What is this growing on my rocks???? pics

sjj80 · 11/20/2009, 10:31 PM

These have pretty much just suddenly appeared on my rocks, there are two of them, they do not move. Any ideas as to what they are?

SeasonedReefer · 11/20/2009, 10:34 PM

Looks like a sponge is it kind of an opaqe white with holes?

sjj80 · 11/20/2009, 10:55 PM

that's exactly what it looks like. not sure if it's some sort of invert or maybe an egg sack from my clown pair. I found another tiny one growing on the rocks too.

disturbed · 11/20/2009, 10:55 PM

looks like a sponge to me

nrike · 11/20/2009, 10:59 PM

Are sponge bad? i noticed some growing in my tank the other day.

Henry Bowman · 11/20/2009, 11:00 PM

Sponges are a good thing.

sjj80 · 11/20/2009, 11:02 PM

Aren't sponges difficult to care for? I thought they had to have perfect water params to survive and I have a horrible HA problem that i can't get rid of, all params test fine but something is wrong since this HA has taken over. If it is a sponge, and it's growing out of nowhere, does that maybe mean my water params are ok? how do i care for them?

sjj80 · 11/21/2009, 12:47 AM

late night bump

jeffeg · 11/21/2009, 01:03 AM

Sponge growing to take advantage of the available nutrients.

Flipper62 · 11/21/2009, 01:16 AM

Looks like a sponge to me....There are things that eat sponges if you dont like it.

sjj80 · 11/21/2009, 02:29 PM

i don't mind the sponge, i'm just curious as to what is supporting their growth, is my water too nutrient rich? maybe?

Asterix · 11/21/2009, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjj80

i don't mind the sponge, i'm just curious as to what is supporting their growth, is my water too nutrient rich? maybe?

I think that could be the case, but I could be wrong

I have heard in the past that they do tend to flourish in nutrient rich environments...

BLKTANG · 11/21/2009, 03:05 PM

i have pink,yellow,brown,& white.Along with a few Tuncates.

sjj80 · 11/21/2009, 09:23 PM

so will the sponges help reduce nutrients? Also anyone know how to test for nutrients?

jollyballs · 11/21/2009, 10:15 PM

by the looks and sound offs from everyone, would say it is sponge.

jonrauh · 11/21/2009, 11:04 PM

sponges!

DGee · 11/22/2009, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjj80

so will the sponges help reduce nutrients? Also anyone know how to test for nutrients?

Umm... It sounds to me like you need to invest in some test kits!

Sponges won't solve a nutrient problem but they are never bad thing, its just another form of diversified life in your tank.

ludnix · 11/22/2009, 12:49 AM

Having sponges doesn't mean you have too much nutrients necessarily. It just means you have enough nutrients to support the sponges.

shellzreef · 11/22/2009, 01:04 AM

i have the same things, but mine have grown in my overflow.

sjj80 · 11/22/2009, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGee

Umm... It sounds to me like you need to invest in some test kits!

Sponges won't solve a nutrient problem but they are never bad thing, its just another form of diversified life in your tank.

I do have test kits, all params are fine, wasn't sure if there was something in particular i should test for that would cause these sponges, (or HA) to grow besides nitrate and phosphate.

billysanborn · 11/22/2009, 02:06 AM

in my experience my HA was keeping all my nutrient levels at bay...my over feeding and malfunctioning skimmer...once i got those in check and kept the water cleaner the hair went away along with the red slime. the hair algae uses up all the nutrients that they can and you get false readings off the tests because the plants are taking them all in

rowjimmy · 11/22/2009, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjj80

i don't mind the sponge, i'm just curious as to what is supporting their growth, is my water too nutrient rich? maybe?

What kind of water are you using? Did you test for silicates? Sponges like silicate. The sponge in your picture is harmless, and as your tank ages you will probably find more.

rowjimmy · 11/22/2009, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henry Bowman

Sponges are a good thing.

+1 ^^^ I like sponges and I do everything I can to get them to grow in my system. I think they add to the biodiversity, and also add some nice contrasting splashes of color in a reef tank. Here are some of my sponges:

rowjimmy · 11/22/2009, 04:01 AM

more

11/20/2009, 10:31 PM	#1
sjj80 Hater of Hair Algae Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 1,098	What is this growing on my rocks???? pics These have pretty much just suddenly appeared on my rocks, there are two of them, they do not move. Any ideas as to what they are? __________________ 90g, two Korallia 4s, EuroReef RS135 skimmer, trying to upgrade my lighting. Current Tank Info: 90g under rehab!

11/20/2009, 10:34 PM	#2
SeasonedReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Ft. Wayne Posts: 341	Looks like a sponge is it kind of an opaqe white with holes? __________________ Rogge Current Tank Info: 90 gallon lps,sps tank

11/20/2009, 10:55 PM	#3
sjj80 Hater of Hair Algae Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 1,098	that's exactly what it looks like. not sure if it's some sort of invert or maybe an egg sack from my clown pair. I found another tiny one growing on the rocks too. __________________ 90g, two Korallia 4s, EuroReef RS135 skimmer, trying to upgrade my lighting. Current Tank Info: 90g under rehab!

11/20/2009, 11:00 PM	#6
Henry Bowman Reefing since '87 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Allegheny Mountains of VA Posts: 2,162	Sponges are a good thing. __________________ Have a good'un Current Tank Info: 90 gl SPS dominant / upgrade in the works

11/20/2009, 11:02 PM	#7
sjj80 Hater of Hair Algae Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 1,098	Aren't sponges difficult to care for? I thought they had to have perfect water params to survive and I have a horrible HA problem that i can't get rid of, all params test fine but something is wrong since this HA has taken over. If it is a sponge, and it's growing out of nowhere, does that maybe mean my water params are ok? how do i care for them? __________________ 90g, two Korallia 4s, EuroReef RS135 skimmer, trying to upgrade my lighting. Current Tank Info: 90g under rehab!

11/20/2009, 10:55 PM	#4
disturbed Moved On Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Nanticoke PA Posts: 209	looks like a sponge to me

11/20/2009, 10:59 PM	#5
nrike Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: cerritos ca Posts: 432	Are sponge bad? i noticed some growing in my tank the other day.

11/21/2009, 12:47 AM	#8
sjj80 Hater of Hair Algae Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 1,098	late night bump __________________ 90g, two Korallia 4s, EuroReef RS135 skimmer, trying to upgrade my lighting. Current Tank Info: 90g under rehab!

11/21/2009, 01:03 AM	#9
jeffeg Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 92	Sponge growing to take advantage of the available nutrients.

11/21/2009, 01:16 AM	#10
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	Looks like a sponge to me....There are things that eat sponges if you dont like it. __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

11/21/2009, 02:29 PM	#11
sjj80 Hater of Hair Algae Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 1,098	i don't mind the sponge, i'm just curious as to what is supporting their growth, is my water too nutrient rich? maybe? __________________ 90g, two Korallia 4s, EuroReef RS135 skimmer, trying to upgrade my lighting. Current Tank Info: 90g under rehab!

11/21/2009, 03:05 PM	#13
BLKTANG Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Never,Never Land Posts: 7,061	i have pink,yellow,brown,& white.Along with a few Tuncates. __________________ We the few have done so much,for so long,for so little.That we are now qualified to do anything with nothing. ____________________________________________________________________________ Current Tank Info: RR 90 Maganvore sump,250w Hamilton fixture,VorTec's ASM skimmer.

11/21/2009, 09:23 PM	#14
sjj80 Hater of Hair Algae Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 1,098	so will the sponges help reduce nutrients? Also anyone know how to test for nutrients? __________________ 90g, two Korallia 4s, EuroReef RS135 skimmer, trying to upgrade my lighting. Current Tank Info: 90g under rehab!

11/21/2009, 10:15 PM	#15
jollyballs Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Vanderbilt, PA Posts: 60	by the looks and sound offs from everyone, would say it is sponge.

11/21/2009, 11:04 PM	#16
jonrauh Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Muir Beach Posts: 119	sponges! __________________ <º))))>< Have fun every day! ><))))º> Current Tank Info: mixed reef 215gallon also clown breeding set up

11/22/2009, 12:49 AM	#18
ludnix Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,031	Having sponges doesn't mean you have too much nutrients necessarily. It just means you have enough nutrients to support the sponges. __________________ -Eric Sutter Current Tank Info: 14g Biocube

11/22/2009, 01:04 AM	#19
shellzreef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: south jersey Posts: 104	i have the same things, but mine have grown in my overflow. __________________ PROUD TO BE A REEFER! No single snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible <3

11/22/2009, 02:06 AM	#21
billysanborn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Saratoga, CA Posts: 127	in my experience my HA was keeping all my nutrient levels at bay...my over feeding and malfunctioning skimmer...once i got those in check and kept the water cleaner the hair went away along with the red slime. the hair algae uses up all the nutrients that they can and you get false readings off the tests because the plants are taking them all in