ID please... White stuff

NWoods · 04/25/2014, 07:32 AM

I am really not sure what this stuff is. Over the past month or two, this white stuff has been growing on my live rock. It only really grown in the crevices and almost looks like cobwebs or mold. Possibly a sponge of some sort. Good, bad? I have also had a massive bristle worm explosion in the past month as well, which I am trying to control. Plus yesterday I came home to our black Ocellaris Clown dead on the bottom of the tank. Any thoughts?
Mold_a.jpg

tonymission · 04/25/2014, 07:34 AM

I seem to have that all over my back glass ? Interested here.

shermanator · 04/25/2014, 07:40 AM

Looks like sponges to me from the pictures, but if they look a lot like cobwebs then it's probably vermitid snails that do this. Neither are bad, but vermitid snails can propagate like mad and can be controlled by having less detritus for them to eat (feed the tank less, etc).

You also have some nice bubble algae that you are going to want to remove before it takes over.

thegrun · 04/25/2014, 07:45 AM

+1, to all the above.

tonymission · 04/25/2014, 07:46 AM

Does anything consume sponges? What causes the growth?

NWoods · 04/25/2014, 07:49 AM

Yea, I know the bubble algae can be a real pain. I was thinking of getting a couple of emerald crabs to help control. I just got the aptasia outbreak under control last weekend. Once I break it free from the base rock, the peppermint shrimp go crazy and gobble it up overnight.

mets17127 · 04/25/2014, 07:51 AM

I think Pygmy angels have been known to nibble sponges

thegrun · 04/25/2014, 08:21 AM

The sponges generally go away on their own as the tank matures. You can brush most of them off with a tooth brush if you want them gone. The bubble algae can become a major issue. If possible remove the rock and gouge them out, trying not to pop them as popping them can release spores and spread the outbreak. I have also gouged them out in-tank but have a helper hold a hose with a siphon next to the algae when you remove it so if any spores are released you suck them up.

04/25/2014, 07:32 AM	#1
NWoods Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Minnesota Posts: 77	ID please... White stuff I am really not sure what this stuff is. Over the past month or two, this white stuff has been growing on my live rock. It only really grown in the crevices and almost looks like cobwebs or mold. Possibly a sponge of some sort. Good, bad? I have also had a massive bristle worm explosion in the past month as well, which I am trying to control. Plus yesterday I came home to our black Ocellaris Clown dead on the bottom of the tank. Any thoughts? Mold_a.jpg

04/25/2014, 07:34 AM	#2
tonymission Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 143	I seem to have that all over my back glass ? Interested here.

04/25/2014, 07:40 AM	#3
shermanator Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 854	Looks like sponges to me from the pictures, but if they look a lot like cobwebs then it's probably vermitid snails that do this. Neither are bad, but vermitid snails can propagate like mad and can be controlled by having less detritus for them to eat (feed the tank less, etc). You also have some nice bubble algae that you are going to want to remove before it takes over.

04/25/2014, 07:45 AM	#4
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	+1, to all the above.

04/25/2014, 07:46 AM	#5
tonymission Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 143	Does anything consume sponges? What causes the growth?

04/25/2014, 07:49 AM	#6
NWoods Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Minnesota Posts: 77	Yea, I know the bubble algae can be a real pain. I was thinking of getting a couple of emerald crabs to help control. I just got the aptasia outbreak under control last weekend. Once I break it free from the base rock, the peppermint shrimp go crazy and gobble it up overnight.

04/25/2014, 07:51 AM	#7
mets17127 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Hopewell Junction, New York Posts: 127	I think Pygmy angels have been known to nibble sponges

04/25/2014, 08:21 AM	#8
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	The sponges generally go away on their own as the tank matures. You can brush most of them off with a tooth brush if you want them gone. The bubble algae can become a major issue. If possible remove the rock and gouge them out, trying not to pop them as popping them can release spores and spread the outbreak. I have also gouged them out in-tank but have a helper hold a hose with a siphon next to the algae when you remove it so if any spores are released you suck them up.