Sump Critter ID please

[ShadowMan]

Doing my weekly clean, I've noticed a new critter attached to one of my bio blocks in the sump... looks like coral, but figured it can't be as there's very little light down there?! Seems to be feeding on the pods though.

Tried to get a close up without removing the block, but let me know if I need a better one.

Thanks in advance!

 

[exnisstech]

Looks like a type of sponge. I just removed a bunch of blocks from my sump and they were covered in sponges.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Yeah, sponge - harmless filter feeder, and don’t worry, the pods are way too big for it to eat.

 

[Seansea]

Ya sponge. Means tank is maturing. I have a ton in my sump but any that try to survive in my display are mauled by my bicolor angel.

 

[WheatToast]

... Seems to be feeding on the pods though.

Yeah, sponge - harmless filter feeder, and don’t worry, the pods are way too big for it to eat.

Specifically speaking, sponges generally feed on particles smaller than 0.5 micrometers. The smallest phytoplankton in Algae Barn OceanMagik (Nannochloropsis gaditana) is 1 - 5 micrometers. Copepods tend to range from 100 - 1000 micrometers. Brine shrimp nauplii range from 400 - 570 micrometers.

they seem to typically eat bacteria and organic nutrients (such as Dissolved Organic Carbon - DOC).