up all over simultaneously. If it is it can get out of hand

Moeshi · 08/05/2015, 05:28 AM

First of all, I apologize for the semi-necro.

Real life has kept me from the hobby for some time now, and the growth in questions has been the least of my worries since then.
I thought I would post one final update should somebody, someday search this topic, looking for answers.

After removing it all by force, it slowly grew back after a months time. It wasn't quite as dense or as large, and since then it has been a steady decline. First it turned pale, then white, and finally it started to dissolve and break apart. Today a few pale specimens remain here and there, but all growth has come to a complete halt.

Whatever it was feeding on it took 5 months to deplete it, and now it's dying.

I want to thank you all for the great advice and suggestions I received.

Happy reefing,
Moeshi

ScienceRulez · 08/05/2015, 07:30 AM

As I have something very similar in the sump on the back of the tank I'm caring for I'm curious as well. Is the consensus that it's a bacteria or sponge?

In my case the sump on the back gets very little light. The water goes from the tank over a ledge to the sump, where it's sucked up by the pump to the main sump, which distributes the water to various gadgets and then back to the tank. It's only growing in that one area, nowhere else.

06/07/2015, 05:00 PM	#1
Moeshi Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 135	What might be the cause of this strange vegetation? I apologize that I have to skip the formal introduction, as this is my first post on this forum I've been following for so long. Recently I set up a new system only using spare parts. Old powerheads, bad lightning and no intention of keeping either fish or corals. 5 months into this little 30g system, some weird, black bulges has started growing everywhere. I intentionally let it flourish when I first saw it on a rock, because I'm keeping this small tank for the sole purpose of experimenting. It grows primarily on sand. Some sparse vegetation on rocks. It doesn't look or act like any other potential bubble algae I've seen before. The algae(?) looks squishy and bubbly, but it's actually completely solid and it feels like squeezing soft cheese. It doesn't break easily either. Inside they look like a grapefruit that has had it's skin peeled. I know it's a sort of vague description, but I hope the pictures can make it a little clearer what I'm talking about. In addition to know what it is, I'm curious what might be causing it. What sort of nutrients it feeds off of. Also, what might feed on it. photo 1.jpg photo 2.jpg photo 3.jpg photo 4.jpg Have a nice day! Moeshi

06/07/2015, 09:44 PM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Take some in a net and give it a sniff. If it smells wholesome it's probably ok, but if it doesn't, I'd take measures. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

06/08/2015, 04:53 PM	#8
CStrickland Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New England, U.S. Posts: 4,595	Maaaybe a plating lobophora? The texture sounds rightish depending how soft you like your cheese and it can be dark like that. But I thought it spread from one place, not like popping up all over simultaneously. If it is it can get out of hand __________________ If you're havin tank problems I feel bad for you, son. I got 99 problems but a fish ain't one Current Tank Info: 3/2016 upgrade to 120g. Chalk bass, melanurus, firefish, starry blenny, canary blenny, lyretail anthias, engineer gobys, kole tang. Softies / LPS / NPS. <3 noob4life <3

06/07/2015, 05:17 PM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	It looks like some type of sponge, but I wouldn't rule out a bacteria mat.

06/07/2015, 05:28 PM	#3
lpsouth1978 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 915	Looks like a bacterial mat to me. Poor water quality and low flow? I see this often in the lower quality and less reputable LFS in my area.

06/07/2015, 05:47 PM	#4
Moeshi Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 135	Thanks for the quick response, you guys are fantastic as always! I can't imagine it being flow. On the contrary I think it's more related to the opposite. The powerheads have a combined power of 660gp/h. The tank is only 30g. Not even copepods or snails can hold on to the glass in the areas with the highest flow - let alone the sand. The liverock in the center is without a doubt the area that gets the least flow. Both heads are pointed at the front glass, and the strange growth is just below on the sand, whilst there is close to nothing on the rocks. Also, is it possible for bacteria to be solid as I described? It doesn't come off easily and it takes an entire patch of sand with it, when I lift up a piece. Nitrates are 0 Nitrites are 0 Salinity is 1.024 pH is 8.1 I have no account of anything else. I have no idea how to distinguish it as a sponge, if that's the case. The two turbos and one super tiny hermit crab that lives in the tank, as well as asterina stars, strombus hitchhikers and amphipods, doesn't seem to mind it. They don't eat it, but they aren't exactly afraid of touching it, although they avoid crawling on it most of the time. I don't feed the system.

06/07/2015, 05:50 PM	#5
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	looks like some sort of cyano bacteria,but I reserve the right to be completely wrong on this one..lol

08/05/2015, 05:28 AM	#9
Moeshi Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 135	First of all, I apologize for the semi-necro. Real life has kept me from the hobby for some time now, and the growth in questions has been the least of my worries since then. I thought I would post one final update should somebody, someday search this topic, looking for answers. After removing it all by force, it slowly grew back after a months time. It wasn't quite as dense or as large, and since then it has been a steady decline. First it turned pale, then white, and finally it started to dissolve and break apart. Today a few pale specimens remain here and there, but all growth has come to a complete halt. Whatever it was feeding on it took 5 months to deplete it, and now it's dying. I want to thank you all for the great advice and suggestions I received. Happy reefing, Moeshi

08/05/2015, 07:30 AM	#10
ScienceRulez Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Allentown PA Posts: 286	As I have something very similar in the sump on the back of the tank I'm caring for I'm curious as well. Is the consensus that it's a bacteria or sponge? In my case the sump on the back gets very little light. The water goes from the tank over a ledge to the sump, where it's sucked up by the pump to the main sump, which distributes the water to various gadgets and then back to the tank. It's only growing in that one area, nowhere else.