Look what I found growing in my weir, what is that thing?

[EmptyWallet]

I moved some furniture last night and for the first time in a year or so, exposed the side of the tank, including the weir and discovered this magnificent creature - but what the heck is it (about the size of a medium pizza)

I understand all the little white tiny 'things' are siliceous sponges, is that just a giant one forming?

 

[MTBake]

I moved some furniture last night and for the first time in a year or so, exposed the side of the tank, including the weir and discovered this magnificent creature - but what the heck is it (about the size of a medium pizza)

I understand all the little white tiny 'things' are siliceous sponges, is that just a giant one forming?

That is definately a sponge. Not sure on the type though. Doubt it's one of the smaller ones turning into a giant colony. Most likely something totally different.

It sure is cool looking!

 

[cracker]

it is very cool. Now that You moved furniture the environ where this lives has changed. Keep an eye on it . Is there more light now ?

 

[EmptyWallet]

For sure! I'm changing tanks shortly, need to work out how to 'dig it out' and put in sump without killing it. Coming from near complete darkness I wonder if it will survive some exposure to daylight in the room?

 

[garbled]

towards the edges of the photo I see some smaller ones of the same type as the big one. It's *so* hard to transplant sponges. You can't expose them to air at all. Maybe you could get one of the smaller ones out though..

 

[afuel]

Beautiful

 

[KrisReef]

Lacy Bryozoan, or something similar?

 

[EmptyWallet]

Lacy Bryozoan, or something similar?

It does appear to be forming the same 'honeycomb' like appearance, i'll look into it thanks

 

[EmptyWallet]

towards the edges of the photo I see some smaller ones of the same type as the big one. It's *so* hard to transplant sponges. You can't expose them to air at all. Maybe you could get one of the smaller ones out though..

It is in my weir, perhaps I can 'stuff it down' the outflow pipe into the sump that way - what could go wrong? (lol). Failing that i'll serve it to my Moorish Idol for his b'day, he loves the little selacious sponges !

 

[Hemmdog]

Medium pizza from where ?

That is beyond cool!

 

[EmptyWallet]

"Medium pizza from where ?"

Australia, I've had US pizza before, one of those wouldn't even fit in my 8ft tank!

 

[Hemmdog]

"Medium pizza from where ?"

Australia, I've had US pizza before, one of those wouldn't even fit in my 8ft tank!

Hahaha ;Hilarious

 

[KrisReef]

Bryozoans are brittle like potato chips, sponges are like wet potato chips (Science is so precise!) I don't think your Moorish idol will eat a Bryozoan, but a sponge will disappear like a can of Pringles.

Are you using natural seawater in that tank? Likely planktonic hitchhiker from the fouling community.

 

[EmptyWallet]

nah I use synthetic salt, but suspect the first siliceous sponge came in with some live rock in the early days. I'll give it a prod tonight but I'm certain it will be soggy/squishy not brittle/hard