Huge bloom of Pods?? in my sump! What do I do?

[jujumaster89]

None of these things appear to be in my display tank, but I would swear some time in the last 2 days, I had an explosion of these white pod-like things. I mean everywhere! My sump has been barren since I started a few years ago so I'm not sure what happened. If these things are good, how do I get them up to the display tank without clogging my return pump? If they are bad, would my 6 line wrasse do well down in the sump?

I appreciate your advice... I'm going through a "WTHeck" moment or worse.

-Jujumaster

 

[ying yang]

Pineapple sponges

They don't move correct ?

Can scrape them off but won't harm nothing down in your sump as just filter feeders.

In very worse case scenario could clog up your pipework and slow flow down I guess but that's very worse case and I got lots lots them in my Sump but don't worry about them at all

 

[brmc1985]

None of these things appear to be in my display tank, but I would swear some time in the last 2 days, I had an explosion of these white pod-like things. I mean everywhere! My sump has been barren since I started a few years ago so I'm not sure what happened. If these things are good, how do I get them up to the display tank without clogging my return pump? If they are bad, would my 6 line wrasse do well down in the sump?

I appreciate your advice... I'm going through a "WTHeck" moment or worse.

-Jujumaster

Those look like pineapple sponges. Good or bad depending on who you listen to but I think they are harmless filter feeders. They do need silicates so might want to test for that. Your RODI system might not be working properly.

 

[ying yang]

What is that!! A R2R guide to common new tank hitchhikers.

One of the greatest things about starting a reef tank is getting your live rock in and admiring all the diversity within it. The rock comes to life different creatures. This is a guide that I, along with a very well known critter identifier @KJ , have put together for the new reefer on what...

www.reef2reef.com

Pineapple sponges in here and some other common hitch hikers also

 

[jujumaster89]

Never heard of these things until today. I'll look into earlier threads on this.

I do have incredibly high silica readings in my tank. RODI water has none. I used dry rock in a bare bottom tank. I also use those bricks that feel like toast. Any thoughts on where this silca could be coming from?

Thanks,
Jujumaster

 

[ying yang]

Thoughts are can only come from ....
Water
Sand
Rocks
Food
A guess at salt mix

Other than these 5 I'm unsure where could come from other than something that ate a load of silica based item and it died and leaching back Into tank,now what that something could be ( if it even possible ) I do not know

 

[Shjnj]

Never heard of these things until today. I'll look into earlier threads on this.

I do have incredibly high silica readings in my tank. RODI water has none. I used dry rock in a bare bottom tank. I also use those bricks that feel like toast. Any thoughts on where this silca could be coming from?

Thanks,
Jujumaster

My bet is on the dry rock, I heard they can cause high silica. As long as youre not getting diatoms the silica will just allow for more sponge growth which is a great thing in my opinion, sponges are great. I even dose silica in my tanks to encourage sponge growth, and there are no adverse affects (appart from the afformentioned diatom risk if you spike silica levels). Id leave the sponges be, just means that your tank is mature. Maybe even get some ornamental sponges if you take a liking to them.

 

[Woodyman]

Never heard of these things until today. I'll look into earlier threads on this.

I do have incredibly high silica readings in my tank. RODI water has none. I used dry rock in a bare bottom tank. I also use those bricks that feel like toast. Any thoughts on where this silca could be coming from?

Thanks,
Jujumaster

How high is incredibly high? Off the chart? If so what test are you using, and the range of the test kit?

 

[jujumaster89]

I have done 3 ICP tests since 2020. Readings have been:

Oct 2020 = 990 micrograms
Jan 2021 = 546 micrograms
July 2021 = 597 micrograms

ATI suggests 100 micrograms is their reference.

 

[brmc1985]

I have done 3 ICP tests since 2020. Readings have been:

Oct 2020 = 990 micrograms
Jan 2021 = 546 micrograms
July 2021 = 597 micrograms

ATI suggests 100 micrograms is their reference.

Tank looks good so I wouldn’t worry about it!