Critter ID?

[Sonam]

Greetings,

We cycled a 13.5 gallon fluval Evo using Dr Tim's One and Only with live rock and live sand.

The tank was cycled on day 9 per testing (no measurable ammonia or nitrite for 2 consecutive days while dosing with ammonia provided by Dr Tim).

We are on day 12 now and the rocks have been covered with algae. We have also noticed what look like animals growing in the rocks.

I believe we have vermetid snails - but noticed this. It's fairly large relative to many hitchhikers and has the texture of a snail.

Is this a good or bad thing? Should we remove it?

 

[DLHDesign]

Looks like some kind of sponge to me, but I'm no specialist in this area... #reefsquad?

(The general rule is, "If in doubt; remove it".)

 

[Sonam]

Looks like some kind of sponge to me, but I'm no specialist in this area... #reefsquad?

(The general rule is, "If in doubt; remove it".)

Thank you so much.

 

[themcnertney]

I see a vermetid snail and sponge.

 

[DLHDesign]

You're welcome - happy to help.

Oh - most sponges are benign (won't hurt anything). I have them in all sorts of places in my tank (mostly the overflow box) and never noticed any issues as a result. All part of the ecosystem you get when you use live rock...

 

[Crabs McJones]

Vermedit snail, and looks like a sponge underneath. Does it move or stay in one spot?

 

[Sonam]

It stays in one spot even when touched. Sponge makes sense. Thanks!